Hitech Hyderabad

CHARMINAR

Charminar is one of the most important landmarks of the city. The monument was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the eradication of plague, shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golconda to what now is known as Hyderabad. Legends tell that the emperor Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end of plague and took the vow to build a mosque on that very place. He ordered the construction of the mosque which became popular as Charminar because of its four characteristic minarets. The top floor of the four-storeyed structure has a mosque which has 45 covered prayer spaces and some open space to accommodate more people in Friday prayers

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah ,sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, ruled from Hyderabad. The Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument, with each side measuring 20 meters, and each of the edges having a pointed high minaret.It derives its name from these four gracefully carved minarets which soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around. 

Charminar literally means 'Four Minars'. Each minaret has four stories, each looking like a delicately carved ring around the minaret. Every side opens into a plaza through giant arches, which overlook four major thoroughfares and dwarf other features of the building except the minarets. Each arch is 11 m wide and rises 20 m to the pinnacle from the plinth. Once upon a time each of these arches led to four royal roads. Each of the four arches has a clock which were put up in 1889.

There are two galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony. It is vaulted underneath and appears like a dome. There is a large table raised seven or eight feet from the ground with steps to go up to it. Nothing in the town seems so lovely as the outside of that building

A thriving market still lies around the Charminar attracting people and merchandise of every description. In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops, a unique conglomeration of a grand oriental bazaar.The whole market around the Charminar is crowded with shops which sell glass bangles in rainbow colours. 

Unlike Taj Mahal, the fluted minarets of Charminar are built into the main structure. Inside the four-storied minarets 149 winding steps  guide the visitor to the upper floor, the highest point one can reach, and providing a panoramic view of the city. There are 45 prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more for Friday prayers.

Built with granite and lime mortar, Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The Charminar looks spectacular particularly in the nights when it is illuminated.

Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid is near Charminar in the old city of Hyderabad is the biggest mosque in the entire south India.In the sheer size it ranks third in the country, next only to Jama Masjid in Delhi and the one at Gulbarga. Though Quli Qutb Shah laid the foundation stone for Mecca Masjid in 1614, it was Emperror  Aurangzeb who completed its construction in 1687.Anestimated 10,000 devotees can offer prayers in the vast hall measuring 67 X 54 meters. Though Quli Qutb Shah , gave the name " Baitul Atiq " to this mosque ,a few bricks brought from Mecca ( and still displayed inside the mosque) perpetuated the name " Mecca Masjid " for this place of worship

Hussain Sagar

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali in 1562, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali. It was built on a tributary of the Musi river to meet the water and irrigation needs of Hyderabad, India.It is now popularly known as Tank Bund, and has become a tourist destination as well as a local attraction. Once the source of drinking water for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the Hussain Sagar lake's current condition is far from desirable. Since the 1980s and 1990s the immersion of Ganesh idols during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has led to the further pollution of the lake. Currently there are numerous environmentalist groups and government agencies that are trying to improve the condition of the lake.

Main attractions

An 18- meter- high statue of the Buddha is located on the Gibraltar rock in the center of the lake. The statue, which took 200 sculptors and 2 years to complete, was erected in 1992. Boat rides are provided by the tourism department.

On one side of the Hussain Sagar lake is the Necklace Road, which indeed twinkles like a necklace. On the other side is the Tank Bund, that narrates the history of Andhra Pradesh in granite through the imposing statues of men and women, who have done their motherland proud. Dotting the lake on all sides are parks shimmering with greenery and bustling with life under the glitter and glory of city lights

Salarjung Museum

Salar Jung family, who were important nobles in the courts of the Nizams , Muslim rulers of Hyderabad. The collection of Islamic art from all over Asia includes a variety of illuminated Korans,astrolabes, jewelled swords and daggers, and Persian carpets

The museum also houses fine examples of European painting and sculpture, most famously the "Veiled Rebecca" of Italian sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni, as well as Chinese and Japanese pieces. The collection was mostly acquired by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, also known as Salar Jung III. Some of the items he inherited were collected by his father, Nawab Mir Laiq Khan (Salar Jung II) and his grandfather, Nawab Mir Turab Ali Khan (Sir Salar Jung I).

Situated on the southern bank of the river Musi ,the Salar Jung Museum is not far from the other important monuments of the old city. The historic Charminar, Juma Masjid, High Court, State Central Library and the Osmania General Hospital are all within a radius of one mile from the
Salar Jung Museum.

The museum houses the largest and greatest collection of antiques and artifacts by a single person, Nawab Salar Jung III, Prime Minister of the court of Nizam. From minia- tures of Mewar to modern art of Europe; from the daggers of Nur Jehan and Emperor Jahangir the museum houses priceless gems of art A place that will leave you dazed with the dazzle of time-less art.

There are 38 galleries in the Museum spread on two floors. The ground floor has 20 galleries, and the first floor has 18 galleries. Even then, the total exhibited art objects constitute a little over 25% of the entire collection. The Indian Parliament has declared the museum an Institution of National Importance

Falaknuma Palace

 to the glory of the Nizams, it stands atop a hill 2000 feet  high. It has often been referred to as the 'Mirror of  the  Sky'. The palace was  designed by a  Italian architect and follows  a  western architectural style. Falaknuma houses a large  collection of rare treasures collected by the Nizam including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts   and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered  to be unique in the world.

The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out  as  wings  on  the  north. The middle  part  is  occupied  by the main building and the kitchen and harem quarters stretch  to  the south. The Falaknuma palace is a rare blend of  Italian  and  Tudor architecture. Its  glass  stained  windows  throw  a  spectrum  of colors into the rooms. The palace has a library with a walnut  carved roof, a  replica  of  the one  at Windsor Castle.  The library had one of the finest collections of the holy Quran in India.

The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It   includes the   largest  Venetian  chandeliers. It is  said  that it  took  six months to clean a  138-arm  Osler   chandelier   and   the   palace   has   40  such  chandeliers  adorning  the  halls ! The  famed dining hall of the   palace could  seat  100   guests on a   single   table. The  furniture  is also very aesthetic. The  chairs  are  carved   rosewood   with     green      leather upholstery. The  tableware was made of  gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.

Chilkur Balaji Temple

The Balaji Temple  is   located  at Chilkur in  R R district. It  is 33Kms away from Mehedipatnam. Approximately 75,000 to 1,00,000 devotees visit  in a week. Generally temple gets heavy rush on Fridays and Sundays. Sri Balaji Venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva   in kaliyuga, is available at  Chilkoor  to shower blessings on His devotees  who for  any reason are unable to go to Tirupati. Many devout worshippers flock to the Chjilkur Balaji Temple, to receive  the  blessings of the Lord and his consorts throughout  the year particularly during the Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams