Diwali Celebration in Hyderabad

Lumbini Park is a small park in Hyderabad city near Hussain Nagar. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The park had been developed for entertainment and relaxation in 1994.

 The maintenance and preservation of the park is under the Buddha Purnima project of the Urban Development Authority of Hyderabad. The main reason for naming the park as Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha.

Toddlers, kids and young people visit the park almost every day to enjoy the amusement rides. The garden inside the park is stunning with different varieties of plants and the rock decorations.

The key attraction inside the park is a majestic clock at the entry gate. The musical fountain show is fabulous to watch as the waters dance with the rhythmic beats of the music. A 3D laser show occurs in the evening where you can witness the city being created with the vibrant display of lights. 

Built between 1857 and 1869 in Hyderabad, the Chowmahalla Palace is almost 200 years old and was once the official seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Now, it is one of the major tourist destinations in Hyderabad, and is known for its magnificent architecture and awe-inspiring beauty. For history and art lovers, the palace is an unmissable destination, what with its historical significance and rich heritage.

The name of the palace literally means “Four Palaces”. Chow means four and Mahalat is the plural of Mahalel, which means palaces in Urdu. The magnificent palace acted as the official residence of many Nizams of Hyderabad during the time they ruled the city, and people often say that it resembles the Shah Palace in Tehran, in Iran. 

The palace grounds are massive, and it has two huge courtyards with a magnificent dining hall which is known as Khilawat. The palace is still registered as the property of Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, who is considered as the heir of Nizams. Chowmahalla Palace was decorated with the Asia Pacific Merit award in 2010 by UNESCO.

One of the most impressive things about the palace is its imposing architecture. The façade is made of an intricate network of beautiful domes, large windows, dramatic arches and delicately carved out designs. The grounds of the palace feature lush green gardens, marvelous fountains, and numerous smaller palaces. There is a Clock Tower, Roshan Bangla, and Council Hall here.

The palace features some of the most renowned buildings in Hyderabad. The royal seat was laid in Khilwat Mubarak and this is where the court proceedings of the Nizam took place. The administrative wing, also known as Bara Imam offers some of the most impressive views of the palace gardens. 

The architecture of the palace takes heavily after Persian, Rajasthani, Indo-Saracenic, and European styles. All four palaces within the complex - Aftab Mahal, Afzal Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Mahtab Mahal are worth checking out.

The palace construction started in 1750, under the orders of Salabat Jung, and the whole complex was finished during the reign of Afzal ad Dawlah, Asaf Jah V, who was the fifth Nizam of Hyderabad and ensured the construction completed in 1969.

After its construction was finished, the palace became the main residence of the Nawabs of Hyderabad. They started holding royal court at the palace soon, and the center for all major tournaments and activities related to the Nizam rule. Festivals and ceremonies were held in the Chowmahalla palace on a regular basis, and the Nizam hosted several welcome parties here for his esteemed guests.

The palace was also used as a stopover for Grand Khilafat, and would often be used as a guesthouse by other royal family members. It is said that the architecture, design, and layout of the palace is heavily influenced by Juveria Khan Rahimullah.

Alluring visitors for its untouched beauty and uncluttered serenity, NTR Gardens happens to be one of the major and famous attractions in Hyderabad. Spread across a huge area of around 55 acres, this garden is home to the beautiful memorial of Andhra Pradesh’s former Chief Minister, Late NT Rama Rao.

This stunning garden was developed by the state government with a huge capital of around 40 crores, for honoring the commendable and legendary leader. At present, this garden is considered as an appealing entertainment and leisure destination of Hyderabad.

Situated close to the very popular Hussain Sagar Lake, NTR Gardens is an easy escape from the tiresome activities of daily life. The green trees and shrubs and the colorful flora add to the charm of the garden, which is enough to leave visitors awestruck.  In addition to the serene and tranquilizing atmosphere, the garden even offers umpteen varieties of amazing recreational activities for the entertainment of the visitors.

Some of the major attractions of NTR Gardens include Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, and Roaring Cascade. The garden also has amazing in-house souvenir shops as well as multiple food joints. One of the very interesting food outlets is the Car Café, which is a mobile café and can accommodate six people at a single time. 

The offerings of NTR Gardens are not limited to this. The garden also has a toy train facility that can take visitors on a short ride across the entire garden. Furthermore, visitors can also experience boating during which they can get a chance to access the nearby Hussain Sagar Lake.