Looking to buy a house? Wait till March 2011

Those of you who wanted to buy a house, but have found the prices too steep, can take heart. If realty experts are to be believed, the coming March will see property prices coming down. The past one year has seen investor groups from across the country and abroad pumping money into Ahmedabad’s realty market.

Developers have taken advantage of this and hiked the residential property rates, comparing the city with metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

This had resulted in the investors’ share in residential segment going up to 75 per cent. According to experts, this is not an ideal situation for real estate. Hence, realty experts and consultants are expecting around 25 per cent correction in the residential property by March 2011.

Mukesh Vasani of City Estate Management said, “Investors’ share in residential segment here has gone up to 75 pc. Of which, 50 pc comprise investors from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, NRGs and NRIs.”

Moreover, Vasani added that around 50-odd under construction schemes will produce an additional 12,000 to 15,000 unit houses. So, the investors of overpriced properties are willing to exit first. Same is the case with the small-time investor, he said.

Ashutosh Limaye, associate director (Strategic Consulting), Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, agrees with the trend. Explaining the reason for the looming crises, Vinod Thakkar, CEO of Square feet realty firm in Mumbai, said, “IT cities such as Pune, Hyderabad, Banglore and Chennai are still struggling to come out of the financial crisis. Hence, the realty market there is unstable, whereas Delhi and Mumbai have become super-speculative markets. The outskirts of Mumbai is also seeing some correction. For example, Kalyan has a poor infrastructure and is far away from the city.

Thakkar, who has opened a branch here, is hopeful. “Gujarat being a progressive state and Ahmedabad being the financial hub, it is seeing robust realty boom. This has motivated other state investors to pump in money here. If this continues, it can go the Mumbai way.”

Get building permit in 4 days: GHMC

Hyderabad

In order to dispose of building permissions applications in a speedy manner, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) introduced the Green Channel on a trial basis from Monday.The new concept of giving building permissions within four days will be implemented in a full-fledged manner in all the circles in the next five days. The applicants can submit their applications at the citizen service centres of the municipal circle concerned.

Unlike the Tatkal schemes, no additional fee would be
levied or collected from the applicants. The Green Channel is applicable only to those seekinggo-ahead for construction of ground+three floors (12 metres height) excluding parking floors or 1,000 sq metres area plots in the municipal corporation area.

If the applicant does not get the building permission within four working days despite submitting all the relevant documents and there being no delay on the part of the town planning wing, he or she will be entitled to a payment of Rs 50 per day till the permission is granted. This late fee will be recovered from the salary of the officer concerned.

Initially, permissions under the Green Channel will be given to the layouts that have been approved by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority or the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).The applications will have to be submitted through registered architects to ensure that the plans are in conformity with the master plan and zoning regulations.

If the documents submitted by the applicants, which are certified by the architects, are found to be false or fake, the latter’s licence will be cancelled and criminal and civil action taken besides cancelling the building permission.When the scheme was announced by the GHMC last month, the town planning wing said architects should submit three bank guarantees each for Rs 10,000 for each application. Now, the corporation has relaxed the norm and said only a one-time security deposit of
Rs 25,000 will have to be submitted along with the Green Channel applications.

The architect, who submits the building application on behalf of the builder or owner, should submit a monthly progress report on the construction of the building and should list the deviations, if any. If he does not submit themonthly report, his guarantee will be forfeited by the corporation. If the report is not submitted for a three-month period, the corporation will cancel his licence.

Some architects wanted to remove the clause of action against them, but the corporation officials said it cannot be relaxed. “All the circle-level town planning staff have been asked to clear their pending files within four days and implement the Green Channel after five days. The Green Channel applications and proforma are prepared in a simple manner,” GHMC additional commissioner (planning) G Rajendra Prasad told TOI.

Green Channel Challenge
Applicants are entitled to Rs 50 a day for every day of delay. This will be recovered from officer concerned
Architects to face civil, criminal action for fake/false data
Architects to submit three-month progress report
Failure to submit reports will result in forfeiting of their security deposit

Real estate emerging as a asset

       While stocks and bonds have held their position as traditional investment instruments, investors are increasingly looking for alternate investments such real estate, hedge funds, private equity and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to engineer an overall enhanced performance of their portfolios.

Improving construction quality, enhanced market transparency, and availability of suitable options have made real estate a good asset class to invest in. It provides a stable and predictable income yield along with a possibility of capital appreciation. While residential markets in India have already witnessed a rapid bounceback, commercial markets had touched a cyclical low and are expected to recover.

The market value of investment-grade real estate in India under construction has increased from USD 69.4 billion at end-2006 to USD 101.3 billion by end-June 2010, which is 8.2 percent of India’s nominal GDP for 2009. A significant portion of this market value is costs of construction and development of these real estate assets. The costs have been assessed to be USD 48.5 billion over a period of 2-3 years.

The market value of commercial (office and retail) real estate under construction is USD 34.8 billion. Commercial office space under development contributes 74 percent of the estimated market value being developed in the commercial sector. As of the second quarter of 2010, Tier I cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, and NCR-Delhi contribute to 70 percent of the market value of commercial office space under construction, while Tier II cities of Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad and Kolkata contribute to 21 percent of the pie. Other investment-grade developments in Tier III cities contribute to a mere nine percent of the pan-India market value being developed in India today.

However, with infrastructural developments and lower real estate costs, the share of Tier III cities is likely to grow in future. While the Tier I cities contribute to 62 percent of the commercial retail space under development, 27 percent is supplied by the Tier II cities.

The residential sector has been the most resilient one in the recent downturn, aided by the high demand for housing in India. While residential property prices slumped in the first half of 2009, their rapid recovery in the second half of 2009 and first half of 2010 was accompanied by a slew of launches across India.

As of the second quarter of 2010, the market value of residential properties under construction is USD 66.5 billion, contributing 66 percent of the value of total real estate under construction in India.While the premium segment comprises only four percent of the saleable area being developed, it contributes to 24 percent of market value. While NCR-Delhi leads in terms of volume of residential properties being developed, Mumbai contributes a larger share to the market value.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in housing and real estate in India increased steadily from USD 0.04 billion in 2005-06 to USD 2.18 billion in 2007-08. Since 2007-08, a total FDI of USD 7.82 billion has been put into housing and real estate in India. Considering an average construction period of three years for properties, this comes to 7.7 percent of the market value of investment-grade real estate under construction as of the second quarter of 2010.

HMDA to wind up ORR land issue

Hyderabad:

After five long years, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is all set to wind up the land acquisition process for the Outer Ring Road (ORR). It is planning to end the process in January 2011 by allotting land-to-land compensation to about 2,800 individuals, who game up their land for the project.

The authority has also started posting village-wise details of names of the affected land owners, survey no., extent, compensation paid and structural value on its website. HMDA officials said details of Units 2, 4, 5 and 6 have been posted on the website, while Unit 1 details would be put up soon.

For the 170-kilometre ORR, land acquisition process began in 2005, but gathered momentum only in 2007 after the state government fixed compensation package for farmers losing their valuable land to the ORR.

For ORR Phase I, II-A and II-B projects, the HMDA had acquired nearly 6,100 acres in 85 villages in surrounding areas of the city from 8,000 land owners. In Unit 4, which covers areas like Shamirpet, Thumkunta, Yadgarpally, Cheeryal and Ghatkesar villages and part of Phase II-B, 2,016 property owners lost their land.

Over 80 acres of land — 55 acres in Kandlakoya, four acres in Poppalguda, 10 acres near Muthangi junction, eight acres in Shamirpet and four acres in Keesara areas — are still caught in legal wrangles. Officials hope the court verdict would be out by the time the ORR gets completed in 2012.

Towards land acquisition, nearly Rs 500 crore compensation has already been paid and another Rs 100 crore would have to be paid to land owners in some areas where the urban development authority deposited a part of the compensation in court as the land owners did not come forward to take compensation and denied to give consent. In some cases, there were title disputes between parties, while in some there were no claimants.

At the beginning, officials thought they would need about 8,000 acres of land for ORR and satellite townships along it. The authority even created separate units to acquire land.

However, they dropped the idea of acquiring nearly 2,000 acres for townships following opposition from the people. An acquisition unit, 3, was also withdrawn by HMDA three years ago. “Under land-to-land compensation to 3,600 individuals, 859 people were allotted plots in developed layouts in Shamshabad and Srinagar. The rest would be given plots in Kondapur, Yadgarpally, Thimmaipally and Koheda by January, 2011,” ORR special deputy collector (land acquisition) K Bhaskar said.

Hike in Prime Lending Rates (PLR)

           Following the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) decision to hike its key policy rates in its monetary policy review last month, some banks have raised their prime lending rates (PLR) even as they left their recently-declared base rates unchanged.

According to the RBI’s guidelines, all categories of loans sanctioned after July 1 have to be linked to base rate — the floor rate below which a bank cannot lend, while the ones extended during the old regime could continue till they are up for renewal or a switch over takes place on mutually agreed terms.

For home loan borrowers, what the recent PLR hike means is that those who have taken a loan after July 1 — when the base rate regime came into being — will not be affected by this hike, but those who have not made the switch to base rate yet will see their equated monthly instalments (EMI) moving northwards. It is seen as an attempt by lending banks to coax borrowers to embrace the new benchmark.

Consequently, the question topmost on the minds of borrowers with home loans linked to PLR is whether it’s best to voluntarily shift to base rate to ensure lower home loan interest rate. The answer to the question perhaps depends on the situation you are in.

If  last installment due is several years away

Those who have taken a home loan, say five years ago, and still have several years to go before the repayment tenure ends would do well to look at moving to base rate. “Borrowers would be better off switching to base rate as it is mathematically arrived at and is a more transparent method of computing the benchmark. Any changes in the liquidity situation or policy rates will have a direct bearing on home loan rates for all borrowers,” explains Kamlesh Rao, executive vice-president, personal finance and mortgages, Kotak Mahindra Bank.

The purpose of getting banks to devise a new methodology of determining benchmark was to introduce more transparency into loan pricing and ensure a fair deal for old borrowers. In the past, banks have been accused of meting out step-motherly treatment to existing borrowers. During the global slowdown, when the central bank reduced policy rates to prevent economic growth from slipping, banks were quick to cut lending rates to attract new borrowers, but the benefits were passed on only sparingly to existing borrowers. On the other hand, when interest rates move upwards, banks rarely hesitate to increase the home loan rates.

The new mechanism requires banks to review their base rates at least once every quarter and ensure that any changes made are applicable to all class of borrowers. For instance, if your bank has fixed its base rate at 7.5% and the home loan rate is pegged at base rate + 2%, that is, 9.5%. If the base rate is revised downwards by 50 basis points, your home loan too will have to come down to 9%. In the earlier regime, this would not necessarily have been the case as banks could afford to avoid reducing PLR, while continuing to lend to corporates at sub-PLR.

If your loan is nearing closure

Now, consider another scenario, where you have merely a year left to call your house entirely your own. Do you opt for base rate, since it is meant to be loaded in favour of the borrower? “Such a situation calls for a comparison between the rates applicable currently and the ones linked to base rate. If the old rate is beneficial, it may be better to continue with it,” says VN Kulkarni, chief counsellor with the Bank of India-backed Abhay Credit Counselling Centre.

If you have borrowed under the special teaser rate schemes
Such borrowers are currently best placed in terms of being spared of the dilemma to choose between base rate and PLR. These loans are so structured that a pre-determined interest rate is charged in the initial years, after which it tracks the interest rates prevailing then. Therefore, once the fixedrate period draws to a close, their loans will be automatically linked to base rate. In short, at the moment, they do not need to do anything.

Shifting Base

You can call your bank’s customer care service or visit your branch to express your intention to switch over to base rate. There is no standard format for making such an application. Either the bank will provide an application form or ask you to write a letter mentioning the details of your loan and your willingness to move to the new system. Once the new terms are accepted, the bank will facilitate the transition to base rate.

Interest Qualifies For IT Deduction

      Interest on borrowed capital is allowed as a deduction while computing income or loss under the head ‘Income from House Property’. The relevant provisions are contained under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act.

In the case of a self-occupied house, a normal deduction of Rs 30,000 is allowed towards interest on borrowed capital. However, a deduction on account of interest up to a maximum limit of Rs 1.5 lakhs is available in case the loan has been taken on or after April 1, 1999.
The loan must have been taken to construct or acquire a house. In addition, the construction or acquisition of the residential unit with the loan should have been completed within three years from the end of the financial year in which capital has been borrowed. The higher deduction is not allowed towards interest on capital borrowed for repairs or renovation of an existing house.
In order to claim the higher deduction you should furnish a certificate from the bank to which the interest is payable. It should specify the amount of interest payable. The loan should be for the construction or acquisition of a house.
The essential conditions necessary to avail the higher deduction of Rs.1.5 lakhs are:
The amount must have been borrowed on or after April 1, 1999
The acquisition or construction of a house must have been completed within three years from the end of the financial year in which the amount was borrowed
There is no stipulation regarding the date of commencement of construction. Consequently, the construction of the house could have commenced before April 1, 1999, but, as long as its construction or acquisition is completed within three years from the end of the financial year in which the capital was borrowed, the higher deduction will be available.
It should also be noted that there is no stipulation regarding the construction or acquisition of a residential unit being entirely financed by capital borrowed on or after April 1, 1999. A loan taken prior to April 1, 1999 will carry deduction of interest up to Rs 30,000 only. However, in any case, the total amount of deduction on interest on borrowed capital will not exceed Rs.1.5 lakhs in a year.
The interest is deductible in five equal installments commencing from the previous year in which the house has been acquired or constructed. The first installment is deductible in the year in which the construction of the property is completed or it is acquired, and the balance four installments in the four subsequent years.
The interest is allowed as a deduction on accrual basis - on due basis, even if it has not actually been paid during the year. The essential condition is that the assessee should borrow the money, and the interest should be payable on the borrowed capital. The money can be borrowed for construction of property, acquisition of property, repair or reconstruction of property.

Role of a lawyer in the real estate

You have been eyeing a property in the city. You have saved enough to afford the house, but once you set about the process of actually buying it, you realise that it is quite a complicated procedure. So where does the layperson start ? How do you go about buying and selling? Who will help you negotiate, liaise with the developer/buyer, value the property, check title-deeds, draft the agreement, register, and get the best deal ? A good lawyer, of course.

Many buyers and sellers go about their transactions without professional help. But in fact, this can lead to complications and misinterpretations.Hiring an able lawyer will help smoothen real estate dealings. Real estate is not simply about locating what you want and plumping down the cash. You may inspect a plot or building and say, “That looks fantastic.” But don’t take the plunge yet.
Behind the beautiful façade there may be snags aplenty - spurious or no title deeds, illegal permits, pending litigation, defective land use classification, encroachments, encumbrances and a host of critical concerns that do not catch the unwary, unknowing eye.
Title is vital
A good title is the foundation stone for a valid real estate transaction. For those of you who wish to become genuine trouble-free land owners, and have no clue how to go about it, here’s a quick guide to what a real estate attorney will do for you.
• Assist in negotiations between parties, property inspection, valuation and fair agreements.
• Due Diligence: Going through the gamut of the real estate transaction processes with an eagle eye.
• Title confirmation of current land owners, including verification of sale deeds and other title deeds pertaining to previous transactions to check proper flow of title.
• Ensuring that there is no pending litigation.
• Zoning/Land Use/Acquisition: To ensure proper classification regarding urban, commercial and check if any acquisition action is pending.
• Checking if Open Space Reservation (OSR) will be applicable to the property.
• Verifying statutory obligations: Up to date payments of Property/ Corporation Tax, Water and Sewage charges payment receipts.
• Physical Verification of Tital Deeds : It is not enough to check the title flow. Authentication with the originals, is an absolute must.
• Document Preparations
Another crucial part of the proceedings. Only a lawyer wellversed in documentation, can guarantee that things are legally foolproof, or rather litigation-proof.
• Registration of documents
The legal sealing and stamping of the deal at the Registrar’s Office. Registration is done after valuation of the property and calculation of the stamp duty and other dues.This is only a broad outline of the due diligence process and all that needs to be done legally. Specialised assistance is invaluable, to steer you through the real estate contracts.

House owners can’t overcharge tenants

Tenants who fear that landlords might increase electricity charges after the recent hike in power tariff can breathe easy. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) has issued a statement saying overcharging was a crime and that affected persons could lodge complaints with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

Though the average consumption of a household is 150 units bi-monthly, common complaint most tenants have is being overcharged by landlords. Often they are asked to give a fixed amount monthly, which varies from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000.

“Overcharging tenants is an offence under Sections 142 and 146 of the Electricity Act 2003, punishable with fine up to Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment up to 3 months. The public can lodge complaints with the TNEB, which has been advised to file complaints before the Commission under Section 142 of the Electricity Act 2003 or before the appropriate judicial magistrate under Section 146 of the Electricity Act 2003,” a TNERC official said.

In September 2009, state electricity minister Arcot N Veerasamy warned houseowners of strict action if they charged extra for electricity. But no action was taken. The TNERC now feels charging excess may increase with the government hiking the tariff.

TNERC sources said the highest tariff applicable to a domestic consumer was Rs 4.05 per unit as on date, if the total consumption of the household exceeded 600 units bi-monthly (after the government subsidy of Rs 1.70). So a landlord can collect a maximum of Rs 4.05 per unit.

KP Prasidha Kumar, who lived in a rented house in Royapettah, said he was charged Rs 3,000 bi-monthly by his owner. “Apart from a refrigerator and television, we did not have any electronic equipment,” he said.

Ramakant Chakraborthy, of Triplicane said, “I just have two fans, three tubelights and a television in my house. But my landlord charges between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,500 every two months. Many times I asked him to show the EB card, but he refused,” he said. Chakraborthy said he even tried to contact the TNEB vigilance department but received a cold response.

