Hyderabad is a city which is known for its rich culture and heritage and historical monuments. The era of Nizams played an important role in the culture and monuments of Hyderabad. There are a number of famous historical places and heritage monuments which form a major part of tourist attractions in Hyderabad. The 5 most famous monuments of Hyderabad which are a must visit for every traveler are:
1. Charminar
This monument was constructed in 1591 under the Qutb Shahi Dynasty. Charminar actually means four towers. The structure has 4 towers or minarets which have domes over it and has a spiral staircase which leads you to the upper floors of the structure. It was basically constructed a ceremonial gate which leads to the actual palace. In olden times, it housed a mosque and a religious place of study in the first floor while the second floor was sued as a cistern. It was used to propagate and announce important messages from the kings to the common man. Charminar is well lit and provides a beautiful sight for viewing at night time. A must visit for a traveller when he’s in the city of Hyderabad.
2. Mecca Masjid
This mosque is considered to be one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad and it is considered as one of the largest mosques of India. Mecca Masjid received its name due to its bricks being made from the soil of Mecca of Saudi Arabia which was specially transported for the construction of this mosque. This monument is listed as a heritage building and is a famous tourist attraction in the state of Hyderabad.
3. Qutb Shahi Tombs
The Qutb Shahi Tombs are situated about a kilometer away from Golconda fort and are very famously called as Seven Tombs. This place has the maximum number of tombs in one place, dedicated to the 7 great rulers and kings of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty who ruled the state of Hyderabad for about 170 years. The tombs vary from each other in size and design and some are built quite simple while others have intricate designs carved on them. Yet each tomb has its own beauty and story to tell. Apart from the royal tombs where the Qutb Shahi rulers are buried there are other tombs as well of people who do not belong to the royal family. The famous saint who constructed the Hussain Sagar Lake is buried right here in these tombs. The Qutb Shahi tombs have faced assault time and again yet stands tall boasting of its excellent architectural style and craftsmanship.
4. Salar Jung Museum
Salar Jung Museum is a very popular and most visited art museum in the state of Hyderabad and is well known for its excellent collection of sculptures and paintings. It lies on the southern banks of the river Musi and is located in an area known as Darush Shifa which is known for its unani medicines. The museum has antique pieces ranging from carvings, textiles, wide variety of manuscripts, a number of different metallic artifacts, different type of clocks, furniture and a number of delicately crafted sculptures. Most of these items belong to the family of Salar Jung and its generations and were used by them in those days. The remaining items have been shipped from countries like Japan, China, Persia, Egypt and Europe. This museum boasts to be one of the largest museums in the world and attracts tourists from all parts of the world.
5. Golconda Fort
Located towards the western province of Hyderabad, the Golconda Fort was the capital of the Qutub Shahi Kings. It is assumed to be a 2000 years old structure. This fort is one of the most magnificent and massive fortress ever made and stands on a granite hill which is about 120 meters high giving a bird eye’s view of the city to the person standing on it. The structure of Golconda fort has eight gateways, huge halls and four draw bridges. The first gateway or enclosure is known as Fateh Darwaza literally meaning Victory Gate in Urdu because Aurangzeb’s army marched through this very enclosure successfully for the first time. The Fateh Darwaza has an outstanding feature of excellent engineering been executed where a sound produced at the entrance dome creates an echo at the hilltop pavilion which is nearly a kilometer away from the dome. This feature was used as a warning signal if the fort witnessed any invasions by enemy.
Thus, the state of Hyderabad is rich in historical monuments and heritage sites and is a real pleasure for tourist to visit these sites and learn more about the culture of the state and its history.
