Are there any lightweight travel guides to India?

Great places to visit in Hyderabad, India?

• I'm planning a trip to Hyderabad, India. I've never been to Asia, let alone India, and I don't know where to visit! What are some good places to check out with my family? Two parents in their 50's, I'm in my 20's, and my brother is a teenager. We don't like gimmicky tourist type places much (I don't think we would have any interest in visiting the Taj Mahal, for example). I think we would like a less touristy vacation and a more authentic feel for India. We like outdoorsy type things and animals. I know my mother and I would enjoy shopping. (And speaking of shopping - is haggling acceptable? We tend to do it in Mexico because prices are inflated whenever gringos walk in, but I wouldn't want to offend anyone if the practice is not polite in India) Can you recommend anything based on this? Usually we all do some things as a family, then my mother and I go do things together and my father and brother go do some more guy-oriented things. I'm interested in learning about Indian culture and religions, especially Hinduism. Places to stay would be appreciated too. Although I said we'd like an "authentic" experience, we do like to stay in comfort, so nice hotels are important. Also, are there any fun train tours? I saw The Darjeeling Limited, and I'm wondering if it would be possible to take a train ride like theirs. Finally, my brother is not an adventurous eater at ALL. He needs to have American food available. Will he have a problem with this? Obviously I'm clueless about India, and I'm sure my ignorance has shown in this question. I plan to do some reading of travel guides, but they're always kind of cheesy. I would love some input from people who have actually been to India, or even better, people who live in India :)

• Answer:

  http://www.hyderabadtourist.com/hyderabad_attractions.html Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is a bustling 400-year-old metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people approximately, Hyderabad is the creation of the Qutub Shahi rulers, who were of Turkoman origin. Hyderabad is located on the Deccan Plateau and the Musi River, 650m above sea level. The physiography of Hyderabad is dominated by hills, monuments, tanks, forests, mosques, temples, a rich and varied heritage in arts, crafts and rock formations. There are several places to see and visit in and around Hyderabad.. the city of pearls. > The Most important place to visit in hyderabad is charminar to remember the history. > The HITECH City (Cyberabad) to see the latest technology. > Ramoji Film City to enjoy. > Prasad's Imax Multiplex Theatre for entertainment > Hyderabad Central Mall for Shopping. Hyderabad Top 10 Tourist Attractions: 1) Charminar - Built by Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, the Charminar is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches facing north, south, east and west with 56 meters high slender minