Hyderabad

Location : Andhra Pradesh
Tourist Attractions : Charminar, Golconda Fort
Local Tongue : Urdu, Telugu, Hindi and English
Best time to Visit : September to February
STD Code : (91) - 40


About Hyderabad
The city of Hyderabad in southern India is a complete delight for trip-makers. The imposing Char Minar, the Jama Masjid and the Mecca Masjid are a few grand names that make travellers flock to Hyderabad, the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is mostly remembered for its Qutub Shahi period wonders. Today, the city is known not only in terms of historical importance but also because of its being the information technology hub of India. The city of Hyderabad was first ruled by the Qutub Shahi rulers. Next, it was reigned by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and the Asaf Jahi dynasty, finally being merged into the Indian Union. Apart from giving you wonderful sightseeing options, Hyderabad also offers travellers the choicest of cuisines, that leave a good taste for a long time.

Major Tourist Attractions in Hyderabad
Sightseeing in Hyderabad is truly a wonderful experience. There are lakes, museums, mosques, forts and palaces to visit. Given below are some of the most visited tourist attractions in Hyderabad.

Charminar
The most popular landmark in Hyderabad, Charminar is situated in the centre of the old city amidst bustling bazaars. The four sided towering structure was built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 in the newly formed city of Bhagyanagar (later renamed Hyderabad) shortly after shifting his capital there from Golconda. The ruler built the monument in the memory of his wife Bhagmati and is believed to have been constructed on the exact spot where he saw her for the first time. 

Golconda Fort
Just a stone's throw away from Hyderabad, Golconda Fort is a magnificent fortress built by the Kakatiya rulers during the 13th century. Built on a 120 mts high granite hill, the fort was originally built as a mud construction but was later extended to include granite structures that is almost 5 km in circumference. 

Hyderabad Palaces
The historic city of Hyderabad houses a number of beautiful palaces that stand as witnesses to its rich historical past. Two of the most amazing structures in Hyderabad are the Falaknuma Palace built by Nawab Vikar Ulmara and the Ashmangarh Palace built by Asman Jah, the former prime minister of Hyderabad. 

HITECH City
The old part of Hyderabad is laden with ancient structures while the newer version of the place presents a completely different aspect with ultramodern structures, beautiful architecture and contemporary shopping complexes studded in every nook and corner. HITECH city (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City), situated in the Madhpur area is a 10 storeyed cylindrical structure that houses offices of Indian and International IT giants in over 5,00,000 sq. feet of area. 

Popular Shopping Centres in Hyderabad
One of the must visits in Hyderabad is the pearl bazaar where beautiful pearls coming in from all over the world pass through the hands of skilled craftsmen to be molded into gorgeous jewellery. Other nearby markets sell clothing items including colorful attire as sported by some of the known tribes of Andhra Pradesh. 

Biryani Delights
The Mughals have left a deep impression on Indian culture including everything from its architecture to cuisine. Biryani (a dish made of rice and mutton) is an integral part of the Hyderabadi cuisine that best showcases the impact of Mughal culture on a platter. For non-vegetarians, biryani promises a complete gastronomical treat which makes an inherent part of every Hyderabadi celebration. The Hyderabadi biryani has become famous all over the country for its unique flavour and aroma and the spices used ensure complete satisfaction of taste and hungriness. While in Hyderabad, do not miss out on a huge platter of delectable biryani. 

Popular Getaways from Hyderabad
Excursions always add to a traveller's taste. And from Hyderabad as well, you can plan quite a few getaways to make the most of your trip to India. Here are some of the most preferred getaways from Hyderabad.

Warangal
The historical city of Warangal is located 140 km north of Hyderabad. The erstwhile capital of the Kakatiya rulers dates back to the 11th century and houses a number of ancient structures of tourist interest. An ancient star shaped temple dating back to the 13th century is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Other places of tourist interest around Warangal are Vinayak Sagar and Kondapuram. 

Nagarjunakonda
An important Buddhist centre, Nagarjunakonda lies 150 km south-east of Hyderabad. Among the major tourist attractions here are the 2nd century ruins of a Buddhist centre and the world's largest masonry dam built on river Krishna. 

Bidar
History comes alive in the form of 15th and 16th century old ruins at Bidar, situated at a distance of 150 km west of Hyderabad. The prominent tourist attractions at the place include the rangeen mahal or the colorful palace. 

Hyderabad Travel (Airport/Railway/Road) Information
By Air : The Begumpet airport located at Hyderabad connects the city with all other major Indian cities and a number of International cities including those in the middle east, Singapore and more recently Chicago. An International airport is being constructed in the outskirts of the city and once complete will connect with a number of other destinations. Indian Airlines and other private carriers operate several flights a day connecting Hyderabad with other major Indian cities including Delhi and Mumbai. 

By Rail : The Secunderabad railway station, situated at the centre of the city receives regular trains from all the major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Cochin, Bhubaneshwar and Rajkot. Daily trains between Delhi and Hyderabad are Dakshin Exp. and A P Exp.

By Road : Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation buses connect Hyderabad with all the neigbouring cities in and outside the state. National Highways 7 & 9 pass through the city. 

Distance from Hyderabad to Major Cities

• Aurangabad : 554 Km 
• Bangalore : 562 Km 
• Nagpur : 487 Km 
• Pune : 548 Km 
• Tirupati : 592 Km 
• Vijaywada : 267 K

Mysore

Location : Karnataka
Tourist Attractions : Mysore Palace, St. Philomena's Church, Chamundi Hills
Local Tongue : Kannada, English, Tamil, Hindi
STD Code : (91) - 821
Best time to Visit : October to March


About Mysore
Mysore, situated in the south Indian state of Karnataka, is a tiny place with a rich history and cultural past. The second largest city in Karnataka, Mysore is adorned with beautiful architectural structures and is also one of the most well maintained cities of India boasting of well built roads, clean surroundings and nice people which reflect the glory as the city would have witnessed during the past times. Mysore is known worldwide for its fine quality of silk and the Mysore pak (a dessert made of lots of liquid butter, sugar and chick pea flour). 

Mysore is the former capital of the Wodeyar rulers who held control of the city for most of its rich past except for a few years when Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali took over control. According to legend, the city is named after the demon Mahishasur who was killed by Goddess Chamundeshwari on top of the Chamundi hills. The city is today a major tourist attraction and a flourishing market for locally produced material such as silk sarees, sandalwood and stone carved structures. 

Climate & Best time to Visit
Unlike other south Indian cities which remain hot and humid, Mysore owing to its altitude is blessed with a pleasant climate throughout the year with temperature hovering between 23 to 35 degrees during summer (April to June) and remaining around 20 degrees during winters. July to September are the monsoon months. The best time to visit Mysore are the months between October and March. 

Tourist Attractions in Mysore
Mysore Palace
The huge Mysore Palace was once the residence of the Wodeyars. An accumulation of stained glass windows, neatly carved wooden doors, colorful murals and miniature paintings, the structure was constructed in 1912 in a typical Indo-saracenic style of architecture. The major attractions inside its fortified walls are the golden elephant throne and the durbar hall. During special days the palace is lit up by thousands of bulbs presenting a truly spectacular sight. 

St. Philomena's Church
One of the most magnificent churches in India, this ancient structure is adorned with intricate carvings on its walls and stained glass windows.

Chamundi Hills
Named after Goddess Chamundeshwari, the deity of Mysore royal family, The Chamundi Hills and the Chamundeshwari Temple perched on its top is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage attracting hordes of pilgrims throughout the year. The monolithic statue of Nandi, the bull is an architectural splendor carved out of a single rock. 

Other Attractions
Besides the above, Bangalore is also famous for other attractions such as the Brindavan Gardens, Mysore Zoo, the Oriental Research Institute, Folk Art Museum and the Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery. 

Things to Do
Shopping
Mysore is a good place to shop with a lot of locally made quality products available at cheap prices. The must buys on a shopper's list include traditional Mysore silk sarees that come in a variety of colors and designs, handicrafts items including those made of sandalwood, rosewood and teakwood, incense sticks, stone carvings and paintings. The major shopping promenades in Mysore are at Devraj Urs Road, Sayyaji Rao Road, Ashoka Road and Dhanvantri Road. 

Get Aways
Bandipur National Park
80 km from Mysore is a safe heaven for wild denizens. The Bandipur National Park is one of the most exotic wildlife parks in India housing some rare species of plants and animals. The site has been recently included in the Project Tiger by the World Wildlife Fund. The Nagarhole National Park is also situated near by. 

Bangalore
The capital of Karnataka, Bangalore is one of the most modernised cities in India. A mix of ultramodern structures and an old world charm, Bangalore boasts of attractions such as historical monuments, lakes, museums, lush gardens and hitech cities. It is also the hub of a number of information technology companies in India, being sobriquet the Silicon Valley of India.

Tourist Preferred Hotels in Mysore
The historic city of Mysore boasts of a number of quality hotels which provide the best in luxury and comfort for its guests. Some of the best hotels in Mysore include Kings Kourt Hotel (3 star, situated on Laxmi Bai Road just 5 km from both railway station & bus stand), Maurya Palace (3 star, situated on Sri Harsha Road 2 km from railway station and bus stand), Kaynes Hotel (3 star, situated on BEML Road just 8 km from railway station & 9 km from bus stand), The Viceroy (3 star, situated on Sri Harsha Road just 2 km from railway station & 0.5 km from bus stand), Indus Valley Ayurvedic Centre (5 star, situated in Ittigegud just 7 km from railway station & 5 km from bus stand), Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel (5 star, situated in Siddhartha Nagar just 8 km from railway station & 4 km from bus stand), Bush Betta Wildlife Resorts (3 star equivalent, situated in Chamarajanagar Distt. near the railway station), Quality Inn Southern Star (4 star, situated on Vinoba Road just 0.5 km from railway station and 1.5 km from bus stand) and Best Western Ramanashree (3 star, situated in Hardinge Circle just 3 km from railway station & 1 km from bus stand). 

Mysore Travel (Air/Rail/Road) Information
By Air : The nearest airport is situated at Bangalore from where you can board a state transport bus or hire a taxi to reach Mysore. Bangalore is connected to all the major Indian cities through regular flights. 

By Rail : Mysore has its own railway station which connects the city with other major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore. Daily trains between Bangalore and Mysore are the Mysore Pass and Mysore Exp. The journey takes 4 hours to complete. 

By Road : A good network of roads connect Mysore with other neighbouring cities in and outside the state. State transport buses and other private operators provide regular services between Bangalore and Mysore. 

Distance from Major Cities

• Bangalore : 139 Km
• Chennai : 470 Km
• Coimbatore : 201 Km
• Kochi : 397 Km
• Panaji : 643 Km
• Pondicherry : 435 Km
• Tiruapti : 386 Km