Sanghi Temple

Sanghi Temple, located at Sanghi Nagar in Telangana in India, is about 35 km from Hyderabad city.[1] The sacred Raja Gopuram, which is very tall, can be seen from several kilometers away.

The temple complex is located on the top of Paramanand Giri hill, which attracts a number of devotees who seek the gods' blessings. The beauty of the slope around the temple is a popular view among its visitors. As you approach the Paramanand Giri, the gateway, or Maha Dwaram, welcomes the visitors. As you further proceed, the stone elephant is seen at the stairway. There are three Gopurams seen at the foot of the hillock which are so tall and seem as if touching the heavens. On the top of the temple complex, one can see the shrine of Lord Anjaneya, the son of Anjana devi and Wind God, who is believed to shower his blessings to his devotees.

The temple is constructed in South Indian style of temple architecture and houses all important Hindu God idols. It is a favorite getaway point for the Hyderabadis as well as a popular tourist spot. The idol of Venkateshwara inside the sanctum sanctorum is 9-½ ft tall.

There are small temples inside the complex dedicated to Padmavati, Shiva, Rama, Anjaneya, Ganesha, Navagrahas, Goddess Ashtalakshimi, Durga and Kartikeya. There is also a Pavitra Vanam, or holy garden, in the temple complex where special leaves and flowers are grown for performing poojas. The temple opens at 5.00 a.m. For one hour, Suprabhatam is recited, followed by Archana to the deities from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. General darshan for the devotees is allowed from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Poojas and Sevas are held between 6 p.m. and 8 pm. The temple remains closed between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. and after 8 p.m. Weekly Abhishekam is performed to the deities between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. (Sri Ramalingeshwara (Mondays), Sri Hanuman (Tuesdays), Sri Venkateshwara, Ashtalakshmi, Parvathi, Padmavathi and Rama(Fridays).

Timings of Sanghi Temple 08.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m.,break b/w 1pm to 4pm on all days except notified public holidays.

Other attractions of Sanghi Temple Cultural Film shows on all weekends in the afternoon.

Ramoji Film City

The Ramoji Film City (Telugu: రామోజీ ఫిలిం సిటీ) in India is located in Anajpur village, Hayathnagar Mandal in Hyderabad, Telangana. At 1666 acres, It is the largest integrated film city in the world.

It is also a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing both natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park. The Outer Ring Road Phase 2 has acquired lands at the entrance and is set to intersect the city

The huge 2000-acre Ramoji Film City, set up by Ramoji Group in 1996, is the land of million dreams, where comprehensive and world-class filmmaking facilities await dream merchants for a celluloid journey. Certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest film studio complex,[3] at Ramoji Film City a filmmaker can walk with a script and walk out with film. The massive dreamscape vibrant with flamboyant locales, picturesque avenues, make-believe sets and outstanding film-making infrastructure make it as filmmakers’ paradise.

Numerous films in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya, Bhojpuri, English and several TV commercials and serials are produced here every year. http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/1/largest-film-studio

Indian film producer Ramoji Rao, head of Ramoji Group, opened the facility in 1996. The creation of the Ramoji Film City was an outcome of the Group's association with Indian cinema through Usha Kiran Movies. This dedicated film production house, has produced over 80 films in several languages such as Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali and international film industries

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Mount Opera

Karmanghat Hanuman Temple

Karmanghat Hanuman Temple is located at Karman ghat, closer to Sagar Ring Road, it is a temple of Lord Hanuman. It is one of the oldest temples in the city.

It was built in the 12th century A.D (approximately 1143). When a Kakatiya king went hunting and was resting under a tree, he heard the chanting of Lord Rama's name. Wondering who it was in the middle of a dense forest, he discovered a stone idol of Lord Hanuman, in seated posture and the voice coming from the vigraha. Having paid his respects, he returned to his capital, and that night, Lord appeared in his dream and asked him to construct a temple.

The temple was built immediately and successive kings ruled it well. About 400 years later, Aurangzeb sent out his armies to all corners of the country for further expansion of Mughal Empire. At this temple, the army couldn't even step close to the compound wall. When the general reported this to Aurangzeb, he himself went with a crow bar to break down the temple. At the threshold of the temple, he heard a deafening roar rumblning like thunder, and the crowbar slipped from his hands as he was shaking in fear. Then he heard a voice in the heavens "Mandir todna hai rajan, to kar man ghat" (translation: "if u want to break down the temple king, then make your heart stronger") which is why the place got the name kar-man-ghat.

