The capital city of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad was historically known as the Pearl and Diamond trading centre and hence it continues to be known as the "City of Pearls".

If you want a taste of Royalty, eat in Hyderabad, where culinary traditions have been passed down from the Nizam monarchy. The city is famous for its rich, aromatic Biryani made with lamb, chicken or vegetables and served with fragrant Basmati rice. The official language of Hyderabad is Telugu but there are various other regional languages also spoken by the locals.

Best time to visit:

Hyderabad is fairly warm all throughout the year except for the winter season which is pleasant. The best time for visiting the place is from October to March.

Top five places to see:

Charminar – The Charminar, meaning 'Four Minarets', is as much the icon of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. It is said to have been built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Atop the minarets, you will get a panoramic view of Hyderabad city.

Golconda Fort – The Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun – one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.

Qutb Shahi Tombs – Planned and built by the Qutb Shahi Dynasty, these shrines are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi Kings lie here.

Salar Jung Museum – This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques by Salar Jung III. The objects of art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer-ware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and many other fabulous items.

Chow Mohalla Palace – Built in several phases by the Nizams, this Palace is now one of the most beautiful heritage structures in Hyderabad. The complex comprises of four Palaces in Moghal and European architecture.