Currently the sixth largest metropolitan city in India, Hyderabad was famed for its riches, beautiful palaces and jewelries during the 200-year reigns of the Nizams. Now the ancestral legacy remains while the modern times blend in seamlessly.
STAY
The Park Hyderabad
One of the finest luxury hotels in the city, its contemporary design is inspired from the era gone-by. You will see the reminiscent of Nizams’ legendary jewels, from the façade to the custom installations, setting a royal ambience and carving a niche of exclusivity. The unique, perforated metal exterior has been inspired by the ‘Jalis’ of old Indian palaces. There’s a varied range of rooms and suites with enticing amenities, along with numerous facilities to entertain you throughout your stay.
The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace
Located in the heart of Hyderabad’s Hitech City, also known as the new Silicon Valley of India, the hotel is ideal for business and leisure travelers alike. Wellness and productivity are the main focus of this hotel, as you will see from the three pools, a signature fitness studio and spa, restaurants and many more. A unique room called WestinWORKOUT® Room allows you to keep a seamless workout routine in the comfort and privacy of your own room with special amenities of your choosing.
DINE
Jewel of Nizam - The Minar
Fondly known as Hyderabad’s Fifth Minar, this 100 foot tall tower adorns a jewel that houses a fine dining establishment. Exquisitely regal interior design is coupled with a gorgeous view over the city and the sparkling Osman Sagar Lake, making it a dream place for iconic occasions. The restaurant is a tribute to the iconic Hyderabadi cuisine and serves a complete dining experience in a single set meal. It’s best to make a reservation prior to your arrival to ensure a spot.
Kanak
Trident Hotel’s specialty restaurant offers a carefully curated menu consisting of authentic Hyderabadi recipes to the best of North-West Frontier Province cuisine and sea food delights from coastal India. There are two semi-private dining rooms for your special occasions, a sea food display, a wine tasting room and an exclusive Chai Bar that serves a selection of premium teas. Don’t miss out on the classic Hyderabadi dish, Pathar ka Gosht, made with overnight marinated lamb seared on hot granite stone.
Adaa
Located inside Taj Falaknuma Palace, in this former residence of the Nizam of Hyderabad you can expect utmost opulence. The rich interior with its intricately carved mirrors and life-size portraits of the Nizam punctuates the ambience with the right kind of authenticity. Enjoy gastronomic gems culled from a series of state Banquet Menus. Using nouvelle culinary techniques, each dish has been painstakingly recreated with the same authenticity and attention to detail as those in the royal kitchen in the past.
Simply South
Created by Chef Chalapati Rao, or known in the culinary world as Chef Challu, Simply South is a restaurant that redefines South Indian cuisine while preserving its heritage. His approach has not been to focus on a lavish spread, but to continuously perfect the art of cooking true traditional recipes from the regional kitchens of South India, giving high importance to fresh quality ingredients cooked exactly the way they were at homes centuries ago. The restaurant is also known for its great ambiance, perfect for families and friends.
SHOP
Local Crafts
You can find Hyberabadi souvenirs everywhere in the city. Laad Bazaar is the famous lane for colorful bangles, situated on the road leading to the Charminar where you can find gold lace, natural kohl and bidriware, created through the fine art of inlaying silver into a jet alloy. Lepakshi, a handicraft emporium on Gun Foundry Road, is the show window for crafts, handlooms and hand-woven fabrics, and the traditional art of Kalamkari-fabric painted in different colors with a stylized pen.
Designers’ Fashion
The Somajiguda and Begumpet neighborhood boast numerous retail outlets for branded gears and designer boutiques, reflecting the cosmopolitan culture of the city. For a one-stop shop to Indian designers, Anahita offers bright and eclectic fashion that merges traditional and modern styles, with an emphasis on showcasing complete looks for each season. Each of the designer labels like Anand Kabra, Pankaj and Nidhi, Ranna Gill and Manish Arora get a dedicated rack space for easier browsing, along with a special section for children’s clothing.
DO
Join the Fairs & Festival
Like the rest of India, Hyderabad celebrates festivals such as Deepavali, the festival of lights, and the harvest festival, Sankranti, where people cook a traditional sweet dish called “pongal” and raises vibrant kites in the sky. During the Telugu New Year day, Ugadi, people wear new clothes and compete in competitions like bullock-cart races and heavy weight lifting. An 11-day festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesh is called Vinayak Chaturthi and concludes with Ganesh idols being immersed in the Hussain Sagar Lake.
Getting to know Tollywood
There’s Bollywood, and then there’s Tollywood, the film industry in the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states. Ramoji Film City is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex spanning 2,000 acres of land adorned with natural and artificial attractions. It blends permanent filming sets, from railway stations to temples, with interactive entertainment zones, thematic locales, joy rides, amusement parks and special shows. The combination attracts not only tourists, but also those who want to hold events, theme parties and weddings.
Enjoy the Spa
In the busy city, a good spa treatment rejuvenates your body and releases all the tension. The royal treatments in Taj Faluknumma’s Jiva Spa are based on the ancient approach to health and well-being, including Indian therapies and aromatherapies. You can also try India’s largest spa chain, O2 Spa, which fuses age-old therapies and modern technology, incorporating Asian, Western and Indian spa treatments. The spa packages include Jet Lag Recovery Package, Precious Time Together for two, and the Ultimate Indulgence.
Immerse in History
With over 400 years of history, there is no end to the sights and places to explore. Chowmahalla Palace comprises of four palaces and famed for being the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Devoted to Lord Venkateswara, Birla Mandir was built exclusively with Rajasthan’s marbles. Mosques Mecca Masjid and Charminar attract muslim pilgrims along with general visitors. The Paigah Tombs are architectural marvels with its combination of styles. The museums such as Telangana State Museum, Salar Jung Museum and Nizam’s Museum should also be included in your itinerary.
