The city of Hyderabad is known for its hospitable nature. The Hyderabadi people are very welcoming, open-minded and friendly people. The city of Nawabs is home to diverse cultures from across India.
Anybody from across India can feel homely because of the welcoming nature of the Hyderabadi people.
For solo travellers in Hyderabad, it is completely safe and secure. The best places in Hyderabad for travelling alone.
1. State Central Library
2. Hussain Sagar
3. Osman Sagar
4. Himayat Sagar
5. Lad Bazar
6. Mozamjahi Market
7. Begum Bazar
8. Sultan Bazar
9. Shilparamam
10. Shahran Market
11. Madina Hotel
12. Pista House
13. Shah Ghouse
14. Gokul Chat
15. Ram ki Bandi
16. Sarath City Capital Mall
17. Forum Sujana Mall
Before describing the speciality of each place, let me share with you a brief history and background of the city of Hyderabad.
The new & old Hyderabad presents a stark contrast with each other but also complement each other. While the old city reminds us of the glorious past, rich culture and heritage. The new Hyderabad promises a bright future ahead. Hitech City is an IT hub and a base for many top IT companies in the world.
History of Hyderabad:
The foundation stone of Hyderabad was laid in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah on the southern banks of Musi River.
He was the 5th King of Qutub Shahi Dynasty of Golconda-Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was also an accomplished poet in Deccani Urdu, Telugu and Persian. Hyderabad remained the capital of Qutb Shahi Dynasty for 150 years until the Mughals conquered it. In 1724, the Mughal viceroy, Asaf Jah I declared independence which gave birth to Asaf Jahi Dynasty that lasted 224 years.
After the Independence of India, Hyderabad Princely state was abolished to create linguistic states and Hyderabad city became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Today, as I write this blog, Hyderabad is the capital city of new Telangana State that was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
According to the survey by Mercer Quality of Living Rating 2018, Hyderabad has been ranked as the best city to live in India. Hyderabad has been able to retain its top position for the fourth year in a row. Here is a famous couplet of Sultan Quli Qutub Shah in which the Sultan prays to God for the prosperity of the newly established Hyderabad city.
Dakhini Urdu
“Mera Shehar Logon se Ma’moor kar
Rakhio Jo Tu Dariya mein Machli jaese”
Translation into English:
“Fill this city of mine with people as,
You filled the river with fish O Lord”
Now Coming to the point, what are the best spots in Hyderabad visiting alone and for solo travellers?
There are countless places from restaurants to libraries and from lakes to Markets. We have listed them all here for those who like to travel alone.
The State Central Library is literally the best spot for the ones who like to travel alone. This is the best spot for those who like to have peace in solace.
The State Central Library previously known as Asifia Library was constructed in the late 19th century. The Library houses half a million books and many old and rare manuscripts. The library is located near the Old City area of Afzal Gunj. Every book lover must visit this library at least once in a lifetime. The Govt along with the Foreign NGOs are working to digitize the books in the Asifia Library.
One needs to visit Hussain Sagar alone to witness the beauty of the historical lake. The Hussain Sagar is a 32 feet deep lake in Hyderabad and was built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah who named it after the Sufi Saint Hussain Shah Wali. It was the main source of water supply for Hyderabad for a long time. A large statue of Gautham Budha at the middle beautifies the lake. It was erected in 1992.
The Osman Sagar, also known as Gandipet Lake is a reservoir built in 1920. It was created by splitting the Musi river. There is a very sad story behind the construction of Osman Sagar. The Great floods of 1908 occurred in the Musi river that has caused the death of more than 10,000 civilians in Hyderabad. In order to curb such floodings again and to protect the city from dangers, the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs were built by putting a noose around the necks of the Musi River. Today, Osman Sagar is a very popular destination and picnic spot. Tourists visit it and spend a day to relax after stressful work. The reservoir is named after Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th Nizam who constructed it. There are also places for fishing around the lake. Solo travellers can visit Osman Sagar.
