24 hours in Hyderabad : A one day itinerary for Hyderabad city tour
Hyderabad, the capital city of the newly formed state of Telengana in India is aptly known as the ‘City of Nawabs’. 24 hours is a mere nothing to explore the luxurious footprints that the Nawabs have left. But, as the world is getting more and more developed, the schedules are becoming busier. In the rat race of climbing up that professional ladder, often people are just left with 24-hours ‘free’. If you find yourself in Hyderabad with ‘free’ 24 hours and an urge to know the city better, then read up the following list for a one day Hyderabad city tour! Please note Hyderabad has been subjected to terrorism many times so security is very strict. Almost none of the monuments in Hyderabad allow bags to be carried in.
Experience Holiness at Mecca Masjid – The Mecca Masjid is almost adjacent to the Charminar (no. 2 on the list). The bricks used in the construction of this mosque were made of soil brought from Mecca. The mosque was built under the patronage of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad. Outsiders are not allowed inside the mosque itself but they are allowed in the beautiful courtyard. The presence of the clean water pond in the courtyard makes the place very photogenic. None of the monuments or markets or food joints in Hyderabad open before 9 A.M but this mosque opens at around 4 A.M. Reach at 8.30 AM to best use the day. And remember to dress conservatively. Women must wear a dupatta or hijab inside the premises. Reserve half hour for this site in your itinerary. Cameras are allowed.
Charming Charminar – The global icon of Hyderabad opens at 9 AM. The way this old yet beautiful monument stands right in the middle of a chaotic crossroad will blow your mind. The four minarets are connected with each other through arched and domed balconies. Each balcony overlooks a broad street and has one gigantic clock. A very narrow, dark and winding staircase brings you to the first floor of the monument. According to history, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built this monument as a mark of gratitude to God for ending a tormenting plague in the city. Reserve an hour for this site. The entrance fee is INR 15.
Breakfast at Nimrah – Nimrah is an old food joint by the side of Charminar. The eatery is often cluttered with locals and it is an excellent place to observe typical Hyderabadi life. Nimrah is famous for its ‘irani tea’ and ‘osmania biscuits’. But we found the ‘kopra biscuits’ to be the best. We also enjoyed having ‘dilkhush’- bread stuffed with sweet fillings of coconut.
Feel like a royal at Chowmahalla Palace – Turn on Google maps and head next to Chowmahalla Palace. It will take around 20 minutes on foot. Once upon a time Chomahalla Palace used to be the official residence of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Nowadays, it is a museum-cum-banquet hall where parties can be hosted. The northern courtyard houses the building of Bara Imam with a mirror image on the opposite side. In between is a beautiful pool with fountains. Four palaces, namely Aftab Mahal, Afzal Mahal, Mehtab Mahal and Tahniyat Mahal surround the southern courtyard. It also has a pond with ducks waddling in the water and a vintage car gallery. The Khilwat Mubarak is the most important building. It used to be the royal seat of the ruler. The grand carpeted marble hall has 19 sparkling chandeliers and galleries on its upper floor. The entire palace tour including photo breaks will take around two and a half hours. The entrance and camera fee are both INR 50 each.
Walk through the colourful Laad Bazaar and Patthargatti – The heart of a city lies in its markets. In the old city of Hyderabad, the surroundings of Charminar are a maze of alleys. The streets of Laad Bazaar and Patthargatti come to life from 11 AM onwards. The endless clinking of the bangles and the soul stirring smell of ‘attar’ are the two noteworthy features of the market. Of course the famous pearls of Hyderabad are also sold here. Be sure to check their genuineness before buying from roadside sellers though. From something as ordinary as hairclips to something as intricate as a designer carpet, this market is a heaven for shoppers. We assume this is the best place for bridal shopping in Hyderabad with traditional dresses and jewelleries galore. Good News: this market is very pocket friendly!
Fill your tummy at Shadaab Hotel – After roaming in the labyrinth of little streets, Shadaab Hotel is the restaurant where you should head to, to taste the authentic Hyderabadi Biryani. It is easily navigable and a walking distance from Laad Bazaar and Pathhargatti. The documentaries we watched in Discovery channel and the articles we read in Lonely Planet all pointed us to Shadaab. Please be prepared to wait for a table and in some cases you may need to share the table with strangers. It is not a place where you go for ambiance and fancy lunch but it is a place you go to satiate the foodie in you. Get a kebab, mutton biryani and have the khubani-ka-sweet for dessert.
