Hyderabad Budget Travel Guide helps you prepare for a trip to Hyderabad, India. Through this travel guide, I want to introduce the city and provide you with vital information for arriving and getting around it. All the major tourist attractions of Hyderabad are also listed for your convenience.
Hyderabad is the capital as well as biggest city in the state of Andhra Pradesh. With a population of 4 million people, Hyderabad is the 6th largest city in India. It is a centre for information technology, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals for the country. Hyderabad also has a thriving film industry. The Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad is the world's largest film studio.
The city of Hyderabad is quite young by Indian standards, being less than 500 years old. It is however located in a site where evidence of human habitation has been found going back to the Iron Age in 500 BC. Hyderabad was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1512. He chose the spot beside the Musi River to ensure amply water supply - a problem he had experienced in his old capital at Golconda.
Hyderabad was captured by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. He appointed Asaf Jah I as governor. The Asaf Jahi dynasty ruled Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain.
Hyderabad experiences a semi-arid climate. The most pleasant time to visit is between late October to early February. The coldest month is December, with average low temperature of 14.1°C (57.4°F). Summer months are from late February to June, when temperature rises to above 30°C. The hottest month is May, when the average high hits 38.8°C (101.8°F).
The new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is the main international gateway to Hyderabad. It is located 22 km from downtown, and connected by a sleek new elevated expressway. Budget travelers can fly AirAsia from Kuala Lumpur.
Upon arriving, you can take the airport bus called Aero Express to reach Hyderabad. The fare is between Rs 120 to Rs 150, depending on your destination. Alternatively, you can take a radio taxi. Flag fall at Rs 10 per km. There is a surcharge of 25% at night.
Budget Travel within Hyderabad
There are plenty of auto rickshaws in Hyderabad. The flag fall rate is Rs 12 for the first 1.5 km, and then Rs 7 for every subsequent kilometer. You should insist that the driver use the meter.
Badshahi Ashurkhana Royal House of Mourning, built in 1595 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Sha as a congregation hall during the month of Muharram.
Birla Archaeological Museum Museum occupying the Asmangarh Palace, the 19th century hunting lodge of the sixth Nizam, it displays sculptures and metal artifacts found in Andhra Pradesh.
Charminar Tower block with four minarets, site where Quli Qutb Shah prayed at the end of a plague epidemic.
Chowmahalla Palace Seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the ruler entertained official guests and royal visitors.
Falaknuma Palace One of the most opulent palaces of the Nizam ruler, built in 1872 by Nawab Viqar al-Umra.
Golconda Fort Site of the first capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, this gigantic fort has an outer wall measuring 10 km.
Hussain Sagar A huge man-made lake created in the 17th century.
Mecca Masjid One of the oldest and biggest mosque in Hyderabad.
Moula Ali Dargah A place of worship built by the Asif Jahis in memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.
Nizam's Museum Museum in a former palace, Purani Haveli, most famous for having the longest wardrobe in the world. The 6th Nizam, Mahbub Ali Pasha, is said to never have worn the same outfit twice.
Osmania General Hospital Hospital built in 1925 with spectacular stone architecture.
Paigah Tombs 200-year-old tombs belonging to noblemen with beautiful marble inlay work.
Raymond Tomb Tomb of French mercenary Michel Raymond, who was a close confidant of the second Nizam.
The Residency An elegant Palladian-style mansion, now the University College for Women, was originally built by the 3rd Nizam for James Kirkpatrick, the British Resident at his court.
Salar Jung Museum Museum whose core collection belonged to the Salar Jungs, the prime ministers of Hyderabad.
Secunderabad City that was founded as a cantonment for British troops, today an extension of Hyderabad.
State Archaeological Museum Museum with a large and disparate collection that includes Buddhist art, Chola bronzes, Roman coins, even an Egyptian mummy.
Before booking a hotel room, make sure you are getting the lowest price for it. Different hotel booking websites offers the same room at different prices. If you stick with one site all the time, you could be paying more for the same room. Now why pay more?
The form below is a Research Engine. It doesn't take bookings. Instead it lets you find the hotel booking website that offers the room you want at the lowest price. You can see and compare what different sites are offering, and then click to choose the one with the best price. Do this, and you're guaranteed to save a whole lot of money on your room reservations!
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