Explore Hyderabad’s historic gems with a local guide. Capture stunning architecture, savor Irani Chai, and discover the city’s pearl legacy.
Explore Hyderabad’s historic gems with a local guide. Capture stunning architecture, savor Irani Chai, and discover the city’s pearl legacy.
- Paigah Tombs - In the 18th century, the Paigah families were among the most influential and powerful in the aristocracy of the Princely State of Hyderabad. Renowned for their patronage of the arts, the Paigahs extended their unmatched elegance to their exquisite tombs. These tombs, located in the Pisal Banda suburbs of Hyderabad, are intricately…
- Paigah Tombs - In the 18th century, the Paigah families were among the most influential and powerful in the aristocracy of the Princely State of Hyderabad. Renowned for their patronage of the arts, the Paigahs extended their unmatched elegance to their exquisite tombs. These tombs, located in the Pisal Banda suburbs of Hyderabad, are intricately carved and enclosed in facades of pierced marble, showcasing the marvelous artistry of the Paigahs through inlaid mosaic tile work. The tombs are exemplary of the captivating Indo-Islamic architecture, blending Asaf Jahi and Rajputani styles.
- Charminar - Constructed by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, the Charminar is a square-shaped structure with four pillars and intricate carvings. It is popularly believed that the Charminar was built to commemorate the end of a plague that had severely affected the city. The Sultan is said to have prayed for the plague’s end, and upon its conclusion, he built the Charminar as a tribute to Allah. The four pillars are also thought to be dedicated to the first four caliphs of Islam. An inscription on the foundation stone translates to ‘Fill this my city with people as, Thou hast filled the river with fishes, O Lord,’ indicating the monument also marks the city’s foundation. Historian Mohammed Safiullah notes that the Charminar was built as the epicenter of Hyderabad.
- Nimrah Cafe and Bakery - Nimrah Cafe and Bakery is one of the oldest bakeries in Hyderabad. Visitors can explore the kitchen to experience the baking process and enjoy Irani chai (tea) and authentic biscuits of old Hyderabad. There is also an opportunity to chat with a family member of the cafe and locals.
- Char Kaman - Founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the city of Hyderabad was designed to be the new capital of the Golconda Sultanate. The city plan was crafted by Mir Mu’min Astarabadi, an Iranian scholar and architect, with the Charminar as its centerpiece. The four arches of the Char Kaman, located south of the Charminar, demarcated a piazza called the Jilu Khana, surrounded by royal palaces. Noblemen would pass through this square, leaving their retinue behind, to meet the sultan. At the center of the square is the Gulzar Houz, an octagonal cistern providing drinking water to attendants and soldiers guarding the royal residence. The arches were completed in 1592.
- Mir Alam Mandi Road - Originally a palace of a nobleman and Prime Minister of the Nizam state, Mir Alam Mandi has been transformed into a prime spice and vegetable market.
- Badshahi Ashurkhana - Built by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1594, the Badshahi Ashurkhana features brilliantly colored tile-mosaic decorations completed under Abdullah Qutb Shah. It is one of India’s finest examples of tile-mosaic art. The Ashurkhana includes sites like the Niyaz Khana (offering place), Naqaar Khana (drums place), Sarai Khana (resting place for devotees), Abdar Khana (drinking water place), Langar Khana (food serving place), Makan-e-Mujawer (Mujawer Residence), Daftar-e-Mujawer (Mujawer office), Alawa Chabutra, and Guardroom. The Ashurkhana’s enamel tiles have retained their luster and vibrant colors for over four centuries.
- Mozamjahi Market - Constructed between 1933-1935 during the reign of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Moazzam Jahi Market was a project by the City Improvement Board (CIB), founded in 1912 for Hyderabad’s development. Named after Prince Moazzam Jah, the market was intended as a commercial space between Hyderabad Railway Station and the Residency. Initially a fruit market, it later sold a variety of produce and goods. In the 1980s, the fruit market was moved to Kothapet.
