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Photo: Tarunsamanta, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
The Telangana High Court is the High Court for the Indian state of Telangana. Founded by the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan, It was established as the High Court for the erstwhile Hyderabad State and in November 1956 after the formation of Andhra Pradesh renamed as High Court of Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the court was again renamed as High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad.
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A mourning place for Shia Muslims, built in 1594.
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.
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.
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.
Darul Shifa Jama Masjid
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.