Hyderabad Travel Guide
Hyderabad is one of India's many fast-growing cities. And often it seems to be growing too fast. The 400-year-old metropolis is being buried in teeming masses of people, traffic jams and a thick layer of health-threatening pollution. But that's the way it is in many of India's booming business centers these days. Hyderabad is home to a burgeoning information technology industry. The areas of Madhapur, Kondapur and Gachibowli are known as Cyberabad and home to various multinational companies, including Microsoft and Oracle. But explore and you'll find more. If you're patient enough to look beyond Cyberabad, you'll uncover the ancient beauty of the place and learn why it was once called the City of Pearls.
Sights
Since the majority of Hyderabad's historical sites are found in the old city, this is where you should begin your tour. Check out the four minarets of the landmark Charminar and admire the granite solidity of the Mecca Masjid mosque. You could easily spend a couple of hours exploring what used to be the center of a flourishing diamond trade in the ancient Golconda Fort, just outside the city. Other places with worth exploring in the old city are Falaknuma Palace, once the residence of the Nizam of Hyderabad, magnificent Chowmahalla Palace, the Nizam's Museum and the Moula Ali Dargah. In the new city, take time to visit the modern B.M. Birla Planetarium and Science Museum. Other cool attractions are the Archival Museum, which displays all sorts of Hyderabad history, and the A.P. State Museum. Stroll through the temples and parks that surround Hussain Sagar Lake and check out the animals at the Nehru Zoo.
Dining
The cuisine of Hyderabad is often quite spicy and always delicious. Some of the local specialties you should try include the city's famous biryani main course and its meetha dessert. If you're adventurous, try the street food. There are many stalls at Eat Street, on the shores of Hussain Sagar Lake. The older restaurants around Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills and in Abids offer good and reasonably priced meals. Bakeries, pastry shops and quick food can be found along Himayathnagar. If you fancy a drink, there are many bars in the Begumpet neighborhood and on Road No. 1 in Banjara Hills.
Shopping
The bazaars in the city offer exhilarating, at times bewildering shopping. Head to Lad Bazar in Charminar for glass bangles, the Gulzar House complex for ladies wear and Sultan Bazar for wholesale clothes. The strip from the Lifestyle mall in Begumpet to Road No. 1 in Banjara Hills is where you'll find boutiques and upscale shopping. Malls in Banjara Hills include GVK One, City Center and Ashoka Metropolitan Mall.
Where to Go in Hyderabad