- Public Gardens (Bagh-e-aam) - Also known as Bagh-e-Aam, the Public Gardens were established in 1846 during the Nizam’s period. Post-1980, it became known as Public Gardens. The park spans 54 acres.
- Assembly Road - The state Assembly building, located at the Public Gardens in Hyderabad’s city center, is the seat of Andhra Pradesh’s legislature. It is considered the heart of Hyderabad, where state laws are made and approved. Apart from its significant function, the Legislature is one of Hyderabad’s most majestic buildings, situated near the royal palaces of the Nizams, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals.
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat - Officially known as Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat, this administrative office for Telangana’s government employees is located in Hyderabad. On 15 September 2022, the Telangana government named the new Secretariat complex after Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. Designed by Chennai-based architects Ponni Concessao and Oscar Concessao, the complex was built by Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Pvt Limited, adhering to Green Building Council norms. A 125-ft tall statue of Ambedkar stands beside the Secretariat.
- Hussain Sagar Lake - Located just 2km from Hyderabad’s city center, Hussain Sagar is a popular tourist destination. The lake connects Secunderabad and Hyderabad and is the largest artificial lake in Asia. Excavated in 1562 AD during Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah’s reign, it was built on a tributary of the River Musi and named after Hussain Shah Wali. Initially intended for irrigation and water needs, it served this purpose until 1930. At the lake’s center stands a 16-meter tall, 350-tonne statue of Lord Buddha, made of white granite, on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’.
- Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue - Standing 125 feet tall on a 50-foot plinth, the total height of the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue is 175 feet. It is the tallest statue of B. R. Ambedkar in the world after the Statue of Social Justice in Vijayawada, and the fifth tallest, third tallest standing statue in India.
- Telangana Martyrs Memorial - Also known as Telangana Amara Jyothi or Amaraveerula Stupam, this monument honors 369 students who died during the 1969 agitation for a separate Telangana state. Telangana Martyrs Memorial Day is observed on 2 June annually across Telangana. Situated on the banks of Hussain Sagar, opposite the Public Gardens, Hyderabad, it is the largest seamless stainless-steel memorial in the world, five times larger than Chicago’s Cloud Gate.
- Necklace Road - A beautiful road.
- Ambica Pearls & Jewellers - Hyderabad is India’s main pearl trading center, earning it the nickname “City of Pearls.” The city’s population is largely engaged in the delicate art of pearl drilling, a skill practiced for generations. The pearl industry thrived under the patronage of the Qutub Shahi kings and the Asaf Jahis, who had a fondness for sparkling jewels. Pearls were part of the royal regalia, and their crushed form was believed to have healing and beautifying properties. Princesses were weighed against their pearls on birthdays, and Mir Osman Ali Khan, the richest of the Nizams, was said to have hoarded sacks of pearls in his palace basements.

- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tea and coffee
- Private transportation
- Bottled water
- All Fees and Taxes
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Tea and coffee
- Tips to Guide and Driver
- Lunch
- Tips to Guide and Driver
- Lunch
Explore Hyderabad with a knowledgeable local storyteller and guide on a captivating 4-hour tour of the Historic Old City. Marvel at the breathtaking architecture of the Paigah Tombs, Charminar, Char Kamans, and Badshahi Ashoorkhana. Engage with the locals, hone your photography skills, savor an Irani Chai (tea), and indulge in delicious Osmania biscuits…
Explore Hyderabad with a knowledgeable local storyteller and guide on a captivating 4-hour tour of the Historic Old City. Marvel at the breathtaking architecture of the Paigah Tombs, Charminar, Char Kamans, and Badshahi Ashoorkhana. Engage with the locals, hone your photography skills, savor an Irani Chai (tea), and indulge in delicious Osmania biscuits from Nimrah Café. Experience the allure of pearls from the renowned city of pearls.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.