Enjoy sunset at Hussain Sagar Lake – Hire a taxi from Shadaab to reach here. It is a man-made lake built under the regime of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It is also the most scenic part of Hyderabad. The promenade around this huge lake in a busy city is surprisingly peaceful. Many parks are situated along the lake. On an island in the middle of the lake reigns a huge monolithic statue of Lord Budhha. Ferry service to the statue operates from Lumbini Park and Eat Street starting from Rs. 35 and going up to more than 200.
The other places of interest in and around Hyderabad include the Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and the Ramoji Film City, but all these destinations are either far away from the city centre or deserves at least a half day tour.
When you have only 24 hours in the city, plan it intelligently!
Have you been to Hyderabad? Do you have anything to add to the list? Would you like to know more about the city? Comment below and let me know!
*****
Love Traveling? Sign up for the free newsletter here to read our travel tales and inspirational tips!
Tania Banerjee
Tania is a freelance writer based in India who tinkers with words here and there but mostly focused on travel, food, arts and crafts. She writes for several Indian dailies and magazines.
51 Comments
cbegg1950
Some magnificent buildings and surrounding areas! I like the look of the biscuits, though Biryani is probably a bit strong spice for me!
Tania Mukherjee
If you find yourself in Kolkata, India, someday, do try the Biryani there. It’s subtle compared to the Biryani found in all other cities of India. It has a unique aroma!
cbegg1950
We’ve not been to India yet. We do mostly cruising so we could be there one day!
Tania Mukherjee
Please visit India once in your lifetime!
Doreen Pendgracs
I would love to explore Charminar and the Chowmahalla Palace. Thanks for sharing these gems of India with us, Tania.
Tania Mukherjee
You would love both. But the staircase of Charminar may not be good for your knee. 🙁
Laura
My partner and I were just discussing how much we’d love to travel to India in the near future. I think we’ll have to wait a year or two as we’d ideally like several months to explore. I always love reading your posts as they inspire me even more to travel to India!
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you very much Laura! India is so vast and diverse, you will definitely need several months! Also, the culture shock part is so real!! Be prepared!
ericalynnroot
This is both well-written and incredibly helpful! I feel like I always have limited time when I am in a new country, so knowing the most important things to see and how to prepare is always good to know. Also, these pictures are stunning!
Tania Mukherjee
Thanks. It was written keeping in mind the busy schedule of the modern population! 🙂
Heraa Farooq
Looks like Hyderabad is the next I want to be. The biryani looks really good. I liked the bangles, might come down some and shop some there 🙂
Tania Mukherjee
Well, its a paradise for bangle lovers. I have another post on my personal experience in the markets of Hyderabad. It will come up in a week! 🙂
Abhinav Singh
Hyderabad is such a lovely city. I did a heritage walk in Old Hyderabad. It is conducted by the government for a very nominal fee. The first sight of Mecca Masjid was awe inspiring. I wish to return.
Tania Mukherjee
I read about it, but I think I read a very high fee. Don’t know if I misinterpreted what I read! Mecca Masjid was literally amazing!
Shibani
I honestly never knew beyond CharMinar in Hyderabad. Being architecture, Hyderabad is a perfect bliss!! Loved all the places and specially Mecca Masjid, that’s looking so serene.
Tania Mukherjee
Even I knew nothing about Hyderabad apart from Charminar and Biryani! 🙂 This trip was such an eye opener! The city is awesome with awe-inspiring history and tasty food!
Paige Wunder
Wow! Hyderabad sounds incredible! I’m heading to India in March and it’s so hard to decide where I want to go in the 30 days I have to explore! Now this is on my list too! I love the geometry of Charminar. Looks absolutely stunning! Thanks for sharing!
Tania Mukherjee
You will be visiting India in March? Excellent! Drop me a message if you visit Mumbai. We can meet and have a meal together! You can come over at my place and we can cook something Indian together! 🙂
Candy
I’ve never heard of Hyderabad until now. I would love to stop by breakfast at Nimrah and then afterwards head straight to Charminar. So many cool things to do in this city!
