At first glance, Hyderabad seems to have a split personality:
the more modern west side is the centre of India's software
industry and oozes a feeling of wealth and prosperity; the east
side is Hyderabad's old Muslim quarter, and is home to most of the
city's historical buildings and monuments. The two halves are
separated by the Musi River.
Hyderabad is famous for its monuments, and the Old City is a
must-see for visitors, including striking attractions like the
Charminar, the Qutb Shahi Tombs, the UNESCO-listed Chowmahalla
Palace, and the Spanish Mosque. One could easily spend days simply
looking at the buildings in Old Hyderabad, but the city's museums
are also excellent, including the Salar Jung Museum, the
Surendrapuri, the City Museum, and the AP State Archaeology Museum,
all showcasing different aspects of Hyderabad's history and
culture. The local tourism department organises guided heritage
walks on weekends.
As a bustling metropolis, getting around in Hyderabad can prove
to be a challenge. The fastest way is by taxi or auto rickshaw;
however, there is also a good bus system, with routes displayed in
English.
Hyderabad is known as the City of Pearls (once famous for its
diamonds and pearls), so it's no wonder that shopping is a major
pastime. Many traditional and historical bazaars are located
throughout the city: the Golden Mile consists of a number of
shopping plazas, malls, and designer boutiques; while Laad Bazaar
is popular for its variety of traditional and cultural antique
wares.
Just outside of Hyderabad, the Ramoji Film City is the world's
largest integrated film studio and theme park, and one of the most
popular tourist spots in India. Ramoji is a great place to get a
taste of Bollywood, as tours are conducted regularly.
