//
Historical Centre in Telangana, India
Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Old City (Urdu: پرانا شہر Pūrāne Śahar) of Hyderabad is the historic centre of the city. Established by Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, successive rulers of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and subsequently the Nizams ruled their domains from here. They built many iconic monuments that are of interest to travellers. Most prominent among these is the Charminar. The monuments are not the only reminders of the past though. In the crowded lanes of the old city, you will find a distinct culture that came about when the Islamic rulers interacted with their Hindu subjects. Deccani or Dakkhani, the dialect of Urdu that is spoken in the Deccan, is the street language here. The shops around the Charminar sell chooris (glass bangles) and henna as they have for centuries, and hoardings advertising schools that teach English but still have Islamic heritage represent the city's struggles to navigate the modernity that is closing in on it without losing its soul.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Literally "four minarets" (char means "four" and minar means "minaret"). Quli Qutb Shah built the Charminar in 1591 at the very spot at which he prayed to end the plague epidemic. The Charminar, made of pulverised marble, limestone, mortar and granite, has long been the icon of Hyderabad. The towers rise to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. It has 140 steps. Graffiti on the walls have diminished the beauty of the Charminar. There is a mosque with 45 prayer spaces located inside in the upper storeys. The structure stands in the middle of a busy road. The traffic has been stopped and the area is pedestrian access only. Atop the minarets, you get a panoramic view of Hyderabad; to reach the top of the monument, there are 149 winding steps to the upper floor. At the very bottom of one of the minar, there is a Hindu temple. The traffic is terrible. Plan an early morning trip around 9AM if shopping is not on the to do list. There is a separate entry way for foreigners.
A five-storied architectural clock tower which was built in 1892. The clock tower is erected in the midst of the small garden; it has four large clocks on its sides which enable the time to be seen from any direction. The clock tower is designed in the Turkish style.
It is a specialised botanical garden, which features only one family of plants: the palms. The garden's collection contains all six subfamilies within the family Arecaceae, with a total of about 120 varieties of 250 trees.
Old Bridge
The first bridge ever constructed in Hyderabad. It was built over the Musi River in 1578 during the Qutb Shahi dynasty in order to connect Golconda and Hyderabad.
High Court for the State of Telangana
Founded by the 7th Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan as the High Court of Hyderabad. This is one of the finest buildings in the city, built in red and white stones in Saracenic style. The plan of the high court was drawn up by Shankar Lal of Jaipur and the local engineer who executed the design was Mehar Ali Fazil. The high court has jurisdiction over the state of Telangana since 2014. The building looks beautiful and impressive from the Nayapul at sunset.
One of the oldest mosques in the city, and easily the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. The mosque is a granite giant with awe-inspiring innards. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, big enough to accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time. It is believed that Muhammed Quli commissioned bricks to be made with the soil brought from Mecca and inducted them into the construction of the central arch of the mosque, which explains the name of the mosque. The arched facades have been carved from a single piece of granite. Women must mandatorily have dupatta / shawl to get entry into the premises. Women can not wear skin-tight pants or leggings into the mosque, so wear something loose-fitted.
A mourning place for Shia Muslims, built in 1594.
Darul Shifa Jama Masjid
The four hundred cemetery houses a total of 20 graves (19 Armenian and 1 Dutch). The cemetery consists of a series of scattered graves with no pattern. Both the pavilions house several graves, probably from the same family. The cemetery is not maintained and often locked.
The 16th century graveyard is centred around the grave of Mir Mu'min Astarabadi. He was a minister of the Sultanate of Golconda and the planner of the city of Hyderabad. It also houses the mortal remains of the famous Bada Gulam Ali Khan. It is an active cemetery.
These tombs belong to the 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are beautifully carved and have marble inlay work on them. Relaxing environment with bird singing.
Michel Raymond, a French mercenary, was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam and also his close friend. He died in 1798 and was buried on top of a hillock at Tirumala Hills, Malakpet. The tomb consists of a pillared flat-roofed pavilion representing the Greek Palace of Winds and next to it stood an obelisk.
It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors. The palace consists of a row of four courtyards, with a grand pillared Durbar Hall in the centre. The hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or royal seat was laid for ceremonies, lit by 19 chandeliers.
Khursheed Jah Bahadari
A European styled architectural palace, once home to the Paigah nobles. The palace is in shambles as of 2017 due to neglect. The gardens blossomed with flowers and fountains making the ambiance livelier.
Masarrat Mahal Palace
It was originally the palace of the Nizam's Prime Minister. It was later renovated and became the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-storeyed building in the European style. The palace also houses the Nizam Museum, which is dedicated to the last Nizam of Hyderabad. It is home to the famous wardrobe of Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice. It is the world's longest wardrobe, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift (elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace. Hard to find, take small road next to Princess Durru Shehwar Hospital, entrance gate.
This collection belonged to the Salar Jungs, Prime Ministers of Hyderabad, but has been augmented since. The collection includes articles mostly from medieval and modern times, with a concentration of articles from the Islamic era. The western wing on the second floor is interesting. It contains paintings, furniture and other objects that the Salar Jung got from the West. The collection of Nizam jewellery is displayed only on special occasions. Free guided tours lasting two hours each are available at scheduled times, four times a day. Inquire at the entrance. Cameras, bags and liquids are not allowed, but mobile cameras are winked at. Deposit your contraband at the free lockers available near the ticketing area.
One of the 19th-century racecourses in India. Although the club was established in 1961, horse racing has been arranged at the racecourse since 1886.
Baked biscuits, cakes and burgers. Has 3 outlets:
Famous bakery in Hyderabad serving world famous haleem which is only available during Ramadan.
The most well-known cafe selling Irani chai and Osmania biscuits in Hyderabad. Very crowded.
Vegetarian self-service hotel offering affordable food options compared to typical airport prices (except bottled water). Ideal for travelers looking for a quick meal near Hyderabad Airport.
Standard budget hotel. There are both air-conditioning and non-air-conditioning rooms available.
Taj Falaknuma Palace
Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma is a stunning piece of architecture and the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior is particularly impressive and features the works of Florentine sculptors and a 100-seater dining table. The palace has been converted into a hotel run by the Taj group.
Choodi Bazaar
Exotic lacquer and glass bangles market.
Retail market for ladies.
Wholesale market.
By bus
By train
The Hyderabad–Falaknuma and Falaknuma–Lingampalli routes of MMTS run through the Old City. The MMTS stations serving the Old City are:
By metro
There's an interchange between the Red Line and MMTS at Malakpet. The Green Line also terminates at MG Bus Station with an interchange with the Red Line.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Hyderabad · International · HYD
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Old City and India.
Travel tipsExplore the rainy seasons in Asia month by month. Compare Southwest and Northeast monsoons, typhoon belts, dry island escapes, and travel dates.
8 min read
Travel tipsSpot and avoid common tourist scams in India, including fake train ticket offices, closed hotel lies, rigged auto-rickshaws, and temple donation tricks.
8 min read
Travel tipsFull 2026 list of visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries for Indian passport holders. Check entry requirements, stay limits, and transit visa rules.
7 min read
InspirationThe premier first-time India travel guide covering Delhi monuments, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Jaipur royal forts, sacred Varanasi, and Kerala backwaters.
6 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.