The Hi-Tech Hyderabad City, the city of traditions and technology was founded in 1591, by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth Qutub Shahi Sultan of Golconda. This magnificent city of minarets on the banks of the river Musi retains the medieval flavor and charm. It has also emerged as a major educational and industrial center as well as one of the IT capitals of India.
Charminar: The icon of Hyderabad was built in 159 1, by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah to commemorate the end of the plague in the city. The imposing rectangular monument is built in Indo- Saracenic style and stands 53 meters high and 30 meters wide, with four grand arches, facing each of the cardinal points. The four corners of the building are adorned with columns with exquisitely carved minarets crowned by a bulbous dome. Each minaret towers to a height of 48.7 m. and has double balconies.
Lad Bazaar: This oldest and most popular shopping center of the city lies to the right of Charminar and is studded with colorful shops, famous for traditional bangles, bridal ware, heena, and cosmetics.
Mecca Masjid: The magnificent mosque near Charminar is named after the holy Mecca, as it has few bricks from Mecca. One of the rooms of the courtyard enshrines the hair of Prophet Muhammad and other Islamic relics.
Birla Mandir: The white marble shrine of Lord Venkateswara is set atop Kala Pahad hillock, towards the southern end of Hussain Sagar lake. It is decorated with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharta. There are also several splendidly sculpted marble statues of Hindu deities.
Naubat Pahad: Birla Planetarium and Alliance Francaise are set atop this rocky hill near the Birla Mandir. Sky shows are held at the planetarium.
Hussain Sagar: This huge lake was built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali, during the reign of Ibrahim Qutub Shah in 1562. Atop the rock at the center of the lake is the world’s tallest monolithic statue of Buddha, which is 17.5 m. high and weighs 350 tonnes. Boat trips around the statue can be made from Lumbini Park. The Tankbund on the eastern side of the lake is a popular promenade. A fine view of the statue can be enjoyed from here.
Lumbini Park: The well-laid-out park on the banks of Hussainsagar lake is one of the most populär amusement sites.
Salarjung Museum: This grand museum houses an extraordinary private collection of Mir Yusaf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III), a great connoisseur of art and the prime minister to Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan, Nizam VII. It is one of the three national museums of India and has over 43,000 art objects collected from the world over.
Public Garden: This exquisite garden located in the busy Nampally area is said to be the largest of its kind in Asia. It is the oldest park in the city and is dotted with several majestic buildings.
Nehru Zoological Park: It extends over an area of about 1.2 sq. km. and is one of the largest zoos in India. Conducted tours in protected vans are taken to the Safari Park.
Other attractions of The Hi-Tech Hyderabad City include – a Natural History Museum, an Ancient Life Museum, an aquarium, and a children’s train ride.
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