Hyderabad
You may well be visiting Hyderabad for something IT-related but your experience of the city can never be complete without a visit to its grand old monuments, most of whom were built by the rulers of a single dynasty, the Qutub Shahis.
An aerial view of the city would indicate that all roads lead to the Charminar. This colossal building was built in 1591 by the founder of Hyderabad, Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. Meant to be the heart of the city, it stands at the crossing of two major roads and combines the finest of prevailing architectural styles – massive gateways, numerous elegant niches, and the four eponymous minars or towers. The view from the top is fabulous, featuring the Makkah Masjid, and all the bustling activity in these centuries-old streets.
A few kilometres away, to the north west, stands the stately Golconda Fort, the seat of administration of the empire. This fort was continuously fortified and renovated through the 14th and 15th centuries, but its origins date back even further. At the height of its fame it was the most important fort in southern India, famed for its riches and an object of envy and desire for its enemies. To add to it all, it was the home of some of the most eye-popping diamonds of all time.
Just north of the fort lie the Qutub Shahi Tombs, belonging to the dynasty that ably ruled the Golkonda empire from 1518 till 1687. They made the state stable and prosperous and built its new capital Hyderabad. The Qutub Shahi Tombs are situated in the peaceful Ibrahim Bagh greens and they are especially significant because seven of eight kings of the dynasty are buried here.
With its rich history and culture, tempting cuisine and gentle sloping roads, Hyderabad is a great city to find some bits of everything.