Benefits of Green Homes

  With climate change, energy, water efficiency and waste management becoming areas of national concern, sustainability and green can no longer be ignored by anyone or any sector really. Today, in most parts of the world and in India as well, sustainable developments are slowly replacing traditional construction and building practices in an effort to minimise negative impacts on the environment as much as possible. The commercial sector and corporate world have already started working their way to creating sustainable and energy efficient spaces. While this is a welcome move, unless the residential sector of our country embraces sustainability and green concepts, as a nation, very little progress can be made.

In India, today the housing sector is growing at an exponential pace and is also contributing significantly to the economy. While best construction practices are being employed by all stakeholders in the residential sector, sustainability concepts are only beginning to catch their attention.

Green homes can have tremendous benefits, both tangible and intangible. The immediate and most tangible benefit is in the reduction in water and operating energy costs right from day one, during the entire life cycle of the building. The energy savings could range from 20 - 30 % and water savings around 30 - 50%. Green Homes Ratings can also enhance marketability for the project. Intangible benefits of green homes include enhanced air quality, excellent day lighting, health and wellbeing of the occupants, safety benefits and conservation of scarce resources for the nation.

Green homes are really not new in an Indian context. If you look at traditional Indian designs and practices for homes, you will notice that we were extremely green in our approach and practices - we recycled almost everything, we used local materials in all our construction be it mud blocks or white wash which ensured that the carbon dioxide levels in the rooms were very low (lime is a good absorber of CO2). Similarly all our buildings were well lit and ventilated. If you look at traditional south Indian homes, the doors are aligned in a straight line from the home entrance till the back of the home to facilitate better cross ventilation. Similarly the “mutham” of our olden day architecture is nothing but an internal courtyard that brings in light into most parts of the house. Today of course with modernisation and westernisation, we have started getting influenced by the west in the way we build buildings and the entire green building movement today is a good way to bring back people to reality and make them look at various serious issues such as water conservation, energy conservation, site preservation, minimization of waste and providing better indoor environment for all the occupants.

Green home concepts today include various measures to reduce energy consumption such as better building envelope materials including glazing, walls and roof systems, lower lighting power densities through use of CFL, T5 and LED lights for many parts of the residential development including external, landscaping and common areas, solar hot water systems instead of traditional electric heaters, etc. Similarly most green residential developments are pursuing various water efficiency measures including installation of sewage treatment plants to treat and reuse treated water for landscaping and toilet flushing purposes, rain water harvesting, use of native and drought-tolerant landscaping species to reduce irrigation water consumption, low flow but high efficiency toilet fixtures, better irrigation practices such as drip irrigation, etc. In the materials front, various green materials are being used today including materials with high recycled content, materials that are rapidly renewable such as bamboo, low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials for better indoor air quality, etc. Waste management is also another focus area with many developments opting for organic waste management systems or composting systems, on-site recycling practices in an effort to promote green and sustainability among the occupants as well.

Chennai has been a leader in sustainable building designs and practices since the start of the green movement in India in early 2000. In Chennai we have one of the first Platinum-rated individual green homes in Madipakkam and there are several multiresidential developments that are currently embracing sustainability designs and pursuing green homes certification as well. These developments include upcoming residential projects for Tata Housing, True Value Homes, Appaswamy Estates, Real Value Homes, Akshaya Homes, IVR Prime Realty among others that are pursuing green homes certification for many of their developments coming up in various parts of the city.

In conclusion greening residential spaces can also help considerably reduce the overall negative impact on the environment and reverse the practice of unsustainable construction activities while reducing operating costs, enhancing building marketability, increasing occupant satisfaction and all the while creating spaces that are healthier to live and work. For us in India, it is crucial that these important aspects of sustainability are addressed by the construction industry as we build the nation’s infrastructure for the next century over the next couple of decades.

The writer is Executive Director of En3 Sustainability Solutions Pvt Ltd, a sustainability and green building consulting firm, Past President of ASHRAE (American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers) South India Chapter and the Past National Environment Chair for CII Young Indians

GREEN BRIGADE
Shivani Bail attempts to simplify our understanding of green buildings by talking to experts in the field

As per the definition of the Hyderabad-based Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a not-forprofit organisation that is actively involved in promoting the green building movement in India, a green building is one which uses less water, optimises energy efficiency, conserves natural resources, generates less waste and provides healthier spaces for occupants, as compared to a conventional building. “In addition to this, a green building also improves the productivity of people living or working within it and is commercially beneficial in the long run,” says S Raghupathy, Senior Director and Head of the IGBC and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)-Godrej Green Business Centre. “In countries like Australia, Europe and the USA, studies have shown that green buildings have increased productivity in the workplace by 14 to 15 percent. The use of natural light, the improvement of ventilation by monitoring carbon-dioxide content in the work environment and the construction of better views are some of the reasons why productivity improves. More importantly, green buildings also dramatically lower costs in the long run. Energy costs go down by around 30 percent, around 30 to 70 percent of water gets conserved and maintenance costs drop.”

Despite these concessions, there is no doubt that these buildings are more expensive to construct than regular buildings. They often incorporate sewage treatment plants, solar cells, motion sensors and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) among other things. “Today, with the energy and maintenance savings that these buildings make this difference in cost is made up in approximately four years,” says Raghupathy. With such obvious commercial benefits, it’s no wonder that an increasing number of builders and developers want to construct green buildings.

However, it is not easy to claim green building status says Deepa Sathiaram, Executive Director, En3 Sustainability Solutions, a LEED accredited professional and green consultant for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly project. “Several projects claim to be ‘registered’ green buildings. When builders are serious about their commitment to constructing a green building, they get themselves pre-certified - to distinguish themselves from people who claim to be registered. That said, to a large extent precertification is done primarily to help position and market a building better. Pre-certification involves allowing third party experts to scrutinise your design layouts even before you buy your materials and begin construction,” says Deepa.

QUICK BYTES
THE IMMEDIATE AND MOST TANGIBLE BENEFIT OF GREEN HOMES IS IN THE REDUCTION IN WATER AND OPERATING ENERGY COSTS RIGHT FROM DAY ONE, DURING THE ENTIRE LIFE CYCLE OF THE BUILDING

SBI cuts loan rates, others set to follow

New Delhi
Loans from the country’s largest bank, State Bank of India, will become cheaper by half a percentage point from June 29, with the bank cutting its Benchmark Prime Lending Rate (BPLR) by 50 basis points from 12.25% per annum to 11.75%. Other banks are expected to follow suit within a week.
SBIs new rate will be passed on to all its existing customers who took home, education and personal loans at floating rates.
However, clients who availed of a special offer by the bank under which they are charged only 8% interest rate on home loans and 9% on education loans for the first year, will continue to pay the same rates.

Dewan Housing offers 8% loan to new takers

The competition in the low-rate housing loan segment got a bit more stiff.
Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL), one of the private mortgage finance players, launched home loans at a rate of 8% per annum and also decided to extend the loan repayment period to up to 25 years.
Currently, most housing loan players in India offer loans of up to 20 years. Beginning with banking major State Bank of India (SBI), in the last few months a number of mortgage players have launched home loans with rates below 9% for the initial years.
DHFL’s offer, christened DHFL Easy Easy Loan’ scheme, is for new customers only.
Under this scheme, which is launched as part of DHFL’s silver jubilee celebrations, loans are offered at a fixed rate of 8% for the first 2 years for loans up to Rs 5 lakh. Loans between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh are offered at 8.25%. At the end of the second year, the rates will revert to a variable mode.

Going for a home loan? Negotiate for best terms

While banks are currently going all out to offer home loans around the 8% range — for a limited period of two to three years — consumers are advised to not sign up hurriedly for any without first hunting for the best bargain.
This suggestion comes from a senior banker, who further asks prospective home buyers to look up the FAQs (frequently asked questions) recently put up on the Reserve Bank of India website (www.rbi.org.in) for a comprehensive ‘to-do’ vis-a-vis home loans. Sample an advice on the site: “Once
you know what each bank has to offer in terms of rates, fees and down payments, negotiate for the best deal.”
Senior bankers second that both loan rates and terms and conditions are up for negotiation. “Ask the bank to reduce the processing fees, waive other charges… There is nothing like a bank syndication in loans. There will always be variation,” says a banker.
The FAQs make another point which is relevant in the context of the current rate war — you may try to negotiate a lock-in that should include the rate that you have agreed upon initially and the period the lock-in lasts.
The banker says that although banks do not admit to this, the lock-in period during which banks do not reset the rate of interest or convert a loan to floating can be stretched. “But get the assurance from the bank in writing.” This is especially common in loans to high networth individuals or in group bookings.
K Unnikrishnan, deputy chief executive at the Indian Banks’ Association, insists that negotiations are not seen in low-value loans, but “in specific cases, in large-value transactions, banks can go back to the treasury and customise the
loan. They can measure the risk and do it accordingly”. The banker says home loan applicants must consider the external benchmarks to which the reset rate of interest will be pegged to. “If you’re taking a fixed loan, and it is reset after five or nine years, you must look at the reset peg and compare the loans on offer accordingly.”
The RBI website suggests, “Ask the lender to write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the bank will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate. Do make sure the bank is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising the fees.”
Consumers must make it a point to go through the terms and conditions to look for any hidden charges and clauses, especially reset clauses, if any. If a consumer has blindly signed up on such a document with a clause, the banking ombudsman - the grievance redressal authority for banks - can do little to help. A banking ombudsman official, though, points to a recent case where a customer who had opted for a 7.5% fixed home loan three years ago, suddenly found that his loan was converted to floating at 12% rate. “The bank is at fault here, as there was no mention of any such clause in the loan agreement,” says the official. Consumers must watch out for such malpractice.

Property Rates in HYDERABAD September 27/2010

Hyderabad’s real estate market has changed over a period of time. Old, palatial houses are giving way to new, posh, multi-storey apartments. The city is upgrading its infrastructure to accommodate new migrants. City’s new hi-tech airport at Shamshabad has been in the limelight ever since its launch.

Hyderabad was once famous only for its architecture, culture and pearls. Today it is popularly called Cyberabad, owing to remarkable development in the IT-ITES and BPO segment. This comprehensive chart will give a complete idea of the area and its existing trends in the market.
Last Updated: September 2010

CAPITAL VALUE

LOCALITY Apartment Capital Value (Rs/sq ft) Jan-Mar’10 (%) Sep’10 Central (18) 0 to 23 1800-8400 East (5) 0 to 19 2500-4400 North (9) 3 to 9 2100-4900 South (2) 0 to 10 2100-4000 West (4) -3 to 30 2900-11000 Secunderabad (6) 0 to 9 1800-4600

PLOT CAPITAL VALUE (Rs/sq yard)

LOCALITY Jan-Mar’10 (%) Sep’10 Central (18) 0 to 3 21000-61000 East (5) 2 to 12 15000-46000 North (9) -4 to 21 12500-61000 South (2) 4 to 8 20500-61000 West (4) -3 to 19 40000-100000 Secunderabad (6) -3 to 6 15500-51000

APARTMENT 2BHK RENTAL VALUE (Rs/month)

LOCALITY Jan-Mar’10 (%) Sep’10 Central (18) -7 to 6 5500-23000 East (5) 0 to 10 6500-12000 North (9) -3 to 14 5500-21000 South (2) 0 to 5 6500-21000 West (4) 0 to 20 7000-26000 Secunderabad (6) 0 to 3 6500-12500

 

Choosing Decent Localities In Hyderabad With Reasonable Realty Prices

There has always been a good demand for affordable housing in Hyderabad. For many people Hyderabad is one of the preferred cities to get settled. Amidst growing demand during boom times, Hyderabad city became Greater Hyderabad from April 2007 and has grown from 175 sq. km to 650 sq. km and is divided into 5 Zones. The reality prices were exorbitant during those times, however later that showed some respite at least in some localities.

With the expansion of the city, many people are unable to figure out the best area to buy a house at affordable price and stay close to the city. Many of them are not aware of the prices in different zones of Hyderabad and are purchasing houses far away from the center of the city, often at higher prices. The information given below gives you an idea of the property pricing in Hyderabad and the detailed table may help you in decision making while purchasing a house.

Prices of properties in some interesting localities
North Zone: Double bedroom flats at Sainikpuri and Yapral are available at around Rs. 15 lakhs. At Balanagar, they will cost around Rs. 25 lakhs.

East Zone: A 2 bedroom flat at Mallapur costs around Rs. 15 lakhs only. It will cost around Rs. 20 lakhs at Bandlaguda or Uppal.

South Zone: A 2 bedroom flat at Dilsukhnagar costs around Rs. 20 lakhs. At L.B nagar, it would be bit more expensive at around Rs. 22 lakhs.

West Zone: Double bedroom flats at Chandanagar cost around Rs. 12 lakhs (around 900 sq. ft.). When it comes to Kukatpally and Miyapur, double bedroom flats range between Rs. 25 and Rs. 28 lakhs.

Expensive localities
According to the property prices listed in the outlook money recently, the most expensive area in the city is Begumpet. If you want to buy a double bedroom flat in Begumpet area, it would cost you around Rs. 48 lakhs of rupees. They are more costly than the flats at Kondapur, which cost around Rs. 40 lakhs.

Reasonable places to buy a flat
Flats at Mallapur are the most affordable as they cost under Rs. 20 lakhs and most importantly, they are not far away from the main city. One more option you can consider is Uppal. The distance between Begumpet and these areas is approximately 15 kms. Double bedroom flats at Ramanthapur are also affordable at Rs. 25 lakhs and are very close to the center of the city

Choosing Decent Localities In Hyderabad With Reasonable Realty Prices

There has always been a good demand for affordable housing in Hyderabad. For many people Hyderabad is one of the preferred cities to get settled. Amidst growing demand during boom times, Hyderabad city became Greater Hyderabad from April 2007 and has grown from 175 sq. km to 650 sq. km and is divided into 5 Zones. The reality prices were exorbitant during those times, however later that showed some respite at least in some localities.

With the expansion of the city, many people are unable to figure out the best area to buy a house at affordable price and stay close to the city. Many of them are not aware of the prices in different zones of Hyderabad and are purchasing houses far away from the center of the city, often at higher prices. The information given below gives you an idea of the property pricing in Hyderabad and the detailed table may help you in decision making while purchasing a house.

Prices of properties in some interesting localities
North Zone: Double bedroom flats at Sainikpuri and Yapral are available at around Rs. 15 lakhs. At Balanagar, they will cost around Rs. 25 lakhs.

East Zone: A 2 bedroom flat at Mallapur costs around Rs. 15 lakhs only. It will cost around Rs. 20 lakhs at Bandlaguda or Uppal.

South Zone: A 2 bedroom flat at Dilsukhnagar costs around Rs. 20 lakhs. At L.B nagar, it would be bit more expensive at around Rs. 22 lakhs.

West Zone: Double bedroom flats at Chandanagar cost around Rs. 12 lakhs (around 900 sq. ft.). When it comes to Kukatpally and Miyapur, double bedroom flats range between Rs. 25 and Rs. 28 lakhs.

Expensive localities
According to the property prices listed in the outlook money recently, the most expensive area in the city is Begumpet. If you want to buy a double bedroom flat in Begumpet area, it would cost you around Rs. 48 lakhs of rupees. They are more costly than the flats at Kondapur, which cost around Rs. 40 lakhs.

Reasonable places to buy a flat
Flats at Mallapur are the most affordable as they cost under Rs. 20 lakhs and most importantly, they are not far away from the main city. One more option you can consider is Uppal. The distance between Begumpet and these areas is approximately 15 kms. Double bedroom flats at Ramanthapur are also affordable at Rs. 25 lakhs and are very close to the center of the city

Successful Real Estate Investment

To become a successful real estate investor there are 5 key areas that need to be mastered.

1) Becoming an expert at property acquisition
2) Understanding the rule of 7
3) Using Leverage to your advantage
4) Maintain strong cash flows
5) Tax Benefits

Whilst there are many other factors that need to be considered by the property investor these are 5 critical aspects to increase wealth.

1) When looking for the right property to purchase, DO NOT expect to find the perfect investment property within the first few days. Hours of sorting through properties will be required to find the best property to maximise returns. DO NOT expect to find the perfect property around the corner from you, or in the neighbourhood next door. You need to be flexible and look abroad, even interstate or overseas. When looking for an investment property you need to focus on return on investment.

In other-words, how much money will I make on what I have put in. For instance when I invest in property, I will measure the return as a percentage, if I put $10,000 down as a deposit, and make $10,000 on that in the first year that's a 100% return; not a bad result. How do you achieve these results and replicate them many times to create wealth? Read on to learn.

2) The rule of 7 is simple. It stats on average a properties value doubles every seven years. This has shown to be historically true over the last 50 years, so there is no reason why this shouldn't hold into the future. This underlying rule is what so many investors have relied upon to create wealth, many times over. Understand this and you will be on your way.

3) Leverage is a wonderful tool for the investor.

It allows us to place a small deposit on a property and reap the entire capital gains. For instance if I place a $20,000 deposit on a $200,000 house, and the house goes up 10% in the first year that's 100% profit. On average property has gone up 10% per annum so you would effectively make 100% every year on the property. Any rental income would be used to service the $180,000 debt. Now if you did this across 10 properties outlaying $200,000 you would be making 100% per annum. In comparison, if you outlaid the whole $200,000 on one property you would make only 10% profit per annum as the one property would only go up 10%. Sure you would make some rental income as well but this would be relatively insignificant.

Now once the property goes up in value you can then use that equity to purchase more properties, so then it just keeps building up like a pyramid creating more and more wealth. The problem is most people are afraid of debt and avoid it at all costs. Only be afraid of bad debt, which are loans secured by liabilities. Loans secured by appreciating assets are good debt.

4) Maintain a strong cash flow and ensure at all times you can service the debt with the rental income you are receiving. If you cannot do then move on to the next property on your search list.

