Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana, a 16th-century Qutb Shahi city of pearls, palaces, and biryani that is now also one of India's biggest technology and film-making hubs. Charminar and the Laad Bazaar bangle lanes, Golconda Fort, and the Nizams' Chowmahalla Palace sit within a short ride of the glass towers of Hitech City.
Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth Qutb Shahi ruler, who moved his court from the fort of Golconda to a planned city on the Musi River and built Charminar at its centre. The Mughals under Aurangzeb took Golconda in 1687, and the Asaf Jahi Nizams took power in 1724, ruling until 1948. Over two centuries they built palaces, hospitals, colleges and a large railway and dam network. Hyderabad State was integrated into India in 1948, and the city became capital of Telangana in 2014. Since the 1990s Hitech City has made it a major software hub.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Hyderabad.
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1
Kakatiya fort at Golconda
A mud fort is built on the Golconda hill under the Kakatiya kings
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2
Bahmani control
Golconda passes to the Bahmani Sultanate
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3
Qutb Shahi independence
Sultan Quli Qutb Shah founds the Golconda sultanate
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4
Hussain Sagar excavated
Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah has the lake built
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5
Hyderabad founded
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founds the city and builds Charminar
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6
Mecca Masjid begun
Construction of the great mosque starts near Charminar
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7
Golconda falls
Aurangzeb conquers Golconda after an eight-month siege
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8
Asaf Jah I
Mir Qamaruddin Khan founds the Asaf Jahi dynasty
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9
Purani Haveli and Chowmahalla begin
Works start on palaces for the Nizams
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10
Chowmahalla complete
The Nizams' palace complex reaches its final form
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11
Falaknuma Palace
The palace is completed for Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra
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12
Great Musi flood
A flood kills thousands and leads to new dams and civic works
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13
Osmania General Hospital opens
The Indo-Saracenic hospital opens on the Musi
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14
Operation Polo
Hyderabad State is integrated into India
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15
Salar Jung Museum opens
The Salar Jung collection opens to the public
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16
Buddha statue
An 18 m monolith is installed on Gibraltar Rock in Hussain Sagar
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17
Telangana formed
Hyderabad becomes capital of the new state of Telangana
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18
Statue of Equality
The 216 ft Ramanujacharya statue opens at Muchintal
Historical eras
The chapters of Hyderabad's past.
Historical sites
Places where Hyderabad's past comes alive.
Golconda Fort
A Kakatiya-era mud fort rebuilt in granite by the Bahmanis and Qutb Shahis, with 87 bastions, eight gates and a famous acoustic system.
Where: Golconda
Admission: INR 25 for Indians; INR 300 (~$3) for foreigners
Charminar
Built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, reportedly to mark the end of a plague epidemic.
Where: Old City
Admission: INR 25 for Indians; INR 300 (~$3) for foreigners
Mecca Masjid
Begun in 1617 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, using bricks reputedly made from soil brought from Mecca, and finished under Aurangzeb in 1694.
Where: Old City
Admission: Free
Qutb Shahi Tombs
Mausolea of seven Qutb Shahi rulers, built between the 16th and 17th centuries and restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
Where: Ibrahim Bagh
Admission: About INR 20 for Indians; about INR 300 (~$3) for foreigners
Chowmahalla Palace
The palace complex of the Asaf Jahi Nizams, begun in 1750 and finished in 1869, laid out around two courtyards.
Where: Khilwat
Admission: INR 80 for Indians; INR 200 (~$2) for foreigners
Falaknuma Palace
Built in 1893-1894 for Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, prime minister of Hyderabad, and later bought by the sixth Nizam.
Where: Falaknuma
Admission: About INR 2,500 (~$26) for the heritage walk (verify)
Paigah Tombs
Tombs of the Paigah nobles, who served the Nizams as military commanders, built in the 19th century with lime-stucco lattice work.
Where: Santoshnagar
Admission: Free or small donation
Taramati Baradari
A Qutb Shahi pleasure pavilion with twelve doorways, named after a court singer, built in the 17th century.
Where: Ibrahim Bagh
Admission: About INR 20 (~$0.21)
Purani Haveli
The residence built in 1750 for Nizam Ali Khan, the second Nizam, and later home to the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.
Where: Old City
Admission: About INR 75 (~$0.78)
Toli Masjid
Built in 1671 by Mian Musa Khan Mahaldar, a Qutb Shahi minister, in the local Deccani style.
Where: Tolichowki
Admission: Free
Hyderabad High Court
A striking Indo-Saracenic building completed in 1919 under the seventh Nizam, designed by Vincent Esch and Shankar Rao.
Where: Purani Haveli
Admission: Free
Osmania General Hospital
A large Indo-Saracenic hospital opened in 1925 on the banks of the Musi River, designed by Vincent Esch.
Where: Afzal Gunj
Admission: Free
Museums
Curated collections that tell Hyderabad's story.
Salar Jung Museum
A museum from 1951 with about 40,000 objects: Indian art, European sculptures, jade and manuscripts.
Hours: Daily except Fridays 10:00AM-5:00PM
Admission: INR 20 for Indians; INR 500 (~$5.21) for foreigners
Nizam's Museum (Purani Haveli)
Displays the gifts given to the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, on his silver jubilee in 1936, including caskets, silver and a jewelled throne replica.
Hours: Daily except Fridays 10:30AM-5:00PM (check current hours)
Admission: About INR 75 (~$0.78)
Telangana State Museum
Established in 1930 in the Public Gardens, with archaeology, bronzes, arms and Buddhist galleries.
Hours: Daily except Fridays 10:30AM-5:00PM
Admission: About INR 20 (~$0.21)
Chowmahalla Palace Museum
Display of Nizam-era costumes, weapons, cars and durbar rooms in restored halls.
Hours: Daily except Fridays 10:30AM-5:00PM
Admission: INR 80 for Indians; INR 200 (~$2) for foreigners
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.
Hyderabad Heritage Walk
A morning walk of about three hours through the Old City covering Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Laad Bazaar and the Khilwat area, run by local heritage groups and listed on the Telangana tourism website.
Golconda Sound and Light Show
An evening show of about 60 minutes that narrates the fort's history; English shows usually run around 7:00PM. Book at the fort ticket counter or via the Telangana Tourism site.
Nizam's Hyderabad Palace Tour
A visit by prior reservation to Chowmahalla Palace and Falaknuma Palace; Falaknuma admits visitors by heritage walk or dining booking only.
Telangana Tourism Hyderabad Sightseeing bus
A full-day city sightseeing bus run by Telangana Tourism (tourism.telangana.gov.in) covering Birla Mandir, Salar Jung Museum, Charminar and Golconda; confirm timetable and fares online.
Qutb Shahi Tombs self-guided visit
A 90-minute self-guided walk between the tombs and the Taramati Baradari, using the site's information panels and an auto from Golconda.
Old City Irani chai and food walk
A morning walk through Charminar, Laad Bazaar and heritage cafes, combining history with local snacks such as haleem and Osmania biscuits; check current operators.