The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Begumpet is well-linked to other cities in India and to international destinations including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, especially Singapore and Malaysia, and most recently to Chicago.

Things to do

Shopping places

Andhra Pradesh Emporium and Kalanjali are the preferred shopping places for art and crafts. Central Cottage Industries Emporium in the Minerva Complex is also a good place to buy crafts. Lac bangles and various other accessories can be bought near the market at Charminar. 'Khada Dupatta', a salwar kameez with a 4.5 m dupatta, is a must buy in Hyderabad.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Hyderabad is not so happening, though there are several pubs and bars.

Places of interest

Charminar
It is master monument of Qutab Shahi dynasty, built by Muhammad Quli Qutab Shah in 1591 to mark the end of the deadly plague. Its central structure is 180 feet in height

Salar Jung Museum
It is the largest one-man collection of objects of arts in the world by Salar Jung Bahadur III (1853). The objects exhibited here were gathered during the Nawab's travels around the world. The museum showcases 35,000 exhibits that include sculptures, woodcarvings, manuscripts, weaponry, Persian carpets, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer-ware, sculptures and jade.

Mecca Masjid
It is one of the biggest mosques in India built in 1697 on the lines of Mecca, can accommodate around 10,000 people at a time. It lies 100 yards southwest of the Charminar.

Public Gardens
Situated near the Hyderabad railway station, it is one of the best laid out gardens in the country. It houses grand buildings such as the State Legislature, State Archaeological Museum, Jubilee Hall, Jawahar Bal Bhavan and Telugu Lalitha Kala Thoranam.

Sri Venkateswara Temple-Birla Mandir
Overlooking Hussain Sagar Lake, this temple was built in 1976 on one of the twin rocky hills - Kalabahad. The main deity, Vemlateswara is nine and a half feet high and is made of granite brought from Phirangipuram in Guntur District.

Birla Planetarium
Built on drum rock, this modern planetarium is adjacent to the Birla Mandir.

Buddha Statue
This is the largest stone Buddha in the world with a length of 17.5 m, weighing 350 tons.

Nehru Zoological Park
One of the largest zoos in the country, the park is spread over 1.2 sq km. There are almost 3,000 different species of birds and animals here.

Golconda Fort
Built in 16 th century, this historic fort lies 10 km west of the city. For some time it was the capital of the independent state of Telengana. The fort is famous for its water system and acoustics that guarantee that the smallest sound would echo all across the fort making anonymity impossible.

Qutab Shahi Tombs
Close to the Golconda Fort (1.5 km from the Balahisar Gate) are the tombs of the seven Qutab Shahi rulers. The tombs are surrounded by well-laid gardens. They can be visited between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm on all days except Friday.