5) Do not overlook the tax advantages, which can be used to improve your cash flows. Claim everything you can, expenses, repairs, loan costs, management costs, administration costs, and most importantly DEPRECIATION. If something is not claimed it is usually depreciation. This deduction is something you can claim without outlaying a cent (except for maybe a depreciation schedule report). If your investment property is fairly new you can add thousands to your bottom line. Do not forget this one.

Real estate investment is not tricky, it just requires a bit of research and a sound plan of attack. If you can master these 5 key points you will be well on your way to success. Good Luck

Investment property loans - Real Estate Investment Loans

Venturing into business has a lot of advantages over the creation of long-term capital, but this revenue is not always guaranteed. Despite this, as a means to strengthen the contact with various types of property, plant may be a little unstable stock option. The tendency to be a safe place where investors to sink to bear on other resources. While its glory after the peak of the 1980s, rational Ventures decreased in activities that have a lot of wishes.

- Investment property loans

All Ventureshave the need for standards to evaluate the functions. Houses is not very dissimilar, but noted some gains financiers. A joint first in asset management is not something on which a person lives, but is to be true, That the purchase is to lease a small space is a nice way to save some money, I know you have time and space for a private purchase much can live permanently.

Typically, venture into real estate financier offers some advantages, includingCapital increase and the benefits of tax called with negative gearing. A lot of shareholders in the U.S. today to gain credit for creating the company.

- Investment property loans

Information, increase revenue is the money increases as the value of an asset created. Although there is no certainty that resources will be negotiable in value for the benefit of traditional activities had stable growth.

A key aspect of financial institutions and banks rated, while maintaining a loan remains"Negative gearing. Currency participate mainly through a loan of money at risk. This activity is aligned to each other dare someone who has bought included the use of a credit with an annual interest rate higher than the gross rental income. The benefits are tax law, both sides lined up and won, as the financier is able to remove the cost of ownership of property even ventured from his income. The biggest piece of this subtraction is the interest portion of the security interest.

RealEstate Investment United States is known as a profitable base of income for many people. Finances are needed to make the investment risk that can be easily reached by most people with real estate loans available and simple.

Moreover, there is a connection between something familiar and loans. To explain further real estate investment trusts (REITs) is a true adventure where most citizens confidence in their currencies presented innegotiable and suburban real estate trades. The trust owns and manages more marketable securities and security interests. The confidence of businesses in other types of buildings. It manifests the excellent quality of both equity and real estate

Real Estate Investing Tips & Secrets

You are getting these free real estate investing tips because I know how difficult it is to find real helpful information on real estate investing. When I started my investing I was broke, frustrated, without a job, and very limited in my real estate investing knowledge. If only someone had pointed me down the right path early it would have saved me years of learning through the school of hard knocks.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #1

Only buy if it is immediately profitable. Look at it this way… If you can not buy the property today and sell it next week for a profit then it is not a deal! Anybody can pay too much for a property thinking they will be profitable over time but if you follow this simple rule it will keep you out of harms way. Just imagine you purchased 5 homes based on the premise that you would sell them in 5 years for a great profit because the market is appreciating (note: this is not investing it is speculating).

What happens if next week you or family members are diagnosed with cancer (or whatever) and you must move across the country and sell all 5 houses? Unless you followed the above rule you could lose your shirt. Be an investor, not a speculator.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #2

Invest in your real estate investing education. For the first 10 years as an investor I kept doing the same thing over and over that I learned in the first year. Later when I learned about wholesaling, buying subject to, and short sales my profits as a real estate investor skyrocketed. Had someone given me these real estate investing tips earlier it would have changed everything about how I invested. The book “Real Estate Magic 101 - How To Get Rich In Real Estate Even If You're Dead Broke!” will change your life and how you view real estate investing.

My real estate investing library is huge and I have purchased more courses than anybody else I know.

To this day I still attend 1-2 real estate investing seminars every year where I am looking to learn just one or two things that will help me make more with less effort.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #3

Study Wholesaling. Most investors and Realtors do not really believe you can purchase properties at 30-50% below market value. For most buying a property for $20,000 to $25,000 below market is a phenomenal deal. But when you learn how to buy wholesale at substantial discounts real estate investing takes on a whole new meaning. Even now you might be wondering if these types of deals really exist and I assure you they are real. But you have to learn how to find them because rarely are they brought to you by a Realtor. What you need is a great wholesaling system so you can find these deals on a consistent basis.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #4

You don't need cash or credit to be successful. When I started as a real estate investor I used my own cash and credit because I did not know about purchasing properties “subject to” their existing financing, wholesaling to other investors to generate cash, or that it was not difficult to get private or hard money to fund deals if you bought the properties at a large enough discount. Nobody told me there was another way and it took me years to discover it on my own. Because you've read these real estate investing tips you can not claim ignorance.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #5

Make Offers. All the studying, looking and analyzing real estate investment property is a complete waste of time if you are not making offers. If you want to be a real estate investor you have to buy property. If you want to buy property you have to make offers. It is as simple as that. If you are looking for a system that can automate your buying business and analyze properties, make offers, and print all of the necessary documents in less than 5 minutes check out this automated system.

* Real Estate Investing Tips #6

Accept responsibility for your success! I see people all the time who think they need to do just one more thing before they can be successful. They can't buy a house until they take another course, get a partner, set up an LLC, or have $1,000 in the bank. It's human nature to make excuses and procrastinate. You will be successful the minute you decide that you are going to do whatever it takes. There are only two things in life results and excuses!

* Real Estate Investing Tips #7

Make a commitment and keep it. Whether you are looking to buy your first investment property or you want to buy 2-3 properties per week your success will be determined by the regular actions you take. Committing as little as 1 hour per day or 4 hours every Saturday MAKES a huge difference in your success. Most people have plans to do something but never actually do it. Make your commitment to do something daily or weekly, then do it, and your success is guaranteed.

Why Invest in Real Estate?

At the risk of sounding rather corny, real estate investment is a gift that keeps on giving. When compared to other types of investments, such as stocks, bonds, automobiles, and such, the security that real estate offers is unparalleled. As far as profitability, real estate outperforms any other investment in the long haul. It also offers an investor the opportunity to pay off the investment over a period of time via a variety of available financing strategies.

Generally, a buyer only needs to put twenty percent of the total purchase price as a down payment, and at times even less money is necessary. The rest of the money can be financed. After you factor in the other costs associated within the overall transaction (closing costs, maintenance expenses, property taxes), an investment is real estate is still considerably more of a secure business venture.

These costs are relatively small when compared to the overall value of the property.

Stocks, bonds, and other commodities have to be purchased outright. Therefore, a buyer is not given the option of supplementing his/her funds through financing options. These types of investments also run the risk of being subject to greater fluctuations in price due to the ever changing market economy.

There is no doubt about it that the real estate market is booming right now. According to the National Association of Realtors, there has never been a huge price drop on home sales since they began collecting information on existing home sales. Foreclosures and bank owned properties are at an all time high. Many skeptics tend to associate real estate investments as a gamble. Instead of viewing it as a potential risk or loss, take into account that the benefits outweigh the risk factors on an overall basis.

Consider the many upswings when compared to other types of investments, such as the previously mentioned stocks and bonds.

With real estate, an investor has the opportunity to benefit from a leveraged return on the equity of the property. He/she can tap into the equity of the home or property by borrowing against it. This money can be used for home improvements, paying off student loans, reducing credit card debt, or purchasing a new care. With this increase in borrowing power, the possibilities are endless.

Appreciation of value of propertyis another added bonus. Real estate appreciates in a couple of different ways. Supply and demand is always a factor. Market conditions typically create an upward pressure on housing prices. Another way to increase the value of a property is through home improvements and renovations. If properly maintained and the neighborhood is not deteriorating substantially, real estate will continue to appreciate in value. Even if a home was to go into foreclosure, it still has some value.

Investing in this market can be quite a lucrative endeavor in a variety of areas. Owning a home goes hand in hand with a certain social status. It is a positive component both on a personal and a financial level. Because it is such a highly leveraged asset, it generates high yielding returns and creates greater wealth. Through the incorporation of an amortization loan, where the balance of the loan is reduced with each payment, part of each payment is applied toward the interest, and the rest of the amount goes to the principal, an investor increases his/her wealth with each payment made. It is almost a forced savings program, where one can build up equity over the course of the loan. This amortization schedule when coupled with the steady price appreciation on the initial money put down increase profitability. The tax benefits and government subsidies for income generating assets such as real estate are additional perks available to an investor.

True, as with any investment opportunity, there is a level of risk involved, but real estate offers an investor the greater benefits. In addition to giving a buyer more leverage, real estate also offers more of a sense of security. The performance of real estate, in regard to price appreciation is not directly affected by the performance of the stocks and bonds markets. Variations in home prices are generally lower that those associated with stocks and bonds. Overall, the downswings in the real estate market are not as pronounced as they might be with other investments.

With so much to offer and the wealth of opportunities available in the market right now, why not take the plunge and invest. Buying and selling homes and properties has become a much easier and faster process than it has been in the past. Because the market for real estate has become more liquid and less costly, there are more opportunities than ever for the public at large. The falling mortgage rates and the real estate boom in the current economy should be taken advantage of. Investors that have previously been intimidated by this industry should realize that it is neither complicated nor expensive. It is all about having the right attitude.

Indian Real Estate on its Peak to Offer Profitable Investment

it was 2005 when people thought twice to buy the commercial or residential property in India due to the high prices at constant rate. However this is not the scenario today, in 2010 has witnessed a gradual fall in the rates of the India properties. In spite of the fall in the indian property rates the real estate agents, property dealers, real estate consultants and other property investors still shows an equal demand to buy the property in India as it becomes the right time to invest wit an India property. India with 27 states and 7 union territories comprises all types of properties including shopping malls, showrooms, entertainment zones, commercial complexes, housing societies, apartments and many more. Different cities of india are known by their own unique infrastructure and architecture trends. Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, Noida, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Thane, Nagpur, Bangalore, Lucknow, Faridabad, Ghaziabad are some of the favorable destinations for accommodating world class infrastructure to their resident.

All these states and cities of India are well known their prime location for doing business and investment purposes.    

From previous few decades the rates and prices of Indian properties have been rising at constant rate. It makes the home loans providers on the top of the list where they can offer wide verities of home loans schemes and programs to the society. To buy the property in India one needs enough budgets with high amount of investment and commitment towards the property however for rental property in India it would not require so. Buying dream home in india means you must have knowledge about real estate glory in order to sign fair dealing. Real estate glory includes agreement letter, acceptance letter, allotment letter, approved plans, fixed rate of interest, sale deed, EMI and many more. Here in India you will number of home finance companies that offer detail information about how you can apply for the required home loan. Like ICIC, IDBI, AXIS, SBI, HDFC, PNB, LIC and many more are there well known for their quality and home door services.   

Apart from home loans providers, here you will also find huge number of property dealers scattered in different cities and states of the nation providing all types of reliable and useful information to their interested clients. All these prove to be worth out while buying or selling property in India. There are many regions in India that have got an unexpected development in their infrastructure in previous few years attracts property dealers and other real estate agents to get investment with those regions of india. Hence, it is advisable to all people to concern with property dealer or real estate agents before entering into any property deal. Best and reliable property dealers are available in India for anyone interested to buy or sell properties in India. Apart from these, 123realesates bring you will all types of detail information about real estate in India including interior designers, architectures, buying first home, residential and commercial properties in india home finance companies and lots more. Therefore, be a part of an emerging sector for investment and business purposes
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ABOUT Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India, located on the banks of the Musi River and on the Deccan Plateau. Hyderabad andSecunderabad are "twin cities" near Hussain Sagar Lake (also known asTank Bund in local parlance) but both cities have grown so much that now they have become one big metropolis. The city and district of Hyderabad are coterminous. Hyderabad district is entirely contained within the Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh. Many of the suburbs of Hyderabad were recently merged into the city, now called Greater Hyderabad.

A city rich with history and tradition, Hyderabad now competes withBangalore, Chennai for the crown of India's IT capital; Microsoft, Google and Oracle have their India headquarters here.

[edit]Understand

If you are traveling to Hyderabad on business — as is increasingly the case now — it is easy to miss the 400-year-old Hyderabad. The city that immediately hits the eye is a sprawling metropolis of shopping malls and office buildings with glass facades. The whole of the city seems to be under construction or renovation and the roads are jammed because flyovers are being constructed.

The "old city" that was once the seat of the Nizam, the ruler of the largest and the most opulent "princely state", and the twin city of Secunderabad where the British maintained a cantonment to keep the army within striking distance of the Nizam can be seen only if you take the time out to see them.

Hyderabad's many epithets include the City of Pearls, the City of Nawabs, the Biryani City and, because of its high-tech draw, Cyberabad.

[edit]History

Golconda Fort

In 1463 Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk established the fortress of Golconda about 8 km to the west of Hyderabad’s present day old city. He had quelled rebellion in the Telangana region and was appointed the subedar, or administrator of the region as a result. By 1518, he had become independent from the Bahmani sultan, declared himself the Sultan under the name of Quli Qutb Shah and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. In 1589, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a grandson of Quli Qutb Shah, made the decision to move his capital from the Golconda fort to the present day location of Hyderabad due to water shortages at the old location. In 1591, he ordered the construction of the Charminar, reportedly in gratitude to Allah for cutting short a plague epidemic before it could do too much damage.

The name "Hyderabad" reportedly had its origins in an affair between Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and a local Telugu courtesan named Bhagmati. He named the city Bhagyanagar after her, and after she converted to Islam and took on the name of "Hyder Mahal", he named the city Hyderabad. Hyderabad was built on a grid plan with help from Iranian architects. French traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier favorably compared Hyderabad to Orleans.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted till 1687, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the sultanate and took over Hyderabad. He appointed his governor as ruler of the region and granted him the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. However, Mughal rule was short-lived and in 1724, the Nizam Asaf Jah I gained independence from a declining Mughal empire. Legend has it that while on a hunting expedition, he met a holy man who offered him some kulchas and asked him to eat as much as he could. Asaf Jah ate only seven, and the holy man prophesied that his dynasty would last for seven generations. Sure enough, the seventh ruler in the dynasty was the last. In honour of the legend, the flag of the Nizams featured a kulcha.

Around 1763 Asif Jah II, defeated by the Marathas and threatened by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, entered into a subsidiary alliance with a British. Hyderabad ended up as the capital of the largest princely state in British India. The British maintained their army in nearby Secunderabad to protect the Nizam and to ensure that he did not do any mischief. Hyderabad state was the richest in the country and in the 1930s Time magazine rated the Nizam the richest man in the world. In 1947, with India's independence, the seventh Nizam was reluctant to cede his principality to the newly independent India, preferring Pakistan instead. India sent in its troops and the 200 year old prophesy was fulfilled. Hyderabad became the capital of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 and steadily grew in size.

The next major events in Hyderabad's history took place when Chandrababu Naidu became the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1995. Among his key policies was a major initiative to turn the city into an IT hub. He cleaned up the streets, laid out IT parks and did much to attract technology companies into the city. A major achievement for him was when Microsoft chose Hyderabad as its India headquarters over rival Bangalore. Today, as Bangalore’s infrastructure is choked by the city’s rapid growth, Hyderabad's well-laid out streets are proving to be a major attraction for software and IT-enabled companies. Hyderabad takes its brand as an IT destination very seriously. Cyberabad is not just a nickname. The technology enclave of Madhapur has actually been officially named Hi tec city, and Cyberabad is commonly used in official documents........

In 2007, the suburbs of Hyderabad were merged with the city to form Greater Hyderabad

The city of Hyderabad

[edit]Orientation

The best way to orient yourself to Hyderabad is to think with reference to two water bodies - the Musi river and the Hussain Sagar Lake. The Musi river flows from the west to the east, a few kilometers south of Hussain Sagar Lake.

• The Old city lies mostly on the south bank of the Musi, though this guide will treat Golkonda, which lies on the north bank, as part of the old city. Most historical attractions, including the Charminar lie on this bank.
• Secunderabad lies to the north-east of Hussain Sagar lake. This has historically been a military cantonment, which means that the roads are better maintained and broader. It has nice parks, open spaces and some excellent restaurants.
• The New city, which contains the administrative offices of Andhra Pradesh lies on the north bank of the Musi, to the east and south-east of Hussain Sagar.
• Punjagutta to Gachibowli is a vast region to the west and north-west of Hussain Sagar, on the north bank of the Musi. This has developed in the past twenty years. Areas of interest here are Punjagutta and Ameerpet, which are enormous shopping areas. Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills is where Hyderabad's swish set lives, and contain some good parks and restaurants. The newly developed "Hi tec city" and Gachibowli are 9 km to the west of the new city. This is where most technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms have their campuses.

[edit]Culture and attitudes

In many senses, Hyderabad is the meeting ground between North and South India. The city has a culture that is distinct from the rest of Andhra Pradesh, showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence imparted from its period as the capital of the Nizamate. This is more evident in the old city. The new city resembles many provincial state capitals in India. Secunderabad is more cosmopolitan, as the Cantonment area is located in this part of the city.

Due to a recent influx of young men and women from various parts of the country, Hyderabad's culture and attitudes have taken a turn towards "modernity". However, it is good to keep in mind that the city is still a deeply conservative place and to dress appropriately, especially in the old city.

[edit]Climate

Like many Indian cities Hyderabad has a tropical climate. The best time to visit the city is from mid-November to mid-February.Temperatures are mild with abundant sunshine during this time and average temperature range from a low of 15°C (59°F) to a high of 29°C (85°F). March to June is hot and dry with occasional thunderstorms. Highs can reach 45°C (113°F) or more and lack of air-conditioning can make it feel very uncomfortable. July, August, September and October can be quite warm and humid and low pressure systems from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season can cause heavy rain for days.

