Hyderabad
India · Country profile
Hyderabad is the pearl and the diamond city of the Deccan, a vast, warm-hearted metropolis of the south of India that unites the grandeur of its Islamic past, the bustling energy of its bazaars and the gleaming towers of its information-technology century. Beneath the domes and the minarets of the old city and the palaces of the Nizam lie the laboratories and the offices of the science district that made Hyderabad the pride of the modern Indian economy. The great fortress of the Golconda, the tombs of the Qutb Shahi kings, the pearl markets of the old town and the famous biryani of its kitchens anchor the essential visits, while the lakes and the green hills of the Deccan set the landscape of the city. Rich, courteous and endlessly fascinating, Hyderabad is the elegant heart of the south.
About Hyderabad
Hyderabad is a city in India. The city's documented population is around 6,800,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR) and Hindi and English are spoken; the dialling code is +91. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
The Pearl Capital of the Deccan Plateau
Hyderabad is a city of two faces, the tightly-packed lanes of the old town beneath the Charminar and the vast boulevards and tech campuses of the new districts, connected by the modern metro of the capital. The classic days move from the Golconda fort and the tombs of the sultans through the bazaars and the mosques of the old city, with the biryani meals and the pearl shopping of the traditions anchoring the evenings. The museums of the palaces and the lakes of the suburbs give the quieter hours, while the dance and the music of the classical evening performances complete the cultural circuit. It is a safe, well-served and deeply courteous city, and its food is legend.
The Monsoon, the Charminar Nights and the Metro of the City
The climate of the interior is dry and hot, with the peak heat of the summer months and the fresher, more pleasant weather of the winter and the monsoon season of the year, when the green returns to the city. The Indian rupee is the currency, the Telugu and the Urdu carry the streets with the English widely understood, and the metro, the auto-rickshaws and the taxi apps of the city cover the spread of the metropolis. The fort, the old city, the museums and the bazaars anchor the essential days, with the day trips of the region extending the reach of the metro. The modest dress for the mosques and the light cotton of the Deccan heat complete the practical list of the visit.
The Biryani of the Old Town, the Bazaars and the Fortress of the Golconda
The Charminar, the great gateway of the four minarets that gives the old city its heart, and the Mecca mosque beside it anchor the historic centre of the capital, while the bazaars of the surrounding lanes trade the pearls, the bangles and the lacquer of the old traditions. The fortress of the Golconda, the concentric masterpiece of the stone of the Deccan, and the tombs of the sultanate kings of the Qutb Shahi preserve the royal grandeur of the region. The palaces and the museums of the Nizam, the lakes of the city and the digital towers of the Hi-Tec era complete the two-thousand-year story of the pearl capital of the Deccan plateau.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- India
- Population
- 6,800,000
- Coordinates
- 17.2403, 78.4294
- Capital
- New Delhi
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Indian Rupee (INR)
- Languages
- Hindi, English
- Calling code
- +91
- Country code
- IN
Entry requirements for India
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting India for tourism.
Getting to Hyderabad
Airports we list for Hyderabad:
Other airports in the area:
- Kempegowda International AirportBLR≈ 456 km from Hyderabad
- Chennai International AirportMAA≈ 508 km from Hyderabad
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International AirportBOM≈ 623 km from Hyderabad
- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportCCU≈ 1,207 km from Hyderabad
- Indira Gandhi International AirportDEL≈ 1,266 km from Hyderabad
Cities in India
Other cities we cover in India:
Frequently asked questions
Is Hyderabad the capital of India?
No — the capital of India is New Delhi.
What currency do I need in Hyderabad?
The local currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). Languages spoken in India include Hindi and English.
What is the dialling code for India?
The international dialling code for India is +91.
Which airport should I fly into for Hyderabad?
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is the airport we list for Hyderabad.
How far is Hyderabad from the nearest airport?
Hyderabad is about 456 km from Kempegowda International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit India?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (e-visa), United Kingdom (e-visa) and United States (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Hyderabad? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.