Hyderabad, (Telugu: హైదరాబాద్ Haidarābād, Urdu: حیدر آباد Haidar Ābād, Hindi: हैदराबाद Haidarābād), the "Pearl City", is the capital and largest city of Telangana in Southern India. Founded in the late 16th century on the hot and dry Deccan Plateau, Hyderabad is a city replete with history and traditions, as well as the wonderful palaces, mosques, bazaars, lakes and other heritage sites in the city. One of the most populous cities in Southern India, the modern-day Hyderabad is the result of the amalgamation with its twin city Secunderabad acros…
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The city of Hyderabad covers three districts (Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri), and is divided into three three municipal corporations (Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri). However, locals don't always refer to these districts or corporations, but to one of dozens of neighbourhoods and suburbs of which the metropolis is made up. For sake of simplicity for travellers, this article divides Hyderabad into the following travel districts.
If you are visiting Hyderabad on business, it is easy to miss the 400-year-old city. The city that immediately hits the eye is a sprawling metropolis of shopping malls and office buildings with glass façades. The magnificent "old city" that was once the seat of the Nizam, the ruler of the largest and the most opulent princely state, and the twin city of Secunderabad where the British maintained a cantonment to keep the army within striking distance of the Nizam, can be seen only if you take the time out to see them. The name "Hyderabad" (Telugu: HIGH-duhr-AH-bahd, Urdu/Hindi: HEH-duhr-AH-bahd) literally means "Lion City" in Persian.
Hyderabad's public transport options have been increasing over the years. It has an overcrowded bus network and a rudimentary local train network. In the past 5 years, it has had its own elevated metro rail service that provides fast and cheap connectivity to some areas. The ubiquitous yellow and black auto-rickshaws have now been supplemented by the app-based taxi services that provide fairly good service all over the city.
Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles As you would expect from a city with a rich heritage, Hyderabad has many historical monuments, but there is much more to see. While the specific attractions are on the district pages, here is a quick rundown of attractions to visit and where they are located: By Indian standards, Hyderabad's monuments are not very old, which means that they are better preserved. Many of the attractions including the iconic Charminar are in Old City, albeit the even older Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs in Golconda.
Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles Many resorts and amusement parks offer adventure sports, watersports and other rides. While some are located within the city, most are found on the outskirts. Heritage walk, Charminar. 07:00-09:00 every Su and 2nd Sa. They are organized by the Telangana tourism department and led by a knowledgeable guide and Tourist Police. There are several types of walks: one that ends at Chowmohalla palace, and another that ends at Badshahi Ashoorkhana. Bonus: breakfast served too. It's probably better to call beforehand and confirm which walk is operating. Ticket price is ₹50 per head and can be bought at Char Minar on the spot.
Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles No visit to Hyderabad would be complete without sampling its unique cuisine, a rich blend of royal Mughlai flavours, Nizams special, and spice-up culinary traditions of South India such as: Hyderabadi biryani, pathar-ka-ghosht, nahari, haleem, double-ka-meetha, khubani-ka-meetha, seviyon-ka-meetha and kheer. A popular dish of Hyderabad is biryani. It is prepared with a blending of Mughal kitchen and the style of cooking practised by the Nizams. Hyderabadi biryani has a distinct aroma. Garnished with pudina, fried onion & boiled eggs. Mostly it is served with dahi-ki-chutney and mirchi-ka-salan.
Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles There is plenty to do at night in Hyderabad, though local regulations have most places serving last drinks by 23:00. On weekdays, drinks in some of the pubs have the best offers, as most clubs are empty until Thursday or Friday nights, when the clubbers emerge. But the sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list.
Hyderabad used to suffer from terrorism between 2007 and 2013. There were bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park, places often frequented by travellers and also at busy marketplaces. Since the city is free of terrorism since 2014, the chances that you will be in danger are quite low. However, you should still make your own risk assessment, as the intrusive security will more likely dampen your enjoyment of your Hyderabad vacation than any physical danger. Every shopping mall, theatre and palace has metal detectors and security guards patting you down. The Old City used to be a communally sensitive zone, and a venue for religiously aggravated riots between Hindus and Muslims.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Hyderabad typically sees ~30°C daytime highs and 24 rainy days.
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