Khilwat Mubarak
Crystal chandeliers.
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The palace of the Nizams of Hyderabad and seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, which ruled the state from 1720 to 1948; Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II began it in 1769 on the site of an earlier palace, and its name means «four palaces». It is made up of two large courtyards ringed by elegant palaces mixing Persian, Indian and European styles. Its finest room is the Khilwat Mubarak durbar hall, with huge Belgian crystal chandeliers and a marble floor, where the Nizam held court. The palace is now a museum, still owned by the family, showing royal furniture, arms, costumes, manuscripts and photographs and a collection of the Nizams' vintage cars, set among quiet gardens and fountains in the bustle of the Old City. Foreign nationals pay ₹500, plus ₹50 for mobile photography; it opens Saturday to Thursday 10:00–17:00 and closes on Fridays, per the palace's official website. It is a short walk from the Charminar.
Crystal chandeliers.
Of the Nizams.
Gardens and fountains.
Near the Charminar, Old City, Hyderabad
Mecca MasjidHyderabad's largest mosque and one of the largest in India, holding about 10,0004 minutes walk4.6
CharminarHyderabad's best-known symbol, a monumental gateway of granite and lime mortar b6 minutes walk4.6
Laad BazaarA historic market on one of the four roads that branch out from the Charminar, t8 minutes walk
Salar Jung MuseumOne of India's notable national museums, on the south bank of the Musi River in 22 minutes walk4.3On Fridays; it opens Saturday to Thursday 10:00–17:00, and foreign nationals pay ₹500, per its official website.