About Hyderabad
Hyderabad can be called the city of epithets with the many names it has been given due to its significant trade, food, or produce. Some of its nicknames include the City of Pearls, City of Nawabs, and Biryani City; added to it, owing to the number of tech-based companies here, Hyderabad is also called Cyberabad. Hyderabad is a 400-year-old city, which was established as the capital of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty by Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, who is credited with building the Golconda fortress from the mud fortress it used to be to the expansive granite structure it became before it fell to ruins during the battle with Aurangzeb. The fortress is 8 km from the present day Old City of Hyderabad. Today, Hyderabad is the capital of the newly established Indian state of Telangana, located on the banks of the river Musi, on the Deccan Plateau. The city is a sprawling metropolitan cluster of shopping malls and tall glass-concrete office buildings. While the current infrastructure development taking place in the city might create traffic congestion and other hassles for tourists, the city will more than make up for the lax with its invigorating sense of warmth and culture and heritage.
How to reach Hyderabad
• Hyderabad By Air
– The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD) is the main airport serving the city. All major domestic and international carriers operate flights to Hyderabad on a daily basis.
• Hyderabad By Rail
– The Southern Railways of the Indian Railways connects Hyderabad to all major cities across the country by means of superfast trains. The key railway stations in the city include Secunderabad, Hyderabad, and Kachiguda. Most trains traveling to south and north India initiate from Hyderabad and terminate, via Secunderabad, at Hyderabad. Trains run to and fro between Hyderabad and major metropolises like, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
• Hyderabad By Road
– Hyderabad is well connected to the rest of the country by a network of well-constructed national highways, such as the North–South Corridor and the Golden Quadrilateral. The road network makes for a comfortable and convenient drive, either by car or bus, to Hyderabad. The city is 560 km from Bangalore via the NH7. From Chennai, the city is 752 km away via the NH 9 and NH 5, and from the Mumbai–Pune expressway, it is about 800 km via the NH 9.
What to do in Hyderabad
Together with Secunderabad Hyderabad forms what is known as the “twin cities”. Both cities have witnessed years of development, rendering them into the metropolises they are today, although the cities still showcase their rich cultural and historical heritages. Remnants of times past still linger especially in the architectural marvels all around the city. Recently, Hyderabad has begun to compete with Bangalore and Chennai for the crown of India’s IT capital, with Microsoft and Google having their Indian headquarters here. The city has been divided into five zones—east, west, south, north, and central zones—each of which has a different vibe and cultural feel to offer travellers. However, it is assumed that tourists usually do not go beyond the attractions of the Old City.
Here are some of the top places to visit when in Hyderabad:
1. Golconda Fort
2. Qutb Shahi Tombs in Ibrahim Bagh
3. Chowmahalla Palace
4. The Charminar
5. Koti Residency or the British Residency
6. Moula Ali Dargah
7. Paigah Tombs
8. Makkah Masjid
9. Salar Jung Museum
10. Birla Mandir
11. Jagannath Temple
12. Ramoji Film City
13. Chilkur Balaji Temple
14. Nehru Zoological Park
15. Hussain Sagar Lake
16. Laad Bazaar
17. The Rock Walks
18. The KBR National Park
Major Airports in and near Hyderabad
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the main airport serving people taking flights to Hyderabad or from Hyderabad. Major domestic and international fliers disembark here to travel to Hyderabad and other nearby cities.
Major international carriers operating flights to Hyderabad include Air India, Emirates, British Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Air Asia, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Silk Air, Cathay Pacific, and Thai Airways.
Domestic carriers like Air India, Air India Express, Indigo Airlines, Jet Airways, JetLite, Trujet and SpiceJet flying flights to Hyderabad on a daily basis from various cities in India.
MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Hyderabad. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Hyderabad or from Hyderabad. MakeMyTrip flights to Hyderabad can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off-seasons.
