The Top 10 Things To See And Do In Hyderabad India

Hyderabad is a city of palaces and forts, of biryanis and haleems. A city that flourished under the influence of its various Nizams; at its heyday Hyderabad was one of the grandest and most advanced cities on the planet. It was an artistic and cultural center and a scholarly mecca. Learn more about the city and what it has to offer with our guide to the top 10 things to see and do in Hyderabad.

Hyderabadi Biryani

Hyderabad’s biryanis are highly reputed as the world’s best biryanis, and with good reason. Once considered to be the Nizam’s (the state ruler) dish, it is now commonly available throughout Hyderabad and the rest of northern India. The biryani contains long-grained, fragrant basmati rice alongside marinated meat that has been soaked in a special spice concoction overnight. The cooking vessel is then sealed with dough and it is steamed over hot coals (known as dum). The ultimate taste of the biryani is spicy and complex, with a wealth of unusual and rich flavours.

There are plenty of places to try this traditional staple, read our guide to Hyderabad’s best biryanis here.

Hussain Sagar

The lake of Hussain Sagar was built in 1562 across a tributary of the Musi river, and is an artificial lake that used to be Hyderabad’s main water supply before two more lakes were built. An 18-meter-tall monolithic statue of Buddha stands in the middle of the lake and is lit up at night. The lake is a popular sailing area, and boats make a 30-minute journey to the statue and back.

1. Salar Jung Museum

Museum

The prestigious Salar Jung Museum is one of India’s three National Museums. The entire antique collection in the museum was collected by Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, and is currently the world’s largest antique collection owned by one man. The collections comprise worldwide treasures from places such as Persia, Egypt, and even North America. Among its treasures are paintings by the famed painter Raja Ravi Varma and swords and daggers of various Mughal emperors. The most famous exhibit is, the Veiled Rebecca, a sculpture by the Italian artist Benzoni.

Opening hours: 10am – 5pm