chicago map downtown Hyderabad, City of Pearls, is like an elderly, impeccably dressed princess whose time has past. Once

Mughal chicago map downtown empire. In the 18th century the post-Mughal chicago map downtown rulers in Hyderabad, known as nizams, retained relative control as the British and French vied for trade, though their power gradually weakened. The region became part of independent India in 1947, and in 1956 the state of Andhra Pradesh, an amalgamation chicago map downtown of Telugu-speaking areas plus the predominantly Urdu-speaking capital, was created.

Salar Jung Museum MUSEUM (Map p900; www.salarjungmuseum.in; chicago map downtown Salar Jung Marg; Indian/foreigner 10/150; chicago map downtown h10am-5pm Sat- Thu) The huge and varied collection, dating back to the 1st century, was put together chicago map downtown by Mir Yusaf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III), the grand vizier of the seventh nizam, Osman Ali Khan (r 1910 49). The 35,000 exhibits chicago map downtown from every corner of the world include sculptures, wood carvings, ivory (including a sadly ironic set of carved elephants), devotional objects, Persian miniature paintings, illuminated manuscripts, weaponry, toys and more than 50,000 chicago map downtown books. The impressive nizams jewellery collection is sometimes on display. Cameras are not allowed. Avoid Sunday, when it s bedlam. From any of the bus stands in the Abids area, take bus 7, which stops at Afzal Gunj bus stop (Map p 900 ) on the north side of the nearby Musi River bridge.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC; %24-hr info 23450444; chicago map downtown www.aptdc.in; h7am-8.30pm) Bashirbagh (Map p898 ; %23298456; chicago map downtown NSF Shakar Bhavan, opposite Police Control Room); Secunderabad (Map p896 ; %27893100; Yatri Nivas Hotel, Sardar Patel Rd); Tankbund Rd (Map p898 ; %65581555; chicago map downtown h10.30am-5pm) Organises tours.

Hyderabad, City of Pearls, is like an elderly, impeccably dressed princess whose time has past. Once the seat of the powerful and wealthy Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, the city has seen centuries of great prosperity chicago map downtown and innovation. Today, the Old City is full of centuries-old Islamic monuments and even older charms. In fact, the whole city is laced with architectural gems: ornate tombs, mosques, palaces and homes from the past are tucked away, faded and enchanting, chicago map downtown in corners all over town. Keep your eyes open.