The Himayat Sagar was built in parallel to Osman Sagar and was named after the son of 7th Nizam, Mir Himayat Ali Khan. The purpose of building the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar was to prevent floods to occur again in the Musi River. The Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar still provide water to the twin cities of Hyderabad but are not sufficient due to the growing population.
The Lad Bazar is bangle market located near Charminar. It is a favourite shopping site for mothers and sisters in Hyderabad. The lad bazar, also known as Choori bazar is a very old market in Hyderabad. The market is not just a tourist spot but the favourite destination for shopping during festivals and functions. You can visit Lad Bazar alone.
The Moazzam Jahi market is a famous destination for Ice Creams. The market has many fruit and vegetable stalls. A metro line runs exactly in front of the Moazzam Jahi market structure and that makes a beautiful view for a perfect picture. Enjoy the beauty of the historic building while having the ice cream. One of the best spots for those likes to travel alone.
The Begum Bazar is the biggest market and one of the oldest in Hyderabad. It is very close to Charminar. The market does business worth crores on a daily basis. It is a very busy market. It is a great place to visit the busy streets when you are travelling alone.
The Sultan Bazar is an old market mainly for women's clothing and accessories near Koti. The land for the market was donated by a Nawab to the traders. Solo Woman traveller will have the best time of their life at Lad Bazaar and Begum Bazar.
The Shilparamam is a market of arts and crafts. The market gives an ambience of our traditional art. It is located in the prime IT hub of Hyderabad. It is in the Hitech City area of Hyderabad. The iconic building, Cyber towers is opposite to the Shilparamam. Any traveller can visit Shilparamam alone and witness unique markets.
The Shahran Market is a famous market in the Old City of Hyderabad. It is a market of Hijabs and Burkas and ladies accessories. The market has both imported and locally made Hijabs. It is mostly a ladies-only market.
The Madina Hotel in Old City must be credited for introducing Haleem to Hyderabad. The owner & founder, Aga Hussain Zabeth brought Haleem, an Iranian dish to the city in 1956. Today, Haleem is synonymous with Hyderabad. For some authentic taste of Hyderabadi Haleem, one must definitely visit Madina Hotel. The Madina Hotel also serves some of the best Hyderabadi cuisines.
Pista House is the one that has put Hyderabadi Haleem on the International Map. The Pista House outlet exports Haleem to many countries in the west and middle east. It is also one of the largest chains of restaurants in the city of Hyderabad. This restaurant definitely comes in the list if you are a foodie.
Shah Ghouse is one of the oldest chains of restaurants in Hyderabad that serves authentic Deccani cuisine. The restaurant has been awarded as best Biryani and Haleem by Times of India twice.
The Gokul Chat is the name that comes to mind when it comes to street food. It serves one of the best chats & street food in the town. The Gokul Chat Bhandar is winning the hearts of foodies from the past 50 years.
There is hardly anybody in Hyderabad who does not know Ram ki Bandi. The famous eatery near Moazam Jahi market is famous for midnight Butter Dosa. Ram Kumar Shinde, who used to run his cart at Nampally is known for his unique recipe of Dosa and trademark chutney. What are you waiting for grab your Butter Dosa tonight?
Sarath City Capital Mall is a huge shopping Mall at Gachibowli, a prime location in Hyderabad. The Multiplex in the mall is one of the best in the city. It has all the brands that one may need. And the food court serves delicious food. One can visit the shopping mall alone for window shopping or watching a movie at the Multiplex.
The Forum Sujana Mall is a well-known mall where an abundant number of international brands are available under one roof. It is a delightful place for people who love shopping. It is probably one of the most well-maintained shopping malls in India.
These are some of the best spots in Hyderabad if you are a solo traveller or you want to travel alone in Hyderabad. Hope you liked the article. Comment below your favourite places from the list. :)