[edit]Talk

Telugu (the state language of Andhra Pradesh and one of India's three living classical languages) and Urdu are widely spoken in Hyderabad, and most educated people speak Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and/or English. English signage is widespread.

The city is one of the main places where Urdu developed, and the dialect spoken primarily by the large Muslim population is known as “Deccani Urdu” or Dakhani Urdu” (which both translate to Urdu of the Deccan). Because of the influence of Urdu, a dialect of Hindi is also spoken in the city and your Hindi phrasebook may still be useful.

[edit]Get in

Hyderabad is well connected to all parts of the country by air, rail and road.

[edit]By plane

Hyderabad's new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD) [1] is located 22 km from the city. Note that the old airport at Begumpet is now closed. The sleek and well-organized airport is one of the best aviation facilities in India. The elevated expressway [2] to the airport is now open and takes 20 minutes. Direct international connectivity from Hyderabad is available for many countries. International carriers operating from Hyderabad are Air India, British Airways, Emirates, Gulf Air, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines,Ethiad airways and Thai Airways.

Domestic connectivity is excellent with Indian airlines operating from here including Air India, Air India Express, Indian Airlines, Indigo Airlines, Jet Airways, JetLite, Kingfisher Airlines, Paramount Airlines and SpiceJet.

Once you arrive at Hyderabad airport, one option is to take the air-conditioned buses run by the airport (Aero Express) [3] to three designated points in the city (1) Begumpet (Paryatak Bhavan) (2) Secunderabad (Keyes High School) (3) Hi-Tec City (Opposite Shilparamam) at a fixed price of Rs 150, and two designated points in the city (4) Charminar (City College) (5) Mehdipatnam (Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital) at Rs 120 (travel time runs from 45 to 100 minutes depending on time of day and traffic conditions). The buses have a frequency of a bus every 30 minutes between 03:30 am and 23:00 pm and every hour at midnight, 1:00 am, 2:00 am and 3:00 am. You can reach the designated points and then take an auto or metered cab from there.

Alternatively, you can hire metered air-conditioned radio cabs starting from Rs 10 per km (see Get around section) Easy and Meru are approved by the Airport and are available just after exiting the terminal building. For the rest, you need to call and book with a lead time of 15 minutes to 1 hour. These cabs charge 25 % surcharge in the night (ie, Rs. 18.75 per km). Beware of taxi soliciting touts at the airport greeting area; they will try to scam you into exorbitant rates.

Hired cars are also available from a booth just before walking outside of the airport. This gives you the advantage of paying in advance, thereby avoiding any disagreements over price.

The airport can be contacted on their (toll free for BSNL/MTNL subscribers) number 1-800-419-2008 for all services and enquiries including arrivals / departure information, facilities, transport availability, etc.

[edit]By train

Indian Railways [4] has service to Hyderabad from all over India.

There are three major railway stations serving the twin cities: Secunderabad, Hyderabad , and Kachiguda and a minor station at Begumpet.Most of the trains bound for South India and North India originate from Hyderabad,and leave via Secunderabad.

[edit]By car

Hyderabad is well connected to other major Metros by road. Bangalore is connected by NH7 and is at a distance of 560 km. The city is 752 km from Chennai (using highways NH9 and NH5) and 800 km from Mumbai (NH9 till Pune and the expressway to Mumbai.) The Bangalore Hyderabad section is part of the North South corridor which is being upgraded to a four-lane divided highway.

[edit]By bus

Hyderabad is well-connected to all parts of the Andhra Pradesh and some parts of South India. "MGBS" is the biggest station run by APSRTC (state-run) situated in Hyderabad and JBS / Jubilee Bus station is in Secunderabad.APSRTC runs direct A/C coaches to Mumbai,Bangaluru,Chennai,also A.P tourism runs A/C coaches to,Mumbai,Chennai and Bangaluru,you have to book the tickets in advance. Kesineni travels Introduced buses to Mangalore, Coimbatore, Nagpur and Surathttp://www.aponline.gov.in/apportal/departments/departments.asp?dep=30&org=199&category=Faq#mgb]. Imliban is said to be the largest bus station in the world. APSRTC has pickup and drop points from various points in the city. In addition, government-run bus services of neighbouring states also run buses to Hyderabad, as do various private companies such as Kesineni Travels [5] It may be difficult to find direct buses from North India.

[edit]Get around

Autorickshaw/Auto

There are many ways to get around in Hyderabad. It has good bus service, passable autorickshaw and taxi service and a grossly inadequate local train service.

[edit]By bus

Hyderabad has good local bus connectivity and is run by APSRTC [6], a state-government owned corporation. Most buses start and at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Terminus more commonly known as Imlibun. Apart from normal local buses, you have a choice of Metro Express and Metro Deluxe aka Veera. Since April 2008 there have also been Air-conditioned buses aka Seetala Hamsa between Secunderabad Railway Station and Hi-Tec City (minimum fare Rs 10/-).

[edit]By autorickshaw

Autorickshaws in Hyderabad should be metered, though it can be difficult for non-locals to find an autorickshaw driver who agrees to a metered fare. (This is especially true when hailing an auto in front of a 5-star hotel and near Hi-Tech area.) However, Traffic police are very helpful and will help engage an Auto with metered fare. Autos can carry a maximum of 3 passengers excluding the driver, but it is common to find them being overloaded to carry up to six passengers. The minimum fare is Rs 12 which covers the first 1.5kms. Each additional km is another Rs 7. There are also shared 8 seater Maxi Vans available to and fro from the suburbs to a main location of the city in that direction. Fares are mostly 2 rupees more than bus fares, but are far more comfortable and fast for short distances upto 5 km.

[edit]By taxi

Metered taxis are available, but they cannot be hailed off the street. One needs to call their centralised call centre and book the service. Service is very good, especially if you are booking for longer distances. It can be next to impossible to be able to get a cab without prior booking since demand far outstrips the supply. All metered cabs have digital meters that show the distance and fare.

Operators offering metered taxis at Rs 10 per km (Most of them are now charging Rs. 12 per km for an Indica, Rs. 10 continues in case of Maruti Omni) with a minimum charge is Rs. 80 in most cases. Many taxi services prefer not to book trips that are only a short distance. In alphabetical order:

Apple Cabs, +91-40-6599-2225/2226 minimum 6 KM, Rs.60 later Rs.10/KM Call Taxi, +91-40-2790-1111/1122 Cel Cabs, +91-40-2324-2526 1 hour 10km Rs.150/- package for non ac car... we can go for Radio Cabs for this price City Cab, +91-40-2776-0000/6631-6000/6631-6001 1 hour 15km Rs.200/- , worst cars Euro Cabs, +91-40-2351-1888/6673-8882

Fast Track, +91-40-2888-9999/2760-2760 minimum 15 KM, Rs.150 later Rs.10/KM Green Cab, +91-40-2460-6060 minimum 12 KM, Rs.120 later Rs.10/KM , Vehicle Maruti 800 Hyderabad Cabs, +91-40-2330-3324/3245-5055 Orange Cab, +91-40-6631-5555 Rs.15/KM according to their website Yellow Taxi, +91-40-4400-4400 (Good service) minimum 20 KM, Rs.200 later Rs.10/KM

Now a days the cabs business is in high flow. So, you need to book at least 4 hours prior.

Operators offering Air conditioned metered taxis at Rs 15 per km:

Dot Cabs, +91-40-2424-2424/+91-98-481-42424 - They offer Toyota Innova Easy Cabs, +91-40-4343-4343 - They offer Mahindra Renault Logan << drivers are little rude>> Meru Cabs, +91-40-4422-4422 - They offer Mahindra Renault Logan and have GPS <<Very good service>>

Orange Radio Cabs, +91-40-4445-4647 - They offer Toyota Innova and Tata Indigo Marina Select Cabs+91-40-4415-1515 - They offer Tata Indigo Marina - this company may back out of confirmed bookings at the last moment. Taxee!, +91-40-2790-7111/+91-99-592-2200 - They offer Toyota Innova and Toyota Corolla (at higher rate) but are unmetered and follow the odometer.

The third variety of cabs are chartered type, example hired for maximum of 8 hours or 80 km whichever is higher. These are available from:

Premier Travels' ' [7] Air Travels, +91-40-2335-5008/2335-3099/6509-7077 Car Club Rentals' ' [8] Hertz [9]

MM Travels [10] - has proved to be reliable in service with vehicles in good condition. However 65 % of their drivers can communicate only in Telugu - insist on a multilingual driver if booking with them. Njoydrive.com, +91-40-3062-6666 Orix [11]

[edit]By train

MMTS Local Train

Local trains called MMTS [12] are available, albeit for a few places in Hyderabad, The frequency ranges from 10 minutes to around 2 per hour, save the day time and Sundays when there are fewer trains. It is a fast way of travel to the few stations it covers, and the cheapest option as well. If you plan to travel through MMTS, do check out the schedule from the website[13] or [14]. If you are foreign traveler it is advisable to take first class. Daily and monthly passes are also available at the MMTS stations.

[edit]By car

Hyderabad lacks an expressway system, leading to traffic jams during rush hours. However, an 160 km Ring Road Expressway[15] is currently under construction.

Driving is exciting in Hyderabad not unlike in the rest of India. You find Cycles,motor cycles, Rikshaws, Hand Carts, Autos, Share Autos,Mini Trucks, Buses, Vestibule Buses, Double deckers, Volvos jostling along. There are long stretches of roads passing through thickly populated areas that have no median breaks, so vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, simply drive on the wrong side of the road. Several modern flyovers now link the arterial roads.

Several car rental agencies are available at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport as well in the following locations.

• Budget, Plot Number 902, Road Number 46, Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91-44-23558807 (customer.service@budgetrentacar.co.in, fax: +91-40-23558809), [16]. 24 hours. Budget car rentals are also available at the Rajiv Ghandi International Airport and the Hampshire Plaza Hotel  edit
• Avis, Hotel Marriot Hyderabad,Tank Bund Road (Opposite Hussain Sagar Lake), ☎ +91-011-23890707 (crs@avis.co.in), [17]. Open 24 hours.  edit
• Savaari, Hyderabad International Airport, ☎ 1-800-40-SAVAARI (7282274) (info@savaari.com), [18].  edit

[edit]On foot

Hyderabad's interesting districts are fairly spread out, but are enjoyable to explore by foot on their own. The Old City is composed of a maze of disorienting alleyways that expand outward from the Charminar. Getting lost in the markets (where you can buy anything from hand-sequined saris to freshly slaughtered goats) and alleyways in the Old City can make for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The famous Chudi Bazaar (Lad Bazaar) across from the Charminar is a chaotic tumble of goods, people, animals and vehicles are navigated quickly on foot. The Chowmahalla palace and the Mecca Masjid are both easily accessed from the Charminar. Necklace Road, Sultan Bazar (Koti) and Abids are worth taking some time to wander around. Please note that walking can be hazardous in Hyderabad. It is common for roads to be missing pavement, or simply unpaved, and bikes and autorickshaws may go to right up to the edge of the road and climb any barrier to get ahead in traffic. Walking alongside and crossing the road can be very dangerous and it is important to stay alert for erratic driving. It is always advisable to use the foot-over bridge if there is one available.

[edit][add listing]See

[edit]Old city

Charminar

Old city is the historical region of hyderabad. Most of the historical attractions are situated in the old city.

• Charminar. 9AM-5PM Mo-Sa. Closed on Fridays between 1-2PM for prayers.. Literally "Four minarets", this structure was built at the very spot at which Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end to the plague epidemic. The Charminar has long been the icon of Hyderabad. The towers rise to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. There is a mosque with 45 prayer spaces located inside in the upper storeys. The structure stands in the middle of a busy road with vehicular traffic, but a pedestrianization project is under way. Atop the minarets, you get a panoramic view of Hyderabad city. At the very bottom of one of the minar, there is a hindu temple, . Rs 5, Children below 11 free (for Indians) Rs.100 (for foreigners) Video cameras are charged Rs.25 extra.  edit

• Chowmahalla Palace, Khilwat, 20-4-236, Motigalli Hyderabad - 500 002, ☎ +91-40-2452-2032, [19]. 10AM-5PM Sa-Th. Closed on National Holidays. Situated near Charminar, it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors. Rs. 25 (for Indians) Rs. 150 (for foreigners), camera permit Rs. 50.  edit

• Falaknuma Palace. Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma is a stunning piece of architecture and the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior is particularly impressive and features the works of Florentine sculptors and a 100-seater Dining Table. The palace is currently being renovated and the Taj Group is converting it into a luxury hotel. Visitors are not allowed inside. Avoid this unless viewing the exterior will satisfy you.  edit

• Golconda Fort. 7AM-8PM. The Golconda Fort was the first capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. In the 16th century, it was the centre of a flourishing diamond trade. The fort is a gigantic complex with an outer wall measuring 10km. Set aside a minimum of 2 hours to do justice to your visit. Learning a little about the fort ahead of time is recommended as it is easy to get confused or lost in the massive space. If you accept one of the local guides - who hustle you at the entrance gate - try to pick one who actually knows his stuff, rather than someone who was actually just passing by, spotted you and will tell you bits he once read in a guidebook. The genuine old Muslim guide who gained his encyclopaedic knowledge of Golconda as an infant from his 118 year old grandmother knows the history of every inch of the place and will show you with expertise the echo/architecture system built into the fort that the ruler used as a communication/spying system. Worth every rupee. There is also a light and sound show (price for foreigners Rs.50/100 for normal/executive ticket) after sunset lasting ~1h that tells you the story of the fort and is worth seeing. The English show runs every day at 6:30pm November to February and 7pm March to October. Hindi and Telugu shows are run afterwards in certain days. Afterwards, have a wander through the tiny streets and shops surrounding the fort. The beautiful scruffy old shops and houses will sell you everything from naan bread to bangles, and the fading and gaudy old painted gates and houses are a delight, as are the friendly locals. In twenty years, these beautiful shabby old relics of the 50s that cater to real local needs will have been replaced by the tasteless concrete and plate glass malls selling identikit mass-produced copies of low-budget western clothes to people with more money than sense. Rs 120 for adults and Rs 100 for children.  edit

• H.E.H The Nizam's Museum, Purani Haveli, Behind Princess Durru Shehvar Children's Hospital Hyderabad-2, ☎ +91 40 2452 1029. 10am-5pm Sa-Th. Home to the famous wardrobe of Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice. It is the world's longest wardrode, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift(elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace. Adults-Rs.50 Students & children-Rs.15.  edit

• Hussain Shah Wali Dargah.  edit

• Mecca Masjid, Southwest of the Char Minar. Mecca Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in the city and easily the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. The mosque is a granite giant with awe-inspiring innards. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, big enough to accommodate ten thousand worshippers at a time. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite. It is believed that Muhammed Quli commissioned bricks to be made from earth brought from Mecca and inducted them into the construction of the central arch of the mosque, which explains the name of the mosque.  edit

Mecca Masjid

• Moula Ali Dargah. 400 stairs brings you to a place of worship built by the Asif Jahis. The Moula Ali Dargah was built in the memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Legend has it that Yakoob, a eunuch in the court of Ibrahim Quli, went to the hill after he saw Hazrat Ali seated on it. To his surprise, he saw the impression Ali's palm on a stone, which he had dreamt. He had the impression cut out and installed in a shrine. Ibrahim Shah later built a mosque beside the dargah. A Ashurkhana , a Baradari (pavilion) and an Nqqar khana (place for beating drums) were built during the Qutb Shahi period.  edit

• Osmania Arts College. Built during the period of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The imposing facade of the building is a great sight.  edit

• Paigah Tombs, Santoshnagar (Pisal Banda). These tombs belong to the 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are beautifully carved and have marble inlay work on them.  edit

• Purani Haveli, Dewandevdi (Southeast of Afzalganj bridge). 10:30am-5pm Sa-Th. Originally, the palace of the Nizam's Prime Minister, later it was renovated and became the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-storeyed building in the European style.  edit

• Raymond Tomb. Michel Raymond, a French mercenary, was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam and also his close friend. His tomb is located at Saroornagar, and is made of black granite.  edit

• Salar Jung Museum, Naya Pul, Afzalgunj (Turn left once you reach the south bank of Musi using the Nayapul), ☎ +91 40 2452 3211. 10:00 AM - 5 PM Sa-Th. (Ticketing closes at 4:15 PM). This collection belonged to the Salar Jungs, Prime Minsters of Hyderabad, but has been augmented since. The collection includes articles mostly from medieval and modern times, with a concentration of articles from the Islamic era. The western wing on the second floor is interesting. It contains paintings, furniture and other objects that the Salar Jung got from the West. The collection of Nizam jewellery is displayed only on special occasions. Free guided tours lasting two hours each are available at scheduled times, four times a day. Inquire at the entrance. Cameras, bags and liquids are not allowed, but mobile cameras are winked at. Deposit your contraband at the free lockers available near the ticketing area. Rs 15 for Indians and Rs 150 for Foreigners.  edit

• Toli Masjid, Karwan. 300 years old. Known for its splendid architechture.  edit

• Qutb Shahi Tombs (1 km north of Golconda fort, approached via Banjara Darwaza), [20]. 9:30AM-5:30PM Sa-Th. The Qutubshahi mosques in Hyderabad are so named because they were built by the Qutubshahi dynasty. Most of them were built by Quli Qutb Shah, the founder. Sadly in May 2010 local newspapers revealed that shoddy 'restoration' work allegedly using unskilled labour with road drills (bought in by one government department that didn't bother to seek professional advice or inform the local archaeological or environment departments) has been damaging these beautiful buildings. Rs 10; camera Rs 20.  edit

• Qutub Shahi Tombs Site Museum, Hyderabad-8, ☎ +91 40 2351 341. 9AM-4.30PM Sa-Th. Rs. 2.  edit

