page_title: List of tourist attractions in Hyderabad
section_title: Historical monuments
hierarchical_section_title: List of tourist attractions in Hyderabad / Historical monuments
context_page_description: Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the South Indian state of Telangana. It was ruled by the Qutub Shahis, Mughals and the Nizams which shaped its history. The city is noted for its monuments which includes the masterpiece of Charminar and the fort of Golconda. There are a multitude of masjids, temples, churches and bazaars in the city.
  The tourism industry forms an important role in the economy of Hyderabad. Tourism-related fairs are held regularly, and in 2010, the city was listed among the Beta- World City by the global city index produced by GaWC, and in 2011 the city was rated 19th in the world by The New York Times in The list of 41 Places to Go in 2011. It was ranked 3rd Best City to Travel in 2013 by Lonely Planet. As of 2011, The tourism promotion budget for the city was increased to ₹520 million. Telangana, which is India's top domestic tourist destination, receives up to 157 million visits, and reached 1.5 million international tourists, which generated US$23 million in revenue.
context_section_description: Mecca Masjid –  A symbolic mosque, Mecca Masjid was built 400 years ago during the reign of  Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah, the 6th Qutub Shahi Sultan of Hyderabad. The three-arched facade has been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. Muhammed Qutub Shah personally laid the foundation stone.
  Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, the French explorer, in his travelogue observed, "It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it".
  Charminar – a major landmark of Hyderabad with four graceful minarets located in the old city. It was built by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah as a memorial for plague victims. Charminar, on most occasions, is used to represent the city and the state and is hailed as a unique Deccan monument. It is in the midst of Charkaman which are four archways to roads leading in all four directions from the Charminar monument.
  Golconda Fort – Once abandoned by Qutub Shahis, Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India. Seated on a hill on one side and spiraling fort on the other, its location and internal design made it one of the strongest forts in India.
  Qutb Shahi Tombs – home to various tombs dedicated to Rulers of Qutub Shahi dynasty, located at Shaikpet, near Golconda Fort. These are an example of Deccan architecture with large minarets, huge domes, delicate marble designs and multiple inner passages.
  Paigah Tombs – These are a recently discovered series of mausoleums with unique geometrical sculptures which were nowhere found in the world. These are located at Chandrayanagutta. Paigahs were noblemen under the reign of Nizams.
  Spanish Mosque, Begumpet – This is one of several mosques in Secunderabad/Hyderabad.  The mosque is of Moorish architecture and was constructed by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra a Paigah Nawab in 1906.
caption: Golconda Fort was originally built by Kakatiya as part of their western defenses.
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