And to this day, Lord Anjaneya sits peacefully meditating and blessing devotees, as Dhyana Anjaneya Swamy.

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Chilkur Balaji Temple

Chilkur Balaji Temple (Telugu: చిలుకూరు బాలాజీ దేవాలయము) popularly known as Visa Balaji Temple or Visa God is an ancient Hindu temple of Lord Balaji on the banks of Osman Sagar Lake near Hyderabad, India. It is 17 km from Mehedipatnam. It is one of the oldest temples in Hyderabad built during the time of Madanna and Akkanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramadas.

The shrine is instrumental for the temple's popularity as Visa God.

This temple does not accept any money, does not have a hundi, from the devotees, no green channel or privileges for VVIPs. The other such temple is the Jalaram temple in Virpur (Rajkot), Gujarat.

This temple fought and won the right to stay out of government control. The only other such temple is "Ramanuj Kot", a temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan

During a visit the devotee goes through the usual rituals of prayer, including 11 circumambulations of the inner shrine, and makes a vow. Once the wish is fulfilled devotees then walk 108 times around the sanctum sanctorum. The majority of wishes by devotees are visa related, thus Chilkur Balaji is also referred to as 'Visa' Balaji.

The 11 circumambulations represent the secret of creation — 11 means "1 soul and 1 body" — uniting both with devotion and full determination to fulfill wish, dedicate on the lord; there is no second, everything is god.

In the 108 circumambulations, 1 represents the Existence, Almighty, God (Paramathma, Balaji in the minds of the devotee), 0 represents Creation (Illusionary World, Jagath) and 8 represents Human Body need to come to this universe 8 months (Jivatma).

The Chanting of following names of Lord Vishnu, immensely helps us in overcoming the obstacles in our daily life.

"Om Vashatkaaraaya Namaha" : For Success in Business.
"Om Aksharaaya Namaha" : For Success in Studies.
"Om Bhuthabhavanaya Namaha" : For Good Health.
"Om Paramaathmane Namaha" : For Self Confidence.
Every devotee has to keep eyes open while doing darshan of God idol in the temple.


God is everything; God does not want anything from devotees; God expects Devotion, Determination and Dedication from devotees. This temple has chance to surrender the above aspects with God

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Salar Jung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Darushifa, on the southern bank of the Musi river in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the three National Museums of India.[2] It has a collection of sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, metallic artefacts, carpets, clocks, and furniture from Japan, China, Burma, Nepal, India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, and North America. The museum's collection was sourced from the property of the Salar Jung family.

The Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century. Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889–1949), former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion. The collections left behind in his ancestral palace, 'Diwan Deodi' were formerly exhibited there as a private museum which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. Old timers believe that the present collection constitutes only half of the original art wealth collected by Salar Jung III. His employees siphoned off part of it, since Salar Jung was a bachelor and depended upon his staff to keep a vigil. Some more art pieces were lost or stolen during the shifting of the museum from Dewan Devdi to the present site.[3] Later in 1968, the museum shifted to its present location at Afzalgunj and is administered by a Board of Trustees with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh as ex officio chairperson under the Salar Jung Museum Act of 1961.

The Indian historical collections includes,

The paintings of legendary Raja Ravi Varma
Aurangzeb's sword.
Jade crafted daggers of, Emperor Jehangir, Noorjahan and Shah Jehan.
A wardrobe of Tipu Sultan and
A tiffin box made of gold and diamond
The furniture collection belonging from the time of Louis[disambiguation needed] 14th-17th and Napoleon. Salar Jung III collected about 43,000 artifacts and 50,000 books and manuscripts out of which only few are displayed in today's museum

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Qutb Shahi Tombs

The tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers in the Ibrahim Bagh (garden precinct) are located close to the famous Golkonda Fort in Hyderabad, India. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are two storied. In the centre of each tomb is a sarcophagus which overlies the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain.

They lie about a kilometre north of the outer perimeter wall of Golkonda Fort and its Banjara Darwaza (Gate of the Gipsies, or itinerant merchants), amidst the Ibrahim Bagh.

The tombs form a large cluster and stand on a raised platform. The tombs are domed structures built on a square base surrounded by pointed arches, a distinctive style that blends Persian, Pashtun and Hindu forms. The tombs are structures with intricately carved stonework and are surrounded by landscaped gardens.

The tombs were once furnished with carpets, chandeliers and velvet canopies on silver poles. Copies of the Quran were kept on pedestals and readers recited verses from the holy book at regular intervals. Golden spires were fitted over the tombs of the sultans to distinguish their tombs from those of other members of the royal family.