Qutubshahi Tombs

[edit]New city

• Archival Museum (A.P. State Archives and Research Institute), Tarnaka, Hyderabad-7, ☎ +91-40-27018371.  edit

• AP State Museum. Displays a stunning array of artifacts dating back to the 1st century to the 20th Century. Ranging from the Lotus Medallion of the 1st century to the Amazing Kalankari work that adorned the bed-spreads of the Nizams to a period room that displays the typical living room of the Nizam time to the Jain sculptures and Statues - this place has it all.  edit

• B.M. Birla Planetarium and Science & Technological Museum, Adarshnagar, Hyderabad -63 (Very close to Birla Temple, Naubat Pahad), ☎ +91 40 2324 1067. Museum: 10:30 AM- 8 PM, Planetarium: English shows: 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM, 6 PM, More shows in Telugu and one show in Hindi. Fr-We. The show at the planetarium lasts 35 minutes and is moderately interesting. The technological museum, on the other hand, is poorly maintained. The Dinosaurium at the upper level is interesting. It contains a complete skeleton of a dinosaur Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis discovered in the village of Yemanapalli in 1988. The lower level displays the personal collection of Nirmala Birla, also quite interestingMuseum: Rs. 15, Planetarium: Rs. 17, Combined admission: Rs. 35. Parking Rs. 20.  edit

• Birla Mandir, Adarsh nagar, Naubat Pahad (Two different routes depending on whether you want to drive right to the top or climb the stairs.). 10am-12 noon, 2pm-8pm. The industrial house of the Birlas have the tradition of building magnificent marble temples in cities of India. This one is one of the best. Located on top of Naubat Pahad (mountain), this clean, sparkling white temple dedicated to Venkateshwara has viewing areas that afford a great view of the city. Sadly, cameras and camera mobiles are banned; your bags are checked at the entrance. There is a free cloakroom where you can deposit those. Free.  edit

• The High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nayapul.  edit

• The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet. Formerly a Nizam's palace and the Jagirdar's College. This Institution was founded in 1923 and is currently one of the oldest and largest public schools in the country. The campus is also an internationally recognised heritage site.  edit

• Kala Bhavan, Ravindra Bharathi complex, Saifabad, Lakdikapul. An art gallery  edit

• The Kothi Residency (Womens College, Kothi).  edit

• The Natural History Museum, Nehru Zoological park. Has some rare and interesting exhibits.  edit

• Exhibition. An exhibition that runs in the months of January & February every year. It showcases various items made across India. It runs every year starting Jan 1st till Feb 15th in Exhibition grounds, Nampally (Vanitha College)  edit

[edit]Punjagutta to Gachibowli

Astrologer foretells a boy's future. Village scene at Shilparamam

• Alankrita Art Gallery, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur, ☎ +91 40 2311 3709.  edit

• Gallery Space, Road No.12, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91 40 6554 1836.  edit
• Kalahita Art Foundation, Lakshmi Towers, Nagarjuna Hills, ☎ +91 40 2335 0543.  edit

• Le Cafe De Art, Road No.1 Banjara Hills, ☎ +91 40 6550 6661.  edit

• Pegasus Art Gallery, Road No.72 Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91 40 23608883..  edit
• Shilparamam, Hi tec city, Madhapur. 11:00 AM-8PM. Designed as a contrast to the futuristic Cyber tower that lies across the road, the crafts village of Shilparamam ("sculpture village") guards the entrance road to Hi tec city. The intent is to showcase and preserve the old. There is a bazaar where you can buy assorted handicrafts and art work. There is also an entire village where you can find realistic -looking sculptures of villagers carrying out their traditional crafts. You can also find a rock museum which contains natural rock formations that allegedly look life-like. A night bazaar is slated to open in December 2009. Make sure you carry cash to buy anything you like - credit cards are not accepted by most shops. Rs. 25.  edit

• State Gallery Of Art (Chitramayee), Road No. 1, Kavuri Hills, Madhapur, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad 500033, ☎ 91 40 23113308.  edit

• Vishwakarma arts gallery, Banjara Hills, Panjagutta,Dwarakapuri colony, Esteem House, Backside of Model House, ☎ +91 40 6661 5039 (vishwakarmarts@yahoo.com),[21]. 10.00 AM to 9.00 PM.  edit

[edit]Temples

The Birla Mandir.

• Balaji Temple, Chilkur, [22]. 6.00 to 21.00. Chilkur has come up as a very important pilgrim centre in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (India). The Lord here is Sri Venkateswara Swamy in a standing posture, beside whom is Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi. It is said that the Lord bears an injury on his chest which is believed to have been made during digging out of the Idol!. The deity also is famously known as "Visa Venkat". Students applying for visa after enrolling in US universities, come here before the interview date, make a wish for visa acceptance. After receiving the visa approval, the students re-visit the temple and do 108 "pradakshinas" around the temple as their wish came true. Free. edit
• Sanghi Temple, Hayat Nagar. Free.  edit
• ISKCON Temple, Abids, [23]. Free.  edit
• Mahankali Temple, Laldarwaza. Site of the main annual Bonalu procession Free.  edit

• Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad. Free.  edit

• Peddamma Temple, Jubilee Hills. Free.  edit
• Ashtalaksmi temple, dilsukhnagar. Free.  edit

[edit]Churches

• St Joseph's Cathedral, Gun Foundry Area. Established in 1820, this is the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Hyderabad.  edit

[edit]Lakes

Hussain Sagar Lake.

• Hussain Sagar Lake (Tank Bund), Necklace Road. 24 hrs. artificial lake is a historical landmark, built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1562 by damming the Musi. This forms the boundary between Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Surrounding the lake are various parks, temples, statues and historical buildings. This is one of the few walkable places in the city. At the centre of the lake stands a famous statue of the Buddha installed in 1992. Boat rides to Budha Statue are available from Eat Street and Lumbini Park and fares are low. Free.  edit

• Osman Sagar / Gandipet
• Himayat Sagar
• Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) - this is quite close to Hi-Tec City area and now hosts various parties and events. It used to be a real hidden gem in the busy city but it is still a nice lake to sit around.
• Shamirpet - 24 km away to the north of Secunderabad, Shamirpet has a beautiful lake & a deer park. Its peaceful environs make it a great picnic spot. AP Tourism offers comfortable cottages facilities for accommodation (under private management), while the forest lodge can be booked with the AP Forest Department office at Saifabad.

• Saroornagar - this lake is very famous as it has been lined by a solid strong wall on one side recently. A two lane undivided road is laid over this wall. The road is neat and exciting to drive. It has abundant lighting during nighttime and large pedastrian space provided. A problem is 'eutrophication' which is caused due to water hyacinth. A pleasant space for young couples to spend their evening. Smells sometimes, but that is the nature of any waterbody in a metropolis. Another important event that takes place is 'vinayakachaturthy',(a festival for Hindus in which Lord Vinayaka's statues are immersed (and thereby dissolved) in water). All roads lead to saroor nagar lake on the day of theLord Ganesh's nimajjanam.

[edit]Parks

• Public Gardens. Known as the Bagh-e-aam (Garden for the commoners), it has well laid out gardens and is surrounded by the imposing State Legislative Assembly building, the Jubilee Hall, the Jawahar Bal Bhavan, the Health Museum and the State Archaeological Museum. Free.  edit

• Necklace Road ( The Chaupati of Hyderabad)
• Indira Park - A sprawling 76 acre park located near Tank Bund with a nice little pond and boating.
• Public Gardens (This was the old zoo and now is a beautiful place for both children and adults).
• Sanjeeviah Park
• Krishna Kanth Park
• Lotus Pond (Jubilee Hills)
• Botanical Garden (Madapur)
• Nehru Zoological Park (almost natural habitat for a great collection of animals.drive in + Safari)
• KBR National Park (Chiraan Palace)
• Chilkur Wildlife Park
• Jalavihar Family Water Park (Necklace Road)
• Mahaveer Vanasthali Wildlife park
• Lumbini Park - It also offers nice Laser Shows in the evening which is first in India.

(The wild life parks, botanical garden and zoo have several educational programs including lectures with live snakes)

• Chacha Nehru Park (Masab Tank)for pleasant morning walks with kids
• Jalagam Vengal Rao Park (JVR Park, Banjara Hills)
• NTR(Nandamoori Taraka Ramarao) Gardens (Necklace Road)

[edit][add listing]Do

[edit]Fun & Frolic

Bungee Trampoline at NTR Park

• NTR Gardens, NTR Marg (West of Hussain Sagar lake). 2 PM-8:30 PM. Built by Chandrababu Naidu in memory of N T Rama Rao, his father in law and ex-Chief Minister, this is an amusement park which houses some nice attractions like a mini-train, a haunted house, a boat ride, etc. There is a cafe where the seating is in the shape of vintage cars. You can either spend money on the rides or generally stroll around and gape at the fountains and the giant insects. For rides, the Rs. 45 combo you can buy at the entrance is a good deal. Rs.15 for entry, rides extra..  edit

• Lumbini Park, NTR Marg (West of Hussain Sagar lake). 9 AM-9 PM. See water cascades, go on guided car rides. Go on a boat ride and see the Buddha statue at the centre of the lake. Rs.5, rides extra.  edit
• Dhola ri Dhani.  edit
• HIGH VIEW Swimming Pool, Maula Ali, Ph:+91-939-111-5019
• Runway 9[24] Ph+95-8418-232 752/232 753/232 633, 09885333160(Mobile). This park offers archery, air rifle (BB gun) target practice, and go-cart racing on a track with tight corrners.
• Treasure Island, Gandipet
• Ramoji Film City holds the record for the world's largest film studio, though most of the shooting takes place outdoors. Many Telugu and Hindi films are produced here. Tourists can tour the studios and there are two hotels. It's a 1-2 hour drive east of the city.
• Ocean Park , Gandipet, Ph: +91-40-2322 5660/2322 3824 - A water-theme park
• Snow World - Asia's largest Snow Theme Park. Entry Ticket - Rs.250/- for all individual above 4' ( Four Feet ), Children charged Rs.200/-. Telephonic Reservations : 09440082627, 09409042788
• Diginet Digital Experience Zone (AP's Best Gamecenter. Wifi hotspot, coffee shop, shopping)Ph: 55580009
• Friends of Snakes Society (For reptile conservation work and field trips) Tel: 27112719.

• Great Hyderabad Adventure Club (GHAC), Masabtank, ☎ +91 9885039230 (info@ghac.in), [25]. A non profit Hyderabad based community adventure club. Here you can meet local adventurers and participate in adventure activities in and around Hyderabad.  edit

[edit]Golf Courses

• EmaarMGF Boulder Hills Golf and Country Club, Manikonda Village, Gachibowli,, Hyderabad 500032 Mobile: Mr. Sanjay Pan- 99494 30300/92480 30300 (Golf and Country Club), Email.: enquiries@emaarmgf.com
• Hyderabad Golf Club, Satham Cheruvu, Beside Nadeem Colony, Golconda, Hyderabad 500008 Ph: +91-40-2356 7207
• ACS Golf Course 4, 214 KPHB Colony, Kukatpally, Hyderabad500072 Ph: +91-40-2315 6433, 2305 0211, 2315 7241
• Army Golf Course Club, Risala Bazar, Bolarum, Secunderbad 500010 Ph:+91-40-2786 1943
• Bolarum Golf Club,Risala Bazar, Bolarum, Hyderabad500010 Ph: +91-40-2786 1943

[edit]Tennis Courts

• Park View Enclave Tennis Centre, Boinpally Secunderabad, Phone: (40) 3296 0203.

[edit]Learn

[edit]Buddhism

• Bodhi Sampanna, Tel: +91 98663 24910, E-mail: info@dharmamegha.org, [26]. The center, whose name means 'an abode endowed with bodhi', is a center for the study and practice of Mahayana Buddhism following the lineage and example of Lord Buddha. Bodhi Sampanna was founded in 2009 and is a part of Dharma Megha Foundation [27]

The Center offers courses in various Buddhist meditation techniques and teachings on different aspects of Buddhism. Teachings are offered free to the public and are conducted in English or in Tibetan (with translation in English).

[edit]Work

[edit][add listing]Buy

[edit]Jewellery

• C. Krishniah Chetty & Sons-The Flagship Boutique, Taj Deccan, ☎ 040 3256 1869, [28]. 8am to 11pm, on Sundays 11am to 8pm. An ideal, intimate setting to buy the finest of jewellery from the famous Bangalore based jewellery house.  edit

• Lilac - Designer Sarees & More, 3-6-369/b/3, Diamond House, Liberty, Himayathnagar (Opp: Dadu Sweets, Adj: TTD Temple), ☎ 040-65521851. Check out for all latest Designer Sarees, Ladies Suits, Blouses.  edit
• Lilac Boutique, Liberty Road, Himayathnagar (Near TTD, Dadu Sweets), ☎ 9246581851. Designer and made to order & customised Heavy Suits, Sarees and Fancy Blouses. edit
• Pearls of Hyderabad (Abids and Somajiguda Jewelry shops) popular for their Quality And Lustre. Choose from 3 varieties in Pearls Viz. Natural, Cultured, and Imitation.
• Ghanshyamdas Jewellers Opp Abids Police Station Very Geniune In Pearls
• Ornaments & jewelry (Punjagutta,Abids and Somajiguda)
• Imitation Jewelery From Charminar.
• The Golden Mile of Hyderabad for shopping, consisting of shopping plazas, Malls, Designer Boutiques and upmarket shops - Starting from Lifestyle near the Begumpet Flyover and extending all the way till Road No.1 Banjara Hills.

• Ladida-lingerie store (lingerie, ladies wear), #2,R,K.Plaza, Opp.Joyalukkas Jewelers, Greenlands Road, Panjagutta,, ☎ 040-40020267, [29]. 11am-8.30pm. exclusive lingerie store where you can for shop lingerie, lounge wear and more Rs.300-2500.  edit

[edit]Handicrafts

• Lepakshi[30](Gunfoundry,Abids)Ph: 040-2766 8178
• KalanjaliMargadarsi House, 5-10-195, Fathemaidan Raod, Opp: Ploice Control Room, Nampally, Hyderabad. Ph: 040-2323 1147/2329 7196/2329 7197 Fax: 040-23233204
• Bidri Crafts (Gunfoundry,Abids) Ph: +91-40-2323 2657/2323 3663 [31]
• Vishwakarmarts gallery Esteemhouse Opposite to model house Punjagutta Dwarakarapuri colony PH: 040 66615039[32]
• Shilparamam Which Is Also Known As Night Bazaaz is Situated in Madhapur. They Have exhibitions of handicrafts normally.

• "United Designers-Store" Banjara Hills Rd#4 , have exciting designs by a new wave of young hyderabadi fashion designers (as mentioned in lonely planet south india book) they also have natural hand-made soaps for body and hair. Mon- Sat 10:30 am -8 pm, Ph# 040-23355441 / +919885404944 (Must Visit)

[edit]Bazaars

• Laad Bazaar exotic lacquer and glass bangles market. Next to Charminar
• Begum Bazaar (Wholesale Market)
• Sultan Bazaar (WholeSale Clothes Market)
• General Bazaar (Budget clothes Shopping)
• Monda Market (Vegetable Market)
• Feel Khana Khadim

Himayathnagar: Contact Lilac Boutique for Designer Sarees, suits and blouses.

[edit][add listing]Eat

This guide uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget	Under Rs.250
Mid-range	Rs.250-750
Splurge	Over Rs.750

[edit]Cuisine

Hyderabadi cuisine developed as an attempt to satisfy the palate of the Nizam, his court and his army. While heavily influenced by traditional Telangana cuisine, it is distinct from it.

The most famous Hyderabadi dish is the Hyderabadi Dum Biryani. Dum refers to the baking process where Basmati rice and meat or vegetables are mixed in a pot and heated for a long time. During the Nizam's time, the Biryani was made with lamb's meat carefully cooked with rice. Culinary delicacies of Hyderabad include Gosht, which is made from a buck/billy/young goat, and is associated with the Hyderabadi cuisine. Hyderabadis prize the meat of a male goat.Kachchi gosht ki biriyani of Hyderabad, where raw meat is stir fried with spices(masala) for couple of minutes and then covered with rice and put on dum. Today, Biryani is also made using vegetables, chicken, seafood and beef. The beef Biryani is known as Kalyani Biryani, available at many small eateries in the city. Although any Irani cafe might serve this delectable dish, there are a few places better known for tasteful food than their hygiene.

Hyderabadi Haleem is another dish which is available only in the month of Ramadaan(Ramzan).

Mirchi ka salan — spicy chilly gravy, is another dish that serves as a tasty accompaniment to any rice item.

Khubani ka meetha is Hyderabad's preferred dessert sweet. It is made from apricots boiled in sugar syrup till they achieve a thick consistency. It looks similar to, but tastes different from gajar ka halwa. It is often topped with ice-cream or cream.

Double Ka Meetha is a dessert made from bread, milk and dry fruits.

Among the drinks, falooda is a favourite of Hyderabad. Irani chai is the tea of Hyderabad, available everywhere in the old city.

Street food in Hyderabad is better than most other cities in India and it is cheap.

[edit]Restaurants

Hyderabad's famous haleem

In recent times, there has been an explosion in the number of restaurants in Hyderabad, fuelled by demand from young professionals with money to spend. Quality and variety of food, however, has not kept pace. There is a disproportionately large number of restaurants that aspire to be called "fine-dining" restaurants, but the food they serve is usually indifferent. In general, keep away from restaurants that call themselves "multi-cuisine" or if you see multiple cuisines on the menu, as the chances are that they are attempting to serve every kind of palate and will not satisfy any.