Tania Mukherjee
The city is as old as you can imagine. It would be such a unique experience!
Claire
Shadaab hotel sounds like a great place to eat! Thank you for the info about what to wear in the temples, sometimes it is hard to know what is appropriate, i wouldn’t want to cause any offence!
Tania Mukherjee
I know! 🙂 It was very hot there, I would have preferred something short and comfy, but instead I wore an all covered up salwar kameez.
hopechen97
This seems like a place with something for everyone! It sounds like it has such a rich religious background and history, and I would love to visit someday! The wide selection of food is definitely an added bonus that makes Hyderabad seem even more appealing!
Tania Mukherjee
You are right to spot the fact that the city has something for everyone!
The Traveller
Amazing architecture!
Tania Mukherjee
I thought so too!
Pingback:
Yukti
Reading your post is nostalgic for me as I spent 4 years in Hyderabad. Hyderabad is really a place of Nawabs. I have seen all places except Mecca Masjid. Missed it. Loved the Charminar area and Laad bazaar for its liveliness. Sunset at Hussainsagar Lake is also a beautiful thing to do in Hyderabad.
Tania Mukherjee
Oh my post must have brought back fond memories of the city! So happy to make you feel nostalgic! <3
Kate Storm
Looks like a beautiful city! My husband would go crazy over that Biryani, it’s one of his favorite foods. Very cool view of a lesser-known city in India.
Tania Mukherjee
Ah then you should take your husband to India soon and make him taste biryani in the city of Kolkata. That’s the best city of India in terms of food.
Chasing Krista
the detail in that architecture is just stunning!! and the food looks so delicious! I can’t wait to visit India one day!!
Tania Mukherjee
Yaay let me know when you plan your India trip! 🙂
MariellaMNoboa
Hi there – I am traveling to India next week and I couldn’t be more excited! I am so happy I finally get to see this amazing country with my own eyes. I must say, the Chowmahalla Palace looks absolutely gorgeous from the outside. I bet the inside is ten times more marvelous! Unfortunately, I won’t be going to Hyderabad. 🙁 Oh well, theres always a next time. Safe travels! – Mariella
Tania Mukherjee
In which city would you be travelling to? Don’t hesitate to shoot me a message in case you need any help with information! 🙂
Abigail Sinsona
That palace truly does look so royal. I love that it has a wide open space in front of it, much like the castles you’ll find in Europe too! I could spend all day just taking photos of it and its grounds.
Tania Mukherjee
I wish I could capture the total volume of the open space in pictures! Its actually 100x this photograph!
Ami Bhat
I think I can never tire of Hyderabad. Even though I have been to these places numerous times, there is so much I still find in them. Chowmahalla Palace continues to be my favorite in these – love the way they have preserved it. And that vintage clock there beats the Salar Jung museum one. Glad you had a blast.
Tania Mukherjee
I totally missed that Vintage clock. By the way, I actually read your articles before travelling to Hyderabad! 🙂
Sandy N Vyjay
Hyderabad is indeed an indulgence for the senses. The aromas and flavours of Hyderabad are indeed unique and intriguing. Always love to step into the city. One of my favourite haunts in Hyderabad has to be the Salar Jung Museum, a treasure trove of antiques.
Tania Mukherjee
I missed checking the museum. I read it takes around 6 hours to properly visit the museum. We didn’t have that much time. We would definitely try it next time! 🙂
SindhuMurthy
Loved reading your post Tania. It brought back memories from my visit to Hyderabad a few years back. I fondly remember waiting for the clock to strike at the Safdarjung museum and also being awestruck at the beauty of the queen Niloufer. Love the picture taken at Charminar.
Tania Mukherjee
I read so much about the clock at Safdarjung, but, I can’t make it to the clock or the museum this time! 🙁
MikeNatalie
I always enjoy reading one day itineraries. You did a great job with this one and capturing the city trhough your photographs.
Tania Mukherjee
Thank you very much. This was my first attempt with one day itinerary! Encouraging comment like yours is inspiring me to do more of it! 🙂
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Pingback:
Meet Saxena
Interesting Read! Eating biryani or pulao in Hyderabad is a treat itself.
Pingback: