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HYDERABAD

Hyderabad is one of the most happening place and is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. It was found by Qutbh Shahi, the dynasty of Golkonda. It is the fifth largest city in the country. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and also its multilingual culture, both geographically and culturally. Hyderabad is also known as The City of Nizams and The City of Pearls’. It is one of the most developed cities in the country and a modern hub of Information Technology, ITES and biotechnology.

The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi which is now known as the historic "Old City", home to the Charminar and Mecca Masjid, which lies on the southern bank of the river. The city center saw a shift to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Husain Sagar lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the growth of Secunderabad and neighboring municipalities has resulted in a large and populous metropolitan area. And thus the city is known as twin cities namely Hyderabad and Secunderabad. While Muslims are concentrated near the old city (localities surrounding Charminar), other parts of the city especially to the north, people of mixed cultures and backgrounds like the Sikhs, Gujaratis, Coastal Andhra, Marathis, Bengalis, and others have made the city their home. Secunderabad retains some of it's colonial look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians.

Hyderabad is a city that sees an amalgamation of two major cultures - Hinduism and Islam. The religious places in Hyderabad are a fine example of the peaceful co-existence of the two cultures. The City has evolved into a cosmopolitan society due to the heavy presence of the Information technology Industry while maintaining ancient culture and traditions. Historically, Hyderabad has been the city where distinct cultural and linguistic traditions of North India and South India meet. Hyderabadis, as residents of the city are known, have developed a distinctive culture which is a mixture of ancient Hindu traditions of Telugu people and Islamic culture.

Archival Museum :

Begumpet Mosque : A striking feature of the mosque in the city is its sheer variety. But this mosque resembles the architecture of a church. It is said that the mosque was also mistaken for that of a church. The devout may scoff but the Spanish Mosque (Jama Masjid Iqbal-ud-Dowla) on the Paradise-Begumpet Airport Road falls into this genre, though heritage experts disagree with its similarity to a church. At best it looks very European, as the name suggests. The mosque has a unique plan elevation, and was built by Sir Vikhar-ul-Umra Iqbal-ud-Dowla, the Paigah noble, in 1906. It is believed to be the only one of its kind in India, with pointed arches, a pointed main roof composed of two truncated octagonal pyramids placed one above the other intervened by octagonal domes. The minarets aesthetically placed at corners of the parapet are in the same style, very unusual from those seen in other mosques in the city and elsewhere. And it is difficult to miss them as you climb on (from Paradise side) to the flyover opposite the Airport. The other notable features are Moorish arches inside the prayer hall, Quranic verses in exquisite calligraphy inscribed on the inside walls, the absence of an ablution tank and a courtyard. In plan, the mosque comprises a main prayer hall, two rooms in front of it and a central corridor for entering the hall. It is over this central corridor or the entrance porch that the octagonal dome stands.

Dhartimata Temple : Dhartimata Temple is situated in BegumBazaar.

State Museum : The State Museum is located in the picturesque Public Gardens in Nampally. Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum displays a stunning and rich collection of antiques and artifacts from the 1st century to the 20th Century of the country. It ranges from the Lotus Medallion of the 1st century to the amazing Kalankari work that adorned the bed-spreads of the Nizams to a period room that displays the typical living room of the Nizam time to the Jain sculptures and Statues. A compilation of sculptures, paintings, arms and artifacts etc. dating back to the 2nd century BC are displayed in its various galleries. Apart from these, the unique feature of the museum is its Modern Art Gallery that has a sizeable collection of paintings and sculptures of contemporary artistes of Hyderabad. The impressive museum building, built by Nizam VII in 1920, itself is a fine example of Indo-saracenic architecture. The museum garden holds a re-installed hall complete with columns and ornate ceiling from Ghanapur, and a wooden temple chariot with monsters carved on the beams. It is open from 10.30 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. except Mondays. Photography is allowed only by permission.

Kachiguda Mahankali Temple : Lal Darwaza is a popular urban area located in Hyderabad city. The place lies to the south of the Musi river and stands over the Old City in Hyderabad. The region is connected by an intermesh of small roads and one major road link called Sardar Patel Road. The region caters to a local population that has been living for years in these parts of the city. Lal Darwaza houses a number of worshipping places that are locally popular. Mahankali Temple, the venue for Bonali procession is one such popular site. The area is connected to Kachiguda railway station and this temple is so called as Kachiguda Mahankali temple.

Keesara Gutta Temple : Keesara Gutta temple is 33km from Hyderabadand is located in Keesara Mandal of Ranga Reddy District. The presiding deity of the Temple is Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy accompanied by Sri Bhavani and Sri Shiva Durga. Sivarahtri Brahmostavam is performed on a very large scale when lakhs of devotees visit the temple from all the corners of the State and seek the blessings of Lord Siva. However, according to a legend, Adikavi Valmiki installed Saraswathi and wrote the Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his samadhi near the temple. Many people, in fact, take their kids to Basar for "Akshara abhyasam" before commencing formal school education. Kartheeka Masam Abishekam will be done at Kessara Gutta Temple on Devotees names at a very Resonable Price of Rs.225/-

Krishna Kanth Park

Nagmata Temple : There are several temples to be visited in Hyderabad. One among them is the Nagamata temple which is situated in Secunderabad.

Shahi Masjid : Shahi Masjid is one of the oldest mosque in Hyderabad which is about 300 years old.

Shyam Mandir : Shyam Mandir is situated on Kachiguda station road. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shri Krishna. Veeranna Gutta was the old name referred by the local people and still few refers this place with the same name. A beautiful temple on a little hillock, originally had Hanuman shrine. Later Shiv temple was added. It is now renovated. Now the complex comprises temples for Lord Sri Shyam Baba, Lord Sri Radha Krishna, Lord Sri Shiva, Lord Sri Anjaneya, Lord Sri Kala Bhairava. Amba Mata, Navagraha and perhaps Naag Devta.

The Natural History Museum : This Natural History Museum is inside the campus of Nehru Zoological Park which is situated in the Bahadurpura area. It can be easily reached by hiring the ever-available local transport within the city. The Natural History museum displays ancient artifacts and dummies of stuffed animals that have become extinct. There is a Nocturnal Birds park which houses rare and exotic species of nocturnal birds and animals like owls, lemurs, etc. The museum is also dedicated to pre-historic creatures that walked the face of this planet before humans were formed. One can watch computerized dummies of dinosaurs and other pre historic creatures in this museum, which appear effortlessly real.

Yadagiri Gutta : Yadagirigutta is a hill temple, near Bhongir on the Secundrabad - Kazipet (Warangal) railroad. The temple enshrines the Narasimha incarnation of Vishnu as Lakshmi Narasimha. The temple is a natural cavern on the hill. Jwala Narasimha, Ghandabheranda Narasimha (without an image) and Yoga Narasimha are held in worship here, in addition to a silver image of Lakshmi Narasimha and a shrine to Aandaalamma. The temple is situated at a height of 300 feet on the hill, known as Yadagiri. At the foothills there is the Vaikuntha Dwara entrance. At the temple entrance to the temple there is a shrine to Hanuman and a gap in the rock, which is said to represent Ghandabheranda Narasimha. Lord Narasimha is believed to have been worshipped by sages (rushis). The region of Yadagirigutta is reputed to be a "Rushi Aradhana Kshetram" or the place of worship for sages. Many instances are cited of the Lord appearing in the dreams of the devotees, and administering medicines and operated the patients and blessed them with good health. The Aradhanam and Puja in this temple are performed according to Pancharatra Agamam. The puja vidhanam (Puja procedure) was set by Late Sri Vangeepuram Narasimhacharyulu who composed Yadagiri Suprabhatam, Prapatti, Stotram, Mangalashasanam and served as Sthanacharya of this temple It is also known as "Telangana Tirupati". There is also a Shiva temple in the hill.