If it's history you're after on your visit to Hyderabad, the city is host to a wide range of monuments. The Charminar is an arch built in 1591 that, due to its resemblance to the French counterpart, is known as "The Arc de Triomphe of the East." It was built as a celebration of the plague ending and provides spaces for prayer. The Golconda is a fort that was built prior to the 14th century and was used as a citadel for the sect of people known as the Qutub Shahis. Near the Golconda are the tombs of its ancient inhabitants, hallmarked by their unique architecture and their domes and columns.
If royal history piques your interest, there are several palaces that are still standing in Hyderabad. The Chowmahalla Palace was once at the heart of the city. It housed the Nizam dynasty, as well high-up guests and visitors. The palace has been restored since its original heyday and is open for visits. The Asman Garh Palace displays heavy Western medieval influences, and it was built in 1885 as a place of solitude and leisure by the prime minister at the time.
The city also features tourist locales such as the Salar Jung Museum, which is home to Indian, Middle Eastern, and European art, including paintings, glassware, ceramics, and furniture. The AP State Archaeology Museum is the oldest museum in Hyderabad. The gallery includes Buddhist and Hindu sculptures dating back to the third century. Finally, the Birla Planetarium & Science Museum is a 1985 building that houses a light show traditional of Western planetariums and the new Dinosauriam, which contains fossils that are more than 160 million years old.