During the Qutub Shahi period, these tombs were held in great veneration. But after their reign, the tombs were neglected until Sir Salar Jung III ordered their restoration in the early 19th century. A garden was laid out, and a compound wall was built. Once again, the tomb-garden of the Qutub Shahi family became a place of serene beauty. All except the last of the Qutub Shahi sultans lie buried here.

Nehru Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park (also known as Hyderabad Zoo or Zoo Park) is a zoo located near Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the most visited destinations in Hyderabad.[3] Zoo hours vary by season, and the zoo is closed on Mondays.

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad was established in vide G.O.Ms. No.247, dated 26 October 1959. It was opened to the public on 6 October 1963. The Nehru Zoological Park is run by forest department, Government of TELANGANA, and is named after the first prime minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru.

The zoo occupies 380 acres (150 ha) and is adjacent to the 600-acre (240 ha) Mir Alam Tank. Nearly 100 species of birds, animals and reptiles are housed at the zoo, including indigenous animals like the Indian rhino, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, panther, gaur, Indian elephant, slender loris, python, as well as deer, antelopes and birds. The 600-acre (240 ha) Mir Alam Tank with its unique multiple arched bund (embankment), attracts hundreds of migratory birds, providing yet another attraction for the zoo.

The nocturnal house at the zoo artificially reverses night and day for the animals so that nocturnal animals are active while visitors are at the zoo. This exhibit includes fruit bats, slender loris, slow loris, civets, leopard cats, hedgehogs, barn owls, mottled wood owls, fishing owls, and great horned owls. There is also an aquarium, dino park, butterfly park and tortoise house.

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Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid (Arabic: ‎and Urdu: مکہ مسجد‎, Telugu: మక్కా మసీదు), also Makkah Masjid, is one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad in India, And it is one of the largest Mosques in India. It is located in the common capital area shared between the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building in the old city of Hyderabad, close to the historic landmarks of Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar, and Charminar.

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name. It formed the centerpiece around which the city was planned by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah.

Makkah Masjid was built during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda (now Hyderabad). The three arched facades have been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah personally laid the foundation stone. The construction was later completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after conquering Hyderabad.

On the edge of the pond are two stone and slab benches, whoever sits on them, according to legend, returns to sit on them again.


A room in the courtyard is believed to house a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammed.

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Lumbini Park

Lumbini Park is a small public, urban park of 7.5 acres (0.030 km2; 0.0117 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, India. Since it is located in the center of the city and is in close proximity to other tourist attractions, such as Birla Mandir and Necklace Road, it attracts many visitors throughout the year. Constructed in 1994, the park is maintained by the Buddha Purnima Project Authority that functions under the directives of the Government of Andhra Pradesh. In 2007, it was one of the targets of the 25 August 2007 Hyderabad bombings that killed 44 people.

In 1994, Lumbini Park was constructed at a cost of INR 2.35 crores on 5 acres (0.020 km2; 0.0078 sq mi) of land adjacent to Hussain Sagar. In 2000, the Buddha Purnima Project Authority (BPPA) was established to maintain specially designated development areas in Hyderabad. Among tourist attractions such as Necklace Road and NTR Gardens, Lumbini Park is being maintained by BPPA. To enhance the inflow of visitors, it constructed additional facilities for laser auditorium, boating facilities among other visually appealing features such as gardens and musical fountains.

In 2006, the park was named as T. Anjaiah Lumbini Park in honour of the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

A parcel of 2.5 acres (0.010 km2; 0.0039 sq mi) adjacent to the park was acquired from the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department for constructing the laser auditorium. This auditorium, believed to be the first of its kind in India, can seat up to 2000 people at a time for a show on Hyderabad's history. This was one of the initiatives for the park which was one of the key areas to support the World City strategy for Hyderabad and to broadcast Nepalese Culture Worldwide.

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Hussain Sagar

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, India, built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali in 1562, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It is spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometers and is fed by River Musi. A large monolithic statue of the Gautama Buddha, erected in 1992 stands in an island in the middle of the lake. Maximum depth of the lake is 32 feet.



Hussain Sagar was built across a tributary of the river Musi river in 1562 by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. The lake was named after Hussain Shah Wali, who helped design it. It is an artificial lake that holds water perennially fed by canals from Musi river. Hussain Sagar was the main source of water supply to Hyderabad before Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar were built on river Musi.

Hussain Sagar Lake forms an important part of Hyderabad but now has become the main sewage collection zone of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. As a result of heavy anthropogenic pressures such as unplanned urbanization, the entire ecosystem of Hussain Sagar Lake has changed. The water quality has deteriorated considerably during the last three decades. The lake has become shallow due to siltation and accumulation of plant debris. A 2008 study of the lake's water and sediment has found that it has exceeded its eutrophic condition, reaching hypereutrophic status.[12] Many undesirable changes in the structure of biological communities have resulted, and some important species have either declined or completely disappeared. Realising the importance of conservation of Hussain Sagar Lake, a project has been formulated. This project shall be implemented by APPCB, Hyderabad, India. In this respect, a project feasibility report has been prepared for the approval and financing. In spite of the commission of a sewage treatment plant on the western side, large amount of untreated sewage and industrial effluents continue to flow into the lake.

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Golconda Fort

Golkonda, also known as Golconda or Golla konda ("shepherd's hill"), a ruined fort of Southern India and capital of medieval Golconda Sultanate (c.1518–1687), is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad. It is also a mandal of Hyderabad District. The region is universally famous for the mines that have produced the world's most famous and coveted gems, including the Hope Diamond, The Eye of the Idol (aka the Nassak Diamond), the Koh-i-Noor and the Darya-i-Noor.



The Golkonda fort was first built by Kakatiya as part of their western defenses. It was built in 945 CE-970 CE[1] on the lines of the Kondapalli fort. The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The fort was rebuilt and strengthened by Pratapa Rudra of Kakatiya dynasty. The fort was further strengthened by Musunuri Nayaks who overthrew the Tughlak army occupying Warangal. The fort was ceded by the Musunuri chief, Kapaya Nayaka to the Bahmanis as part of the treaty in 1364 AD.[3] The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal emperor Aurangazeb in 1687 AD.

After the collapse of the Bahmani Sultanat, Golkonda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km outer wall enclosed the city. The state became a focal point for Shia Islam in India, for instance, in the 17th century, Bahraini clerics, Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din and Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani both emigrated to Golkonda.

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Charminar

The Charminar, built in 1591 CE, is a monument and mosque located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.  The landmark has become a global icon of Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India. The Charminar is situated on the east bank of Musi river. To the west lies the Laad Bazaar, and to the southwest lies the richly ornamented granite Makkah Masjid.



The English name is a translation and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar, translating to "Four Towers"; the eponymous towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches.

Some of the popular myths that are recorded in accord with the monument's architectural appearance are as follows.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the current caretaker of the structure, mentions in its records that, "There are various theories regarding the purpose for which Charminar was constructed. However, it is widely accepted that Charminar was built at the center of the city, to commemorate the eradication of plague", as Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah had prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a Mosque at the very place where he prayed.[6] According to Jean de Thévenot, a French traveller of the 17th century whose narration was complemented with the available Persian texts, the Charminar was constructed in the year 1591 CE, to commemorate the beginning of the second Islamic millennium year (1000 AH). The event was celebrated far and wide in the Islamic world, thus Qutb Shah founded the city of Hyderabad to celebrate the event and commemorate it with the construction of this building.

Historian Masud Hussain Khan says that the construction of Charminar was completed in the year 1592, and that it is the city of Hyderabad which was actually founded in the year 1591. According to the book "Days of the Beloved", Qutb shah constructed the Charminar in the year 1589, on the very spot where he first glimpsed his future queen Bhagmati, and after her conversion to Islam, Qutb Shah renamed the city as "Hyderabad". Though the story was denied by the historians and scholars, it became popular folklore among the locals.

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Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple, built on a 280 feet (85 m) high hillock called Naubath Pahad on a 13 acres (53,000 m2) plot. The construction took 10 years and was consecrated in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission. The temple was constructed by Birla Foundation, which has also constructed several similar temples across India, all of which are known as Birla Mandir.



The temple manifests a blend of Dravidian, Rajasthani and Utkala architectures. It is constructed of 2000 tons of pure white marble. The granite idol of presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is about 11 ft (3.4 m) tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella on the top. There is a brass flagstaff in the temple premises which rises to a height of 42 ft (13 m). The temple does not have traditional bells, as Swami Ranganathananda wished that the temple atmosphere should be conducive for meditation.

Apart from the main shrine, the consorts of Lord Venkateswara, Padmavati and Andal are housed in separate shrines. The temple also has separate shrines for various Hindu gods and goddess including Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Saibaba. Selected teachings of holy men and Gurbani are engraved on temple walls. Birla temples are open to all, as identified by Mahatma Gandhi and other Hindu leaders.

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