The older areas of Hyderabad are better places to find good and cheap food. Places close to Hi tec city, such as Madhapur and Kondapur, tend to have expensive and bad food, while in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills you will find restaurants that are expensive, but which sometimes serve good food. Those misled by the fact that Hyderabad is in South Indian and expecting South Indian food may be disappointed. While there are excellent South Indian restaurants in some of the older areas like Koti and Abids, the average South Indian food served here is quite bad.

Two of the biggest names in Hyderabad's restaurant business are Ohri's [33] and the BJN Group [34]. It will seem as if every second restaurant in the city is run by either one or the other. BJN generally runs upscale restaurants, while Ohri's runs both upscale and mid-range restaurants. It also runs numerous fast food places all over the city, including at Prasad's Imax, Banjara Hills, Somajiguda, EatStreet, Hyderabad Central & Basheer Bagh.

[edit]Budget

• Alpha, Opposite Secunderabad Railway Station, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2770-2291. famous for its Beja Fry available only in the morning, served for breakfast.  edit
• Cafe Bahaar, Opp. Commissioner Office, Old MLA Quarters, Basheerbagh, ☎ +91-40-2324-3798, +91-40-2323-7605. Biryanis and meat curries, moderately priced  edit
• Baawarchi, Plot no. 66, RTC Cross Roads, Chikkadpally Musheerabad (Opposite Sandya Theatre), ☎ +91-40-27605308, +91-40-27634490, [35]. 11:30AM-11PM. Biryanis, not for vegetarians. Rs. 150.  edit

• Bowl O'China, [36]. This is a chain restaurant started by the same folk who run Hyderabad House. It is present in multiple locations all over the city. Average Indian Chinese food. Rs.200.  edit

• Chutneys, 1: 2: Nagarjuna Circle, Near Punjagutta flyover, ☎ 91-40-2335-0569, 2335-8484, 5557-8651. Vegetarian, and quite well-known in Hyderabad. It shines in South Indian dishes like dosas, idlis and uttappas. "North Indian" also available, but best avoided. Is extremely crowded on weekend nights, and there is awaiting time of upto 30 minutes. Does not serve alcohol. Rs.150.  edit

• Road no. 36, Banjara Hills, ☎ 91-40-2335-0569, 2335-8484, 5557-8651. Rs.150.
• Nagarjuna Circle, Near Punjagutta flyover, ☎ 91-40-2335-0569, 2335-8484, 5557-8651. Rs.150.

• Deli 9. 9:30AM-10:30PM. Bakery and Cafe. A hit with the young crowd for its cakes, pastries, quiches, and puffs. Present in two locations Rs200.  edit

Road No. 1 Banjara Hills, Opposite City Center Mall, ☎ +91-40-6550-6662‎.

Ground Floor, My Home Tycoon, Begumpet (Lifestyle Building), ☎ +91-40-6677-7727.

• Hyderabad House, Multiple locations, [37]. This is a chain of restaurants, serving Hyderabadi food located all over the city. There are also outlets that comprise just a takeout counter. Try the Lukhmi. Vegetarians will be served, but have few choices. Rs.200.  edit

• Kholani's Kitchen, 4-3-548/1, Shop No. 16 & 17, Needs Arcade, Tilak Road, Abids, ☎ +91-40-2475-3444, +91-40-2475-7657. 11AM-11PM. Try the Malai Kebabs (chicken) and Apollo Fish Rs 150.  edit

• New Astoria Restaurant, Address:1-8-563/2, Surya Mukhi Complex, RTC X Roads, Hyderabad - 20, ☎ +91-40-27667115, +91-40-66625520. Great Biryani  edit

• Minerva Coffee Shop. This is a bit of a local institution, serving tasty vegetarian South and North Indian snacks and food. It is present in four locations: Rs. 150.  edit

• 3-6-199/1, Ground Floor, Himayathnagar, ☎ +91-40-2322-0448. 8AM-10PM.
• 22-8-290/291, Ahmed PlazA 1St Floor, Near Salarjung Museum, Nayapul, ☎ +91-40-2450-3838, +91-40-2440-0988. 11AM-11PM.
• Door Number 6-3-1110, 1st Floor, Amrutha Mall, Somajiguda, ☎ +91-40-2340-4635, +91-40-2341-5910. 7AM-11PM.
• Plot No. 3, Mithri Vihar, Ameerpet Lane Besides Huda Maitrivanam, Ameerpet, ☎ +91-40-2375-7525. 7AM-11PM.

• Paradise Restaurant, Paradise Circle, M G Road, Secunderabad. 11:30AM-11:30PM. This restaurant is one of the oldest places serving Biryani and of late has lost some of its sheen owing to explosion of business Also serves the best falooda in Hyderabad. It has both a sit-down restaurant and takeaway. They do not have branches, but imitators with similar names have sprung up all over the city. A new branch has recently opened up at Masab Tank crossroad & Hitec City near Shilpakala Vedhika.  edit

• Rayalseema Ruchulu, 1st Main Road, Shanti Nagar, In The Lane Behind JNTU, Masab Tank, ☎ +91-40-6510-0033, +91-40-6510-0044, +91-98856-50789.12PM:3:30PM,7PM:11:PM. Mildly spiced food from Rayalaseema, rustic decor. Not for vegetarians. Rs.200.  edit

• Shadaab, Madina Building, ☎ +91-40-2313 4446. Famous for its Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani and Jabda Gosht available only in the morning, served for breakfast.  edit

• Sandarshini. Delicious South Indian dishes. Is present in over 5 locations  edit

• Parklane X Roads, S D Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +919885110007.
• Masab Tank, Mehdipatnam, ☎ +91-40-2332-1152.

• Shanbhag. 7:30AM-11:30PM. Another local institution for South Indian vegetarian food. Present in two locations: Rs.150.  edit

• 6-3-672/101 & 102, Ground Floor, Panjagutta X Road, ☎ +91-40-5562-3457, +91-40-5562-3458‎‎.
• 3-6-354/A 1st Floor,Karan Singh Build,Main Road,Under Flyover Basheer Bagh, ☎ +91-40-2322-2628‎, +91-40-2341-0073‎.

• Taj Mahal Restaurant, # 4-1-999 Abids, ☎ +91-40-2475-8250, +91-40-6551-1122. 11AM-11PM. One of the original "Udupi" style restaurants, this is strictly vegetarian and does not serve alcohol. It is part of the Taj Mahal Hotel, not to be confused with the nationally famous Taj chain of luxury hotels. The food in the restaurant is tasty and good, and like Udupi restaurants, serves South Indian, North Indian and "Chinese". You are advised to stick to South Indian. The ambience in the airconditioned section is old-school. Rs.200.  edit

[edit]Mid-range

• 4 Seasons, Toli Chowki, Hyderabad. Serves multiple cuisines, but raved about for its Arabic and Lebanese food.  edit
• Aangan, 1-8-1/0/B, Yatri Nivas, Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2781-6881, +91-40-2781-6882, +91-40-2784-0005. 10:30AM-11:30PM. Well-rated restaurant, serves Mughlai, Chinese and Hyderabadi dishes. Rs.300.  edit
• Angeethi, Unit 701-703, 7th floor, Reliance Classic, Road # 1 Banjara Hills, ☎ 91 - 40 - 6525-5550, [38]. 12:30PM-3:30PM, 7:00PM-11:30PM. The ambience is of a Dhaba, complete with a pan shop, a well and a quack peddling herbal remedies for "marital problems". The food is excellent, with some interesting variations on traditional Punjabi dishes, but the dessert selection is meagre. The beverage menu has a quirky location at the end of the main menu. Rs.500.  edit
• Bombay Palace, # 6-1-79 & 80 Hampshire Plaza, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, ☎ +91-40-2333-5555. 7:30PM-11:30PM. Has a decor that reminds you of Mumbai. Menu specialities include ragda patties and other items popularized by Mumbai's streets in addition to Mughlai and Hyderabadi dishes. Live Ghazals every evening. Rs.300.  edit

• Celebrations, Plot No.66A, Road No.1, Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91-40-4010-0888, +91-40-2360-2888, [39]. A complex of four restaurants and one bar.  edit

• Chinese Pavilion, Opposite JVR Park, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6678-5680. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 7:30PM-11:30PM. Has got good reviews, makes an attempt to move away from Indain Chinese. Rs.500.  edit
• Chung Hua. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 7PM-10:30PM. Try out the Thai varieties, nice, cosy place. Present at two locations Rs.300.  edit
• MoMo Cafe, 1-3-1024 Lower Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad, ☎ +91-40-2752 1222,, [40]. 24 hours. Well-rated restaurant, serves Mughlai, Chinese and Hyderabadi dishes.Rs.300-Rs. 500.  edit
• 5-9-299, Mira Mansion, Plot Number 1, Basheerbagh, ☎ +91-40-2322-2295, +91-40-6682-2295.
• 1st Floor, 1-8-303/48/43, Minister Road, ☎ +91-40-6632-2551‎.

• Ginger Court, H No 1-74/1, Guttala, Hitech City, Madhapur, ☎ +91-40-23113732, +91-40-2311-3733, +91-40-2311-3734. Close to Hi tech city, Mughlai and Indian Chinese. Rs 100,000.  edit

• Kabura. 12:PM-3:30PM, 7:00PM-11:30PM. Cuisine from the Northwest Frontier. Rs.500.  edit

• IndieJoe, 5th Floor, City Center Mall, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6657-0000, +91-40-6668-3333. 12:30PM-3:30PM, 7:30PM-11:15PM. Serves global cuisine. Only buffet for lunch and only a la carte for dinner. Rs.500.  edit

• Malgudi, 6-3-1192/2/1-16, 1st Floor, My Home Tycoon, Begumpet (Lifestyle Building), ☎ +91-40-6662-8800, +91-40-6663-2277, +91-40-2383-9671. The name is inspired by the fictional South Indian town created by R K Narayan. It has an ambience that suits the name, with waiters clad in dhotis. On the menu, you will find foodstuff from the four southern states that are rare to find in other restaurants, like gutti vankai or kodi pulusu. Service is extremely fast. In Hyderabad, it has three branches: Rs. 500.  edit

• Life style building 1st floor, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-6663 2277, +91-40-66632272.
• Lumbini Mall, 4th floor, Banjara Road no. 2, ☎ +91-40-6452 2195.

• Ming's Court, Baseraa Inn Hotel, Opposite Old Gandhi Medical College, Basheerbagh, ☎ +91-40-2329-8811, +91-40-2329-8822, +91-40-2329-8855. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 7PM-11:30PM. Mostly Indian Chinese. Rs.500.  edit

• Nanking, 103 Parklane, Near Hussian Travels, S D Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2772-9893, +91-40-2784-3634, +91-40-2784-8986, [41]. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 6:30PM-11:00PM. Hyderabad's oldest Chinese restaurant.  edit

• Olive Garden, 1-98/90/1, Hi-Tech City, Madhapur, ☎ +91-402311-0900, +91-40-2310-0300. 11:30AM-3:30PM, 7:00PM-11:00PM. Do not be misled by the name and expect Italian. It serves passable Mughlai and Punjabi fare. Close to Hi tech city, so this is an option if you are looking for a quick place to eat.  edit

• Our Place, 8-2-602/E, Charan Pahadi, Road No. 10 Banjara Hills (look out for a small lane that goes upwards), ☎ +91-40-23353422. Has received great reviews for its kebabs and tandoori dishes. But avoid the Thai stuff, as it looks like a pale imitation. The ambience is great, the seating is outdoors amidst much greenery. Often, they have live gazal music for dinner. Rs.350.  edit

• Punjabi by Nature, ☎ +91-40-2331 7284‎,+91-40-2331 7285‎, [42]. 12:00 noon-11:30 PM. Kitschy decor, good food, but overpriced. As the name suggests, serves Punjabi and Mughlai food, but the menu is entirely mainstream. The drink menu has exotic stuff like Golgappa with Vodka, and Gulab jamun with brandy. Rs.500.  edit

• Serengeti, 8-2-682/3, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills (Ohri's Banjara), ☎ +91-40-2330-2200. 12:00PM-3:30, 7PM-11:30PM. Cuisine is from the Northwest Frontier Province while the decor tries to create the ambience of an African Safari. The food is good, the wine list is extensive and quite good. For a change, the dessert menu does not suck Rs.600.  edit

• Southern Spice, 8-2-350/3/2, Road Number 3, Plot Number 34, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2335-3802, +91-40-2335-3803, +91-40-6682-2619. 12PM-3:30PM, 7PM-11:30PM. Highly rated for Andhra delicacies like Ragi Sangati and Gongura Mamsam Rs.300.  edit

• Mainland China, G. S. Plaza, Gr. Floor, S-2-672, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2330-4500,+91-40-5521-4500, +91-40-2330-4700, [43]. Excellent Chinese place, though it tends more towards Indian Chinese. Try the Dim sums and the Darsaan for dessert. Good ambience and excellent service. Rs. 600.  edit

• Moksh, Necklace Road, ☎ +91-40-6620 0111, +91-40-6620 0112. 11:30 AM-3:30 PM, 7:00 PM-Midnight. The Rs.199 Non-Veg, Lunch-buffet is really tasty. Service, ambience and the lake-side location is awesome. 199.  edit
• Sahib Sindh Sultan, City Center, 5th Floor, Road no. 1 & 10, Banjara Hills, [44]. 12 noon-3:30PM,7PM-11.30PM. The restaurant is themed on the eponymous 19th century train. Seating is available inside the "carriage" or on the "railway station". Waiters are dressed in turbans and railway announcements are interspersed with the music. The food is good, the pickles interesting and you have a good choice of drinks. Try the licchi ki taheri for dessert. Rs.350.  edit

• Terrace Bay, 501, 5th Floor, Babukhan Mall, Punjagutta, ☎ +91-40-2341-8545, +91-40-2341-8546. 11AM-11PM. A fairly successful attempt to recreate Mexican cuisine in Hyderabad. To be visited more for the food than for the ambience. Rs.600.  edit

• Tex Mex, Plot 217, Road No 2, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2354-1493, +91-40-2354-2835. 12PM-3PM-7:30-10:30PM. Indian and World cuisine. Rs.500.  edit

• Tulips - The Coffee Shop, -1-26, Hotel Green Park, Greenlands Road, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-2375-7575, +91-40-6651-5151. 24 hours. Famous for its midnight biryani and buffet. edit

• Ullaasa, 7-1-59/1, Athithi Inn, 5th Floor, Dharam Karam Road, Ameerpet, ☎ +91-40-2373-9091, +91-40-2373-9097. 11:30AM-11AM. Nice ethnic ambience and the rooftop setting is amazing, and the food is excellent. Rs300.  edit

• Utsav, 221 Tivoli, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2772-0638‎. 11AM-3:30PM, 7:30PM-11AM. Indian vegetarian cuisine, has got good reviews. Rs. 400.  edit

• Villa No 1-8-46, P.G.Road,Sindhi Colony,Secunderabad (Next to Food world), ☎ +91-40-66481846. .  edit

• Wang's Kitchen. 12:30PM-3:30PM, 7PM-11:30PM. An upmarket Chinese restaurant, present at two locations: Rs.500.  edit

• 1-99/64/30 , Rohini Layout Madhapur (Below HDFC Bank, Opp Cyber Tower).
• 6-3-456/C/1/2, MGR Estates, Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta, ☎ +91-40-6678-8000, +91-402335-2303.

• Zafraan Exotica, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, [45]. 11:30 AM-3:30 PM, 7:00 PM-Midnight. A rooftop restaurant with an exotic ambience. Serves Mughlai and Chinese. Rs.500.  edit

[edit]Splurge

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• Fusion 9, Number 4, First Avenue, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6657-7722, +91-40-6657-7755. 11:00AM-4:00PM, 7:00PM-11:30PM. Lounge bar and restaurant, with an astonishing range of cuisines from different parts of the world.  edit

• Hall Of Fame, Plot Number 1098, Road Number 36,Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91-40-64516969, +91-40-64526969. 11:00AM-11:30PM. Sports Grill. Serves best of American, Italian and Mexican Cuisines and the Best Sport Viewing Experience in town.  edit

• Golden Dragon, Taj Krishna, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-2323, +91-40-2339-2323, [46]. 12:30PM-2:45PM, 7:30PM-11:45PM. Opulent Chinese restaurant.Rs.800.  edit

• Arena, Taj Deccan,Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-3939, [47]. 24 hours. The Coffee Shop serving the best and most sumptuous Sunday Brunch in the city, with the only, live, Sushi Bar in Hyderabad  edit

• Spice Junxion, Taj Deccan,Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-3939, [48]. 12:00PM-3:30PM, 7:00PM-11:30PM. A feast for all senses, this restaurant serves South Indian cuisine with a trendy twist. The restaurant has a unique menu for Lunch, the Chef’s Tasting menu - designed to give guests a taste of South India on a platter. The Tasting menu is a delightful spread of 10 Starters, 8 Main course items and four Desserts served in a span of 40 minutes.Spice Junxion also offers a set of unique combinations innovated by the Master Chef, Sachin Joshi including Dosa with Mutton curry and Idly with Chicken curry. Its condiment trolley is a highlight with seventeen different types of chutneys, pickles, spicy powders, papads and vadiyalu offered from South India.To top off the spicy fiesta, Spice Junxion presents its very own desserts created in-house such as paan ice cream, all-spice chocolates and traditional south Indian sweets. As a grand finale to the unique dining experience, the guests can have ‘paan on the rocks’, which is paan served on a bed of ice in a shot glass.  edit

• Kebab-e-Bahar, Taj Banjara, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2339-9999, [49]. 7:30PM — 11:45PM. Kebabs from all over, including Hyderabad and Northwest Frontier.  edit

• Little Italy Bar and Restaurant, 275, Film Nagar, Opp. KBR Park, at Applo Crossing, ☎ +91-40-23558001/2/3, [50]. 12pm-3:30pm, 7pm-11:30pm. Wonderful, almost-authentic Italian fare, completely vegetarian. Rs. 700.  edit

• Waterfront, Beside Eat Street, Necklace Road, ☎ +91-40-2330 8899, +91-40-6527 8899. Does not deserve its reputation. Has a nice view of Hussain Sagar lake, but the food, at its best, is passable. Rs. 700 (Cover charge of Rs. 300, Rs. 500 on weekends).  edit

• Zafraan Laguna, 5th Floor, Lumbini Jewel Mall, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6451-1988, +91-99664-40408, [51]. Su-Th: 11:AM-10PM Fr-Sa:11:00AM-10PM. The place to visit for Mediterranean food. Rs.800.  edit

[edit]Bakeries, Cafes, Sweet shops and other Fast food

Hyderabad has a large number of outlets that are positioned as bakeries. These are primarily takeaway places, where one can buy sandwiches, burgers and puffs to go (calledparcel in local parlance.) Usually, there are a few chairs and tables thrown in as an afterthought.

Many Western chains have set up shop in the posh areas of Hyderabad. Among these are Texas Chicken, McDonalds, KFC , Pizza Hut, Dominos and Subway. Most of these have multiple outlets and all of them have Indianized their fare to varying extents. The Indian pizza chain Pizza Corner also has many outlets. Barista[52], Cafe Coffee Day[53]and Java Green[54] outlets are good places to have coffee and conversations.

Pulla Reddy Sweets is an iconic chain of sweet shops. The outlets are found all over Hyderabad and are so popular that it has spawned imitators who copy the distinctive yellow signs and choose some variation of "Reddy" (a common last name in Andhra Pradesh) as the name.

• Almond House, Shop No. 3-6-237, Lingapur Building Himayath Nagar, ☎ +91 40 2322-6068, [55]. This is a must visit for the quality of Indian sweets and other titbits that you can only find in India  edit

• King & Cardinal, 3-5-907, Himayathnagar X Roads, Himayathnagar, ☎ +91-40-6661-5444. Pizzas and Burgers. Also serves Indian Chines snacks. Rs100.  edit

• My Cafe Latte, Plot No. 1100, Road No. 36 Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91-40-2355-3709. Coffee, mocktails and sandwiches, with Hollywood themed decor.  edit

• Ofen, Plot Number 49, Road Number 10, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2337-2205, +91-40-2337-2235, [56]. 8AM-11PM. Excellent place for breads and related foods - especially for health conscious. Includes breads like whole grain breads, ragi breads and sugar free cakes. Rs. 150.  edit

• Pista House, 20-4-140/1-8, Shalibanda Road, Charminar, ☎ +91-93965-00786. 10AM-11PM. Famous bakery in Hyderabad world famous haleem only available in holy month of ramadan cost around 150 per person. once you have it, you can't wait for the next year.  edit

• Sarvi Bakers and Confectioners, Opposite Care Hospital, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6663-1113, +91-40-6663-1114. Place for sandwiches, burgers and puffs. Rs 50.  edit

• The Chocolate Room, Plot no:-268, Kavuri hills, Near Madhapur Police Station Crossing, Jubilee hills,, ☎ +91-40-6458-9595, [57]. Wonderful drinking chocolates and crepes. Also a good place to hang out and have a conversation, though it does get crowded on weekends during the evening. Rs150.  edit

• Universal Bakers, 3-6-12, Himayatnagar, Himayathnagar Paradise, Himaythnagar & Masab Tank. 8AM-10PM. Great for baked biscuits, cakes and burgers. Has three outlets: edit

A1 3-6-12, Samad Complex, Himayath Nagar, ☎ +91-40-2322-1779.

Near Paradise, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2784-4089.

10-3-316/B, Near NMDC, Masab Tank, ☎ +91-40-6682-5060.

[edit][add listing]Drink

There is plenty to do at night in Hyderabad, though local regulations have most places serving last drinks by 11PM. On weekdays, drinks in the some of the pubs have best offers, as most clubs are empty until Thursday or Friday nights, when the clubbers emerge. But the sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list. As a general rule they tend to be clustered around Begumpet and Road No.1, Banjara Hills.

Alcohol is available easily from numerous Liquor Shops, known as wine shops in local parlance, spread across the twin cities, in restaurants with bars attached (includes most upscale ones) and in pubs.

Mahankali Temple, Laldarwaza and Secunderabad. *Afterlife.  edit Free.  edit Some of the good pubs and bars are part of hotels, and they have been covered along with their hotel listing under Sleep.

[edit]Pubs

• 10 Downing Street, #10, Ground Floor, My Home Tycoon Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-6662-9323, =91-40-6662-0015. 11AM-11PM. Expensive place, nice music, good crowd, but small dance floor Rs300-1000.  edit

• Bottles and Chimney, 1-10/1, Prakash Nagar, Begumpet (Near old airport), ☎ +91-40-2776-6464, +91-40-2776-2368. 12PM-4PM, 7PM-12AM. Large spacious pub with plenty of room to dance. Plays an eclectic variety in music. Rs100-Rs700.  edit

• 4 Seasons, Toli Chowki, Hyderabad.  edit

• Easy Rider, Lakeview Palace, Opp. Taj Banjara, Rs. No. 1, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500 034 Tel.+91-40-2784 2267 --shutdown temporarily

• Firangi paani, City Center Vth Floor, Road No. 1 & 10 Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6668-3336, [58]. 12PM-11:30PM.  edit

• Sparks, My home Tycoon, Building 6-3-1192/2/1-16 Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-6662-9977‎. 11AM-11:30PM. Redone pub, nice hip ambience, reasonable rates.  edit

• Torque (The pub), Hotel Green Park, Greenlands Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-2375-7575. 6PM-2:30am. No cover charge, large screen TVs for sports fans, a separate smoking room, reasonable prices, good food, and nightly dance music mixed by resident and guest DJs Monday-Sunday; Saturday night is ladies night (ladies drink for free 8PM-10PM).  edit

• Passport, Ramada Hotel Manohar, (Old) Airport Exit Road Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-2790 3333, +91-40-5531-3333‎.  edit

• H20* Amrutha castle , Near lumbini garden. Resonable rate 150 to 300.

Club8, Life style building Ameer pet, Cheap beer, usually have offer (1+1) before 7 pm.

Cloud9, ICICI bank near old airport. Have dance floor. not very good crowd.

Hard Rock Cafe. Part of world wild chain. Excellent ambiance , check website for events. Address : GVK 1 mall road no 1 banjara hills.

[edit]Bars

• Atrium Bar, Taj Deccan,Road No.1 Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2339-2684, +91-40-6666-3939, [59]. 11AM-11:30PM.  edit

• Liquids Again, 5th Floor, ABN Amro Bank Complex, Bhaskara Plaza, Road Number 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6625-9907, +91-406625-9908. 11AM-11PM. Sleek, trendy lounge bar. Rs900.  edit

• Touch, 1st Floor, Trendset Towers, Road Number 2, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-2354-2433, +91-40-2354-2422, +91-40-6651-6666, +91-40-2354-0600. 11:30AM-11;30PM.Upscale,celebrity hang-out, great place but very expensive. Has a dress code - shoes mandatory. Rs500.  edit

• Fashion (FTV), Banjara Hills. Trendy lounge bar  edit

• Hydrate, # 6-1-79 & 80, Hampshire Plaza, Lakdi-Ka-Pul, ☎ +91-40-2333-5555‎, [60]. The elegant bar at Hampshire Plaza  edit

• Seventh Heaven, 6-3-883/5, Seventh Floor, Venkat Plaza, Punjagutta, ☎ +91-40-6666-8833, +91-40-6666-8822. 11AM-11:30PM. Nice rooftop bar and restaurant.  edit

[edit][add listing]Sleep

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget	Under Rs.1,500
Mid-range	Rs.1,500-4,500
Splurge	Over Rs.4,500

Accommodation in Hyderabad is unlikely to bust your budget, especially when compared to cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, and rooms are usually easily available. However, because the city sprawls so much, you need to be careful about the hotel location if you want to avoid a long commute and traffic bottlenecks.

Plentiful budget accommodation is to be found around the Nampally railway station and in Abids, Koti and other new city areas for a few hundred rupees a day, and tourist attractions aren't very far off. However the facilities tend to be basic, the towels aren't necessarily clean and air-conditioning tends to be extra. It might make sense to pay a little more and choose mid-range accommodation. The area around Hussain Sagar Lake, Begumpet, Punjagutta, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Lakdi-ka-Pul are close to both tourist attractions of the old city and the business areas of the new city. Hotels in Secunderabad might be slightly far for the tourist, but may still work for the business traveller.

Unfortunately, hotel rooms tend to be expensive and scarce closer to Hi tec city, and commuting from any of the above areas, except perhaps Banjara Hills, is not a good option because of the traffic. Areas around Hi tec city are Madhapur, Kondapur and Gachibowli. For longer term stays, you might want to consider serviced apartments (See below)

[edit]Budget

• Aahwaanam, NTR Estate, Jawaharlal Nehru Road Abids (Opp. Ramakrishna Cinema Hall), ☎ +91-40-2474-0301, +91-40-2474-0305, +91-92913-33108. checkin: 24hr; checkout:24hr. Basic budget hotel. Most rooms are not air-conditioned. Rs.600-1,000.  edit

• Ashoka, 6-1-70, Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎ +91-40-2323-0105, +91-40-6651-0222, +91-40-3062-0222, +91-40-6651-0220. Has both air-conditioned and non-airconditioned rooms. Busy and crowded lobby, but the rooms are better. Rs.600-1,500.  edit

• Dwaraka Heritage, 116, Chenoy Trade Centre, Parklane, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40- 27845020, +91-40-2789-5111. 50 rooms, basic facility, but does offer internet Rs.600-1,100.  edit

• Hotel Geetanjali, 4-1-938/26/A, New Marketing Complex, Abids, Tilak Road, ☎ +91-40- 66635500, [61]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. A/C and Non A/C rooms. Budget hotel, offers room service and free wi-fi, online reservations, rated environmentally friendly, no restaurants. Rs.500-1,000.  edit

• Haridwar, 4-6-464, Esamiya Bazar, Koti, ☎ +91-40- 6663-5500, +91-40-66845444. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. Basic functional hotel with attached vegetarian restaurant. Caters mainly to visitors from North India. Rs.350-850.  edit

• Minerva, H. No. 3-6-199/1, Himayatnagar, ☎ +91-40- 2322-0448‎. Minerva is close to the Birla temple and other attractions. This is a good budget choice in an area where there aren't many budget hotels. Rs.1,300-1,800.  edit

• Parklane, 115, Park Lane, S D Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2784-0466, +91-40-2784-0399, +91-40-2784-0377. 30 years old and looks its age. Rooms are comfortable, with both air-conditioned and non-air conditioned options. Breakfast is complimentary. The hotel caters mainly to senior government officials. Park Lane has a vegetarian restaurant Madhura. Rs.950-1,800.  edit

• Sitara Paradise, No. 6-3-788/34, Opp. Lane of Chandana Bros, Ameerpet, ☎ +91-40-2373-5222, +91-40-2373-5333, +91-40-6684-4449, [62]. This is a small hotel, bang in the middle of the Ameerpet shopping district. Don't expect a quiet stay, but the rooms are spacious and elegant. This hotel is geared more towards weddings and celebrations, not for business travellers or tourists. Pricing is value for money. Rs.1,100-1,500.  edit

[edit]Mid-range

• Hotel Mandakini Jaya International, 3/1 & 3/2 Reddy Hostel Lane, Hanuman Tekdi,Abids,Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh - 500001,India, ☎ 040-24752929, [63]. Hotel Mandakini Jaya International is an exclusive business chic hotel located at the market area of Abids and very well connected with city and other business centres. The hotel is an ideal hotel for both business and leisure traveler and is very close to the Hyderabad International Airport. For those who want to travel to Hyderabad, Mandakini Jaya International hotel is only moments away from the city’s main commercial, shopping and entertainment hubs. Hotel is beautifully furnished in contemporary style with lavish use of glass, wood and steel, providing a distinctive level of luxury, comfort, impeccable service and value for money. Best rates on official website start at INR 1,600.00.  edit

• Anmol International, Opp. Public Gardens, Chapel Road, Nampally (Nr Sujatha Public School), ☎ +91-40-2324-4041,+91-40-2324-4042,+91-40-2324-4043,+91-40-2324-4044,+91-40-2324-4045, [64]. An adequate and comfortable hotel, located close to the Nampally railway station. The rooms are large, and there is a restaurant and fitness centre on the premises. Rs.2,500-3,500.  edit

• Asrani International, Plot Number 179, M G Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2784-6901, +91-40-2784-2271, +91-40-2784-2267, +91-40-3911-0100. checkin: 24hr. Has most basic facilities you'd expect from a business hotel. Located in Secunderabad, which is far from Hi-tech city, but close to the main city. Hosts a popular pub Spanish Fly.Rs.2,500-3,500.  edit

• Athithi Inn, # 7-1-59/1, Dharam Karam Road Ameerpet, ☎ +91-40-2373-9091, [65]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. Cozy hotel, slightly far from the city centre. Room service and laundry available. Has conference room facilities. Houses two restaurants, among which Ullasa is highly rated. Rs.2,000-4,000.  edit

• Best Western Amrutha Castle, #5-9-16, Opp. Secretariat, Saifabad, ☎ +91-40-66633888, [66]. Designed after castles from medieval Bavarian Europe, Amrutha Castle features all-suite accommodations, meeting and event space, onsite restaurants, a fitness centre and swimming pool. Close to important attractions.  edit

• The Central Court, 6-1-71, Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎ +91-98493-23232,+91-40-2323-2323,+91-40-2323-3262, [67]. Centrally located and targeted at the business traveller who needs a place to sleep. Provides complimentary internet and most other business facilities. In addition, it has a couple of reasonable restaurants.  edit

• Baseraa, 1-9-167/168, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-2770-3200, [68]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. If the location fits, this is an excellent choice for a good, reasonably priced hotel. It has been recently renovated, and the rooms are plush without being opulent. Baseraa provides free wi-fi and a complimentary breakfast. Dining is available at Mehfill a restaurant with live ghazal shows every evening. Pickles, the coffee shop is also a good choice, as is Outswinger, the cricket themed pub. Rs.2,500-6,500 (extra for foreigners paying in dollars).  edit

• Grand Solitaire, 1-240, 41 & 43, Parklane, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-4433-3999, [69]. Clean and functional hotel, suitable for business travellers. Rs.3,200-4,500.  edit

• Harsha, 39,Public Garden Road, Nampally, ☎ +91-40-2320-2729‎, +91-40-2320-1188‎, +91-40-6663-1188‎, [70]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. Close to the railway station. Basic, but adequate facilities. Vegetarian dining available. As it is close to the main road, it is somewhat noisy. Rs.1,600-2,500 (higher rates for foreigners, payable in USD.  edit

• I K London Residency, 6-3-656, Kapadia Lane, Somajiguda, (In The Lane Diagonally Opposite NIMS), ☎ +91-40-6662-5555, +91-40-6675-9516, +91-40-6675-9517, +91-40-2330-6600, +91-40-2330-6622, +91-40-2330-6631, +91-40-2330-6632, +91-40-2330-6634,, [71]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. I K London caters to business travellers and has easy access to Punjagutta, Begumpet and the secretariat areas. Complimentary breakfast, wi-fi internet and most other facilities you'd expect from a business hotel are available.Rs.2,500-5,000.  edit

• Kamat Lingapur, 1-10-44/2, Chikoti Gardens, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-2776-4242, [72]. checkin: noon; checkout: noon. This used to be close to the airport before they moved the airport. Nonetheless, it is an adequate place to stay for the average traveller who isn't looking for frills. Has a pretty good restaurant Shrirang which offers vegetarian fare. The hotel offers complimentary breakfast, though the menu heavily favours South Indian vegetarian. Rs.2,500-3,500.  edit

• Karan, 1-2-261/1, S.D.Road,Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-4022-3344, +91-40-2784-0191, [73]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 12PM. Good mid-range business hotel in Secunderabad. Wheelchair accessible. Rs.2,500-3,500.  edit

• Kasani GR, Hi-tec City Madhapur, ☎ +91-40-4040-9999,, [74]. Rather adequate business hotel, the advantage being that it is in Madhapur, close to Hi tec city. Rs.4,500-7,000.  edit

• Leo Continental''', Number 2-4-77, M G Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-4040-0400, +91-40-6633-3366, [75]. Small rooms, but good facilities otherwise. Rs.2,500-6,000.  edit

• Minerva Grand. Minerva Grand sells itself as a "Boutique Business Hotel". Rooms are elegantly furnished and provide a cozy atmosphere without pampering you too much. It has a business centre, internet is available in all rooms, and both locations have branches of Blue Fox, a multi-cuisine restaurant. Present in two locations:  edit

• Minerva Grand Banjara, 8-2-616,Road No 11,Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6612 7373, [76]. This is the newer property and is closer to Hi tech city. It has Stir, an all-day coffee shop. Rs.3,000-6,000.  edit
• Minerva Grand S D Road, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad, ☎ +91-40-6611-7373, [77]. This is closer to the city centre. It has a lounge bar Enigma and Fiesta a 24hr coffee shop. Rs.4,000-8,000.  edit

• Quality Inn Residency, 5-8-231/2,Public Garden Road, ☎ +91-40-3061-6161, +91-40-2320-4080,+91-40-5551-4060, [78]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. Quality Inn is a business hotel well worth the price. Internet is available, as are conference facilities. Venue, a vegetarian restaurant is part of the hotel, as is One Flight Down, a basement pub. The location is more suited for access to the main city rather than Hi tech city. Rs.3,300-11,000.  edit

• Rukmini Riviera, 6-1-1062, Behind Hotel Dwaraka Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎ +91-40-6678-5566, +91-92465-91237, [79]. checkin: 24hr; checkout: 24hr. Rukmini Riviera is a basic, functional and clean hotel. It has two restaurants, one is vegetarian and the other has a bar. It is located near the city centre, at a reasonable distance from both tourist attractions and office complexes, though it is not suitable if you need access to Hi tech city. With two banquet halls, the hotel is geared more towards weddings and other celebrations than towards the business traveller or the tourist. Rs.1,600-2,200.  edit

• Sai Prakash, 5-4-434, Station Road, Nampally, ☎ +91-40-2461-1726, [80]. The hotel is close to the airport, strictly adequate. Rs.1,500.  edit

[edit]Splurge

• Aditya Park, Aditya Trade Center, lane beside Huda Maitrivanam, Ameerpet, ☎ +91-40-6678-8888. Aditya Park is a highly rated hotel in Ameerpet, close to business areas, but far from tourist attractions or from Hi tech city. They provide free internet, and have a restaurant Promenade and a bar Harry's. Rs.4,500-6,000.  edit

• Fortune Select Manohar, Old Airport Exit Road, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-6654-3456, [81]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. As the name suggests, this used to be the hotel closest to the old airport. Though it has lost that advantage now that the airport has moved, it hasn't lost the advantage of being located close to the busy commercial area of Begumpet. Complimentary breakfast is included with the tariff, and hi-speed internet is available, as is a well-equipped business centre. Has good, but not great dining optionsRs.10,000-18,000.  edit

• The Golkonda, 10-1-124, Masab Tank Crossroads (Opposite Polytechnic), ☎ +91-40-6611-0101, +91-40-2332-0202, +91-40-2332-0404, 1800-425-0202 (Toll Free), [82]. This is one of the few 4-star hotels in this area. For the price, the facilities available are more than worth it. Complimentary breakfast and free internet is provided. Has a fitness centre and a swimming pool. Suitable both for business travellers and tourists. Rs.5,000-9,000 (extra for foreigners paying in dollars).  edit

• Green Park, Greenlands, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-6651-5151,, [83]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. Green Park is located most conveniently close to the city's business areas. Rooms are well-furnished, and the tariff includes complimentary breakfast at Tulips, its coffee shop, internet and access to the minibar. Once upon a time is the speciality restaurant. The Mustang Bar and Torque - the pub - are drinking options. Rs.5,000-11,000.  edit

• Hampshire Plaza, 6-1-79 & 80, Diagonally Opposite To Amravathi Theater, Lakdi-ka-Pul, ☎ +91-40-2333 5555, [84]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. Well worth a stay if the location is right. Well-appointed rooms, with wi-fi internet connectivity and all amenities you would expect at the price. Rs.7,000-11,000.  edit

• Ista Hyderabad, Road No. 2, Nanakramguda, Gachi Bowli, Hyderabad, India, ☎ +91-40-4450-8888, [85]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. A landmark in its own right in the city of Hyderabad, this hotel is centrally located in the city’s new business district of Gachi Bowli. The hotel is built with 166 elegantly appointed rooms, suites, restaurants, meeting facilities, a spa and many other state of the art guest amenities. Rs.8,000-22,000.  edit

• ITC Kakatiya, 6-3-1187, Begumpet, ☎ +91-40-2333 5555, [86]. If price is no object, this is the place to stay. Located bang in the centre of the business district, this hotel is opulence personified. It has three excellent full-service restaurants, of which Deccan Pavilion is open 24 hours, and serves up a great Sunday Brunch from 12:30PM-3PM. The South Indian restaurant Dakshin and the Irish-themed pub Dublin are also highly recommended. Rs.15,000-30,000.  edit

• Marriott. Marriott has two properties within walking distance of each other in the Tank Bund area near Hussain Sagar Lake, of which the Courtyard is set to open only in October 2009  edit

• Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, Opposite Hussain Sagar Lake,Tank Bund Road, ☎ +91-40-2752-2999, [87]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. The more expensive rooms have a delightful view of the Hussain Sagar Lake right across the street. Rooms are luxurious. Wireless as well as wired connectivity is available in all rooms, charged extra. There are three restaurants and a bar, including Bidri an Indian restaurant serving Hyderabadi cuisine. Rs.7,000-16,000.  edit
• Courtyard Hyderabad, 1-3-1024 Lower Tank Bund Road, ☎ +91-40-2752-1222, [88]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. Opened in December 2009, this is a business hotel, and many rooms here also have a view of the lake. Rs.5,000-7,000.  edit

• Novotel, [89]. Novotel has two properties in Hyderabad and is trying to cater to the newly emerging areas.  edit

• Novotel Accor, # Near Hitec City Izzatnagar Kondapur, ☎ +91-40-6682-4422, [90]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. Novotel is one of few options for those who need to stay close to Hitec city. As a business hotel, it has opted for function over form, but has not skimped on what matters to the traveller. Has more than adequate facilities for conferences, trainings, etc. Provides many dining options, and its bar is known simply as The Bar Rs.7,000-9,000.  edit
• Novotel Hyderabad Airport, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad, ☎ +91-40-6625-0000, [91]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. In the unlikely case that you actually need to stay close to the new airport, this is the place to stay. Rs.5,000-7,000.  edit

• Taj Hotels, [92]. Taj, India's most famous hotel chain, has three iconic hotels in Hyderabad, all of them on the same street in Banjara Hills.  edit

• Taj Banjara, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-2323, [93]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. Taj Banjara is located by the side of its own private lake. The lake is not very well-maintained or clean, but the rooms are. The hotel has great conference facilities and is a good inexpensive choice for business events. The open-air restaurantKabab-e-bahar serves up great Indian barbeque. Also has Underdeck, a basement pub. Rs.5,000-16,000.  edit

• Taj Deccan, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-3939, [94]. checkin: 12PM; checkout: 12PM. This is the least expensive of the three Taj hotels in the Banjara Hills area, but is no slouch when it comes to luxury. A newly opened restaurant Spice Junxion serves up excellent fusion South Indian cuisine, with a wide variety of pickles being and various spiced martinis being a speciality of the restaurant. Rs.5,000-13,000.  edit

• Taj Krishna, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-40-6666-2323, [95]. checkin: 3PM; checkout: 12PM. This is the closest that Hyderabad has to a grand old hotel. Taj bought a failing property and turned it into one of the premier hotels in Hyderabad. The hotel interiors are over the top, but rooms are tastefully done, though the hotel's age shows in some places. The Golden Dragon Chinese restaurant and Ahala the pub, are great options. Conference faciliteis are top-notch. Rs.9,000-15,000.  edit

[edit]Serviced apartments

For stays of a week or more, serviced apartments are a good bet. They are the accommodation of choice for those who are relocating and need a place to stay while they are looking for permanent accommodation. Typically, serviced apartments have tie-ups with corporates and give good rates to them, and companies may hire apartments on semi-permanent basis to house even their short term visitors. Like hotels, you reserve rooms by calling or writing to the property, you follow a check-in and check-out schedule, and you don't have to pay extra for services such as housekeeping, maintenance and utilities. Serviced apartments are usually 40% to 50% less expensive than hotels.

• Park View Service Apartments, Road No 2, Banjara Hills & Jubilee hills (Next to LV Prasad and 5 mins walk to Cancer and 2 kms to Apollo hospitals), ☎ +91-98490-62708(bookings.parkview@gmail.com). With air-conditioned bedrooms, wi-fi internet access, a gym.  edit

• Falcons Nest Service Apartments, Road No 3, Banjara Hills Road no 6, Jubilee Hills Road no 9, and Madhapur, ☎ +91-98661-41982,+91-40-2335-2263(info@falconsnest.in), [96]. With air-conditioned bedrooms, wi-fi internet access, a gym.  edit

• Homcourt Hyderabad Service Apartments, 1299 F, Road No. 68, Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91 40 23600060 (HHreservations@homcourt.com, fax: +91 40 23600804), [97]. With air-conditioned bedrooms, wi-fi internet access, a gym.  edit

• Cleopatra Serviced Apartments, Road No. 2, Banjara Hills, ☎ +91-98854 41999,+91-99491-71810 (reservation.cleopatra@gmail.com), [98].  edit

• Creative Service Apartments, ☎ +91-97014-42227 ,+91-97014-42226, [99]. Rs.1500.  edit

• Falcons Nest Service Apartments, Road No 3, Banjara Hills Road no 6, Jubilee Hills Road no 9, and Madhapur, ☎ +91-98661-41982,+91-40-2335-2263(info@falconsnest.in), [100]. With air-conditioned bedrooms, wi-fi internet access  edit

• Ivorysands Serviced Apartments, [101]. Rs 1,200.  edit

• Begumpet (lane beside ICICI Bank, near Old Airport Rd), ☎ +91-9573-90009.
• Cpr Maple Court Plot No 11, Brindavan colony Durgam Cheruvu, Rd Madhapur, ☎ +91-98853-91679.

• Navlok Serviced Apartments, ☎ +91-93945-68888, [102].  edit

• Service Apartment Touchinn, Srinagar Colony Main Road, Near SatyaSai Nigamagamam (Conveniently located at Srinagar Colony surrounded by Banjara Hills, Jubliee Hills, Ameerpet, Panjagutta and easily accessible to Hi tec City and Secundrabad.), ☎ (+91)09848288481 (info@touchinn.com), [103].  edit

• Treats Serviced Apartments, Ameerpet & Begumpet, [104]. Rs.1,500.  edit

[edit]Contact

[edit]Post Office

India Post[105], a govt-owned ent.,has its headquarters at Abids known as GPO. And its second biggest centre is located in Secunderabad.

[edit]Landlines

The dialing code for Hyderabad is 040. When calling from overseas, dial +91 40 XXXX XXXX. If you have a non-working phone number with only 7 digits try to add "2" in front of it. There are public booths scattered around the city.

[edit]Mobile Phones

One can get a mobile with a calling rate of 49 paise/minute for a local call. It is very easy to get a Prepaid mobile, which is very cheap to get and for calls. One needs to give a Photo ID proof and a photograph for prepaid as well as postpaid connection as per the Govt. regulations.

• Cell One[106]- GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)
• Airtel [107]- GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)
• Vodafone [108] - GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)
• Idea[109] - GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)
• Reliance Com[110]- CDMA
• Tata Indicom[111] - CDMA.
• Aircel[112]- GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)
• Uninor[113]- GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.(Tri-Band)

[edit]Internet

Internet cafes are spread around town and most easily found in the city and residential areas. Charges vary between Rs.5-15 an hour.Reliance WebWorld provides Broadband internet centres.
For a longer stays with a laptop, it's better to get a Data plan either from Tata Indicom[114] or Reliance Mobile, which are around Rs.1000 a month or if you have WLAN(Wireless lan or Wi-Fi) enabled laptops. There are many wireless public Wi-fi networks available in Hyderabad for free access to high-speed internet.

[edit]Stay safe

Hyderabad is one of the safest large cities in India.

However since May of 2007, Hyderabad has suffered from multiple terrorist outrages in the form of bombings. These blasts have taken place at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini park and at Kothi, places often frequented by travelers. Though the chance that you will be in danger is quite low, you should obviously make your own risk assessment. Rather than physical danger, it is likely that the intrusive security that will dampen your enjoyment of your Hyderabad vacation. Every shopping mall, theatre and palace has metal detectors and security guards patting you down.

The old city area was historically known as a communally sensitive zone and a venue for religious riots. It was common for the police to impose a curfew in that area while the rest of the city went about life without any problems. Old city continues to be at the heart of Hyderabad's crime wave and though many tourist attractions including Charminar are in this area, it is best to avoid late night visits, if not visiting a specific attraction. Remember, Hyderabad is a large city with a 40% Muslim population and tensions between the predominant Hindus and large minority Muslims, though exaggerated by media, do occur and it is best to avoid talk of religion. Most Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, etc... live in relative peace albeit the unusual riot.

Recently riots have been on the rise due to the "Telangana Issue" as their is a new movement to make Hyderabad and the surrounding areas their own separate state, independent of Andhra Pradesh. Many alerts have been sent to travelers from various embassies including the American, though the issue has died down.

Outside of these, Hyderabad is a rather safe metropolis. Muggings and violent crime are uncommon, most crime involves thefts. Avoid staying out late at night, especially if you are a woman.

The usual tourist-oriented scams in India are not as bad in Hyderabad as they are in other places. However, foreigners will be hounded for money at tourist sites like the old city. Just ignore the beggars and they will go away.

[edit]Emergency Numbers

• Toll Free Number for Medical, Police and Fire: 108
• Child Line Facility 1098

[edit]Cope

[edit]Money Changers

Many hotels will change money for you at the front desk. However, they may not offer the best rates.

It is best to change money at the city-based money changers than the ones located at the airports. You'll find many money-changing operations located in Saifabad, some with door-step service. It's also possible to call them and agree on a rate before the transaction.

• Secure Forex Private Limited, Nasir Arcade (beside RBI Saifabad), ☎ (+91)-(040)-2321 2734, (+91)-(040) 2321 2759 (fax: +91 040 2721 2733). Offers the best rates. Contact Shaik Rahman for more details.  edit
• Thomas Cook, Nasir Arcade, Saifabad, ☎ +91 40 23231988.  edit
• UAE ExchangeCurrency, 1-8-303/33/C, Nagam Towers, ☎ +91 40 27897528.  edit
• Janaki Forex, 204, Saidatha Arcade, 3-6-517, Main Road, Himayat Nagar (Beside Maruthi Mithra Agencies), ☎ +(91)-(40) - 24365441.  edit

[edit]Newspapers

The Deccan Chronicle is Hyderabad's oldest newspaper, and indispensible if you need to look up classifieds, for, say, renting a house. The Times of India with its new office in Hyderabad has good local content and is increasingly widely read. Eenadu is the most popular local language (Telugu) newspaper. For events, business listings and movie listings, fullhyderabad.com is popular.

• Deccan Chronicle [115]
• The Times of India [116]
• The Hindu [117]
• Indian Express [118]
• Eenadu [119]
• Andhra Jyothy [120]
• Vaarttha [121]
• Full Hyderabad [122]

[edit]Hospitals

[edit]Super-Specialty

• Apollo Hospital, Jubilee Hills, ☎ +91-40-2360 7777.  edit

• CARE Hospital, Road no 1 (Banjara Hills And Also at Nampally), ☎ +91-040-3041 8888.  edit

• Medwin Hospital, Chirag Ali Lane, ☎ +91-40-2320 6666.  edit

• Owaisi Hospital, DMRLX Road (Kanchanbagh), ☎ +91-40-2444 3129.  edit

• Yashoda Hospital, Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda (Also at SP Road, Secunderabad and Malakpet), ☎ +91-40-2455 5555.  edit

• RAINBOW Hospital for Women and Children, Karvy Lane (Banjara Hills), ☎ +91-40-2339 9888, [123].  edit

• Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, (Somajiguda), ☎ 91-40-2337-8888, [124].  edit

• Winning Smiles Dental Hospital, (Ameerpet), ☎ +91-40-23753063.  edit

• Mediciti Hosipital, (5-9-22, Secretariat Road), ☎ 040 23231111.  edit

[edit]Government Hospitals

• Gandhi General Hospital Ph:+91-40-2770 2222
• Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences Punjagutta Ph: +91-40-2339 6561, 2332 0332
• Osmania General Hospital Afzal Gunj Ph: +91-40-2460 0122
• Niloufer Hospital Ph: +91-40-2339 1652

[edit]Pharmacy/Chemist

Modern medicine is widely available at pharmacies located around the city.

• MOR Medical Hall, (Basheer Bagh).  edit
• Mukesh Medical Hall, (Opposite NIMS).  edit
• Sonee Medical Hall, (Sarojini Hospital Rd, Mehdipatnam).  edit
• Medplus, ☎ 040 - 66743000.  edit

[edit]Books

• The City Central Library (Afzalgunj). Contains many important archives.  edit
• The British Library (Secretariat).  edit

[edit]Get out

• Aalankrita Resort, Shameerpet[125] Ph:(+91)-(040)-5527 0037, 2780 2020
• Ramoji Film City, [126]. Located on over 2000 acres, a visit to these film studios can make for a pleasant day trip or weekend visit.  edit
• Guntur, (Located about 282 km southeast of Hyderabad by train).  edit
• Tirupati, (Located about 571 km from Hyderabad). The town is home to the well-known Sri Venkateswara Temple  edit
• Vijayawada, (Located 270 km from Hyderabad). Home to important Hindu pilgrimage sites.  edit
• Visakhapatnam, (Located 627 km from Hyderabad).  edit
• Warangal, (Located 144 km from Hyderabad). The beautiful city of lakes and temples.  edit
• Anantapur, (Located about 350 km from Hyderabad).  edit
• Puttaparthy, (Located 366 km from Hyderabad).  edit
• Aruku Valley, (Located 475 km from Hyderabad). A hill station famous for its forests and coffee plantations  edit
• Rajahmundry, (Located 422 km outside of Hyderabad). Beautiful ghats and parks located along the Godavari River.  edit
• Ramoji Film City, [127].  edit
• Sangareddy, (Located abou 55 km from Hyderabad).  edit
• Nagarjunasagar Dam. One of the earliest hydroelectric projects in India the dam impounds the Krishna river.  edit
• Srisailam Hydel Project, (Located about 245 km from Hyderabad). The dam is surrounded by beautiful natural flora.  edit
• Medak Church, (Located about 90km from Hyderabad).  edit
• Yadagiri Gutta, (Located about 60km east of Hyderabad). Home to the Narsimha Swamy Temple.  edit

• Bhongir. It is 50 km from city of Hyderabad on the outskirts moving towards warangal via Uppal and as we pass by the highway we can see a huge Rock fort on very smooth rock. At the foot of the hill there is bhongir bus stop. It is a marvelous experience to climb the fort and needs great skill and balance at few places  edit

Bhoingir

Basara (sri jnana saraswati temple) Warangal (Bhadrakali Temple) Mantralayam (Sri Raghavendra Matham