#3 Be wowed by Chowmahalla Palace
The 150-year-old Chowmahalla Palace, southwest of the Mecca Masjid, was built between 1857 and 1869 by the nizams to entertain royal visitors and official guests. Inspired by the Shah’s palace in Tehran, it is actually a complex of four palaces, other imposing edifices, elegant courtyards and fountain-filled gardens.
The grand Kilwat Mubarak (Durbar Hall) is the most impressive building, containing a hall dominated by opulent chandeliers and other rooms full of furniture, ornaments, costumes, china crockery and displays on the history of the nizams.
The oldest part is the southern courtyard, where you can visit the two-storeyed Aftab Mahal, which houses more costumes and some intricate wall hangings, as well as the smaller Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal and Tahniyat Mahal. At the rear of the complex there is a collection of carriages and vintage motorcars.
#4 Take in bustling Nampally
The area around Hyderabad Deccan railway station, known locally as Nampally, and north towards Hussain Sagar contains some interesting nooks and crannies. Just south of the station itself, tucked in the lanes behind the striking bulbous yellow dome of the Ek Minar mosque, the atmospheric Yusufian Dargah is the shrine of a seventeenth-century Sufi saint of the venerable Chishti order.
#5 Enjoy the fine views from Kala Pahad Hill
The Birla Venkateshvara Mandir on Kala Pahad (“black mountain”) Hill, north of the public gardens, is open to all. Constructed in 1976, the temple itself is not of great interest but affords fine views and is a notable landmark, tapering towards the sky in an elegant fashion.
#6 Go to the diverting BM Birla Science Centre
Nearby is the mildly diverting BM Birla Science Centre which has a lot of satellite hardware and photos, sensory perception machines and a small dinosaur display, plus a planetarium.
These displays showcase the advancements in space exploration, satellite technology, and the wonders of our universe. From intricate satellite models to breathtaking photographs of galaxies and celestial bodies, the exhibits capture the imagination and ignite a sense of wonder.
#7 Visit Nirmala Birla Gallery of Modern Art
In a very unscientific manner, the centre also incorporates the Nirmala Birla Gallery of Modern Art, featuring the works of Indian painters such as Krishnan Kanna and Amitava Dhar. This gallery provides a unique blend of science and art, offering you a chance to appreciate the creative expressions of renowned Indian painters.
#7 Find peace at Hussain Sagar
Hussain Sagar, the large expanse of water separating Hyderabad from Secunderabad, lends a welcome air of tranquillity to the busy conurbation, and the pedestrianised sections of its banks are popular areas for a stroll, especially at sunset. In the centre of the artificial lake stands a large stone statue of the Buddha Purnima (“Full Moon Buddha”), erected in 1992.
Just off Secretariat Road, which offers some shady spots and also has a toy railway. The park was the site of one of two bombs that exploded in August 2007, claiming 44 lives, so security is predictably tight.
From Charminar via Nampally Golconda, 122m above the plain and 8km west of old Hyderabad, was the capital of the seven Qutb Shahi kings from 1518 until the end of the sixteenth century, when the court moved to Hyderabad itself.
#8 Hear the acoustics of Bala Hissar Darwaza
Well preserved and set in thick green scrubland, it is one of India’s most impressive forts, boasting 87 semi-circular bastions and eight mighty gates, complete with gruesome elephant-proof spikes.
Set aside a day to explore the fort, which covers an area of around four square kilometres. Entering the fort by the Balahisar Gate, you come into the Grand Portico, where guards clap their hands to show off the fort’s acoustics.
#9 Wander the trendy western suburbs
Most of Hyderabad’s newfound wealth is concentrated in the city’s western suburbs. The nearest of these is Banjara Hills, around 4km from Nampally, which comprises spacious residences in quiet streets surrounding Road No.1, a glitzy strip of trendy shops, restaurants and bars.
The Western appearance and dress, particularly of the young women here, is a sharp contrast to the niqabs and saris ubiquitous in the old city. Several kilometres further west, you enter the even leafier and more upmarket district of Jubilee Hills, which is largely residential.
#10 Get a glimpse into tribal culture at the Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum
Around half a kilometre west of Banjara Hills Road No.1, the Nehru Centenary Tribal Museum offers an interesting glimpse into tribal culture and customs. Displays include musical instruments, costumes, agricultural equipment, a bullock cart and a depiction of a traditional dance by the Khond and Bagata peoples.
#11 See the world’s largest moie studio, Ramoji Film City
Around 25 km east of central Hyderabad, is the world’s largest film studio complex. Covering nearly two thousand acres, with around five hundred set locations, it can produce up to sixty movies simultaneously.
Although you cannot see films actually being made, you can tour the facades, enjoy rides such as the Ramoji Tower simulated earthquake and watch a dance and stunt show. The adjacent Sahas Adventure Park is packed with activities such as zip-lining, zorbing, quad biking and other adrenaline-filled fun. The easiest way to get here is on a tour from Hyderabad.