Hyderabad sightseeing with monuments entrances

Day 1 Hyderabad

Full day city tour of Hyderabad include visit to Charminar: an imposing monument, which reflects the glory of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. It is a massive square structure, 56 m (183.72 ft) high and 30 m (98.42 ft) wide. This monument is built entirely of granite and lime mortar. It has 4 minarets one on each of its corners. These fluted minarets are attached to the main building and rise towards the sky to a height of 56 m (183.72 ft). Each minaret of the Charminar has a double balcony. A small bulbous cupola crowns each of these beautiful minarets, which is decorated with petal like formations. A short pointed spire crowns all the minarets. This beautiful colossus in granite, lime, mortar and, some say, pulverized marble, was at one time the heart of the city. This great tribute to aesthetics looks sturdy and solid from a distance but as one moves closer, it emerges as an elegant and romantic edifice proclaiming its architectural eminence in all its detail and dignity.

Grand Mecca Masjid: oldest masjids in the city & the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. It took 77 years to come up as the magnificent edifice we see today.

Excursion to visit Golconda Fort: of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India, once famous for its diamond mines. The history of Golconda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. It is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, and is surrounded by crenellated ramparts constructed of large masonry blocks weighing several tonnes. The massive gates are studded with large pointed iron spikes to prevent elephants from battering them down. The outer wall surrounding the entire township of Golconda, is about 11 kilometres long, and is strongly fortified. In its heyday, the 10 kilometre long road from Golconda to outer Hyderabad, was a fabulous market selling jewellery, diamonds, pearls and other gems, which were famous all over the world.

Qutub Shahi Tombs: quite close to the Golconda fort are the tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers in the Ibrahim Bagh. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single story while the larger ones are two storied. In the center of each tomb is a sarcophagus which overlies the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain.