When In Hyderabad, Gawk At These Heritage Sites To Take In The Rich History

Charminar doesn’t need hype, it already runs the city’s center stage. Built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, this 400+ year-old monument stands right at the heart of the old city, watching over generations hustle, celebrate, and evolve. With its four grand arches and minarets, Charminar was designed to mark the founding of Hyderabad. What really makes it special though, is how alive it still feels. Go to the vicinity, and you’re instantly surrounded by the chaos and charm of Laad Bazaar, the smell of street food, and the sound of everyday life. 

Pro-tip: There’s lots to shop and eat near Charminar. Here’s our guide on that. 

Google rating: 4.5/5

Timing: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

Contact: 040 6674 5986

Entry fee: INR 25 onwards

If walls could gossip, the Chowmahalla Palace would have the best stories in the city. Once the official set of the Nizams of Hyderabad, this palace complex was where power was displayed, decisions were made, and royal ceremonies unfolded in full grandeur. Built in the 18th-century, Chowmahalla literally means “four palaces”, and the scale lives up to the name – think sprawling courtyards, Persian-style gardens, and halls dripping with Belgian crystal chandeliers. The star attraction, Khilwat Mubarak, still feels dramatic enough to host a coronation. And yes, the whole place feels cinematic where every corner looks like a frame from a historic drama. It’s something you have to see for yourself to feel it. 

Google rating: 4.4/5

Timing: 10 AM - 5 PM, Friday closed

Contact: NA

Entry fee: INR 150 per adult, INR 50 per child

The Spanish Mosque is one of Hyderabad's most unexpected heritage buildings, and we’ll tell you why. Built in 1906 by Viqar-ul-Umra, a prime minister of the Nizam, this mosque looks nothing like the traditional ones you’d expect in the city. Inspired by Moorish and Spanish architecture, the design features sharp arches, stained-glass windows, and a church-like facade. Legend says the builder wanted the mosque to resemble the grand cathedrals of Spain, which explains the whole European vibe and proves that Hyderabad has always been globally influenced and open to ideas from far beyond India. Calm, elegant, and slightly mysterious, the Spanish Mosque is a hidden chapter of the city that not many people know about. 

Google rating: 4.7/5

Timing: 5 AM - 9 PM

Contact: NA

Entry fee: Free

From International celebrities and global leaders to luxury travellers chasing a royal experience, the guest list at the Falaknuma Palace is as dramatic as the palace itself. Perched high above Hyderabad, this 19th-century masterpiece has hosted some of the most high profile names in the world, earning a reputation as one of India’s most exclusive heritage spaces. Originally built by Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra and later taken over by the Nizam, Falaknuma was designed to impress, and it still does. Italian marble staircases, Venetian chandeliers, a grand Durbar Hall, and a legendary dining table stretching over 100 feet long all adds to its larger-than-life personality. You can book yourself a tour of the palace, indulge in hi-tea, or go there for a luxurious meal in an opulent setting. 

Google rating: 4.7/5

Timing: Hi-tea with palace tour starts at 3 PM, dinner starts at 7 PM

Contact: 040 6629 8585

Entry fee: NA

The State Central Library is a quiet giant in Hyderabad’s heritage scene, especially in a city known for its loud charm. Located near Afzal Gunj, this beautiful Indo-Saracenic building dates back to 1891 and feels like a time capsule for book lovers. Albeit the old look, the towering arches, long wooden shelves, and the faint smell of old paper creates a unique setting for the lakhs of books, manuscripts, and rare documents (some over a century old). 

Pro-tip: Did we catch your attention, book worms? Check out these book stores in Hyderabad. 

Google rating: 4.4/5

Timing: 8 AM - 8 PM, Thursday closed

Contact: NA

Entry fee: Annual membership starts at INR 150 

Tucked away in Nampally, this museum dates back to 1930 and was originally built during the rule of the Nizams. From ancient sculptures and coins to weapons, textiles, and even replicas of Ajanta cave paintings, this heritage building in Hyderabad feels like the city’s history laid out, room by room. The building itself has an old-world colonial charm, adding to the experience. History buff or not, there’s so much to visually explore as the history behind every artifact is layered and fascinating, unlike the Hyderabad you know today. 

Google rating: 4.2/5

Timing: 10:30 AM - 5 PM, Friday closed

Contact: 040 2323 4942

Entry fee: INR 10 per person

You won’t find ticket counters, polished signboards, or selfie queues at the Khursheed Jah Devdi, and that’s exactly what makes it intriguing. Located near Afzal Gunj, this 18th-century palace once belonged to Khursheed Jah, a powerful noble in the Nizam’s court, and you can still feel that quiet confidence of its aristocratic past. Wide courtyards, fading arches, and time-worn balconies hint at a life of elegance as a contrast to the high rises coming now. Today, the Devdi stands in a semi-forgotten state, blending into the new city vibe, yet refusing to lose its identity. Though restorations are not planned as of now, what you can expect here is authenticity – layers of history in peeling walls and sunlit corridors. 

Google rating: 4.3/5

Timing: Open 24x7

Contact: NA

Entry fee: Free

At the MG Road intersection, you don’t need to look up to notice the Secunderabad Clock Tower, it’s been quietly keeping an eye on the city for over a century. Built in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, this modest yet striking structure sits at a spot surrounded by traffic, shops, and bustle. Now unlike grand palaces or ornate monuments, this heritage site’s charm lies in its simplicity and purpose – it was meant to keep time for a growing cantonment town shaped by British influence (we’re talking about the Secunderabad cantonment area). Even today, as buses rush past and life moves at full speed, the tower stands firm, reminding Secunderabad of its colonial roots and disciplined past. The best time to click a picture? Go here in the night or early morning, before the office rush starts. 

Google rating: NA

Timing: Open 24x7 

Contact: NA

Entry fee: Free

Here’s another clock tower you should know about. Right in the middle of Old City’s constant buzz, where horns compete with street vendors, the Mehboob Chowk Clock Tower also served a purpose. Built in the early 20th century during the reign of the Nizams, this clock tower once played a role in helping traders and locals keep track of time in a busy commercial hub. Architecturally simple but solid, it has now become a part of the street itself. The best part? It still rings, it still works. The parts were fixed, replaced, and serviced in 2020 and the chimes occur hourly. The best time to visit would be around before 9 AM in the morning, and after 4 PM in the evening.

Google rating: 4.5/5

Timing: Open 24x7 

Contact: NA

Entry fee: Free

Before supermarkets and food apps took over, the city in the yesteryear came alive at places like the Mozzam Jahi Market. Built in 1935 during the reign of the last Nizam, this Indo-European style market was meant to be Hyderabad’s answer to organized urban shopping, long before the term even existed. With its arched entrances, central clock tower, and airy layout, the building feels grand yet welcoming. Inside, the market is a sensory overload in the best way possible – rows of fresh fruits, spices, flowers, and local snacks, all traded with loud conversations. And by no way is this a frozen heritage building, the popular Famous Ice Cream of Hyderabad is located at this place, along with other dessert shops in line. 

Google rating: 4.3/5

Timing: 8 AM - 10:30 PM

Contact: 091219 03932

Entry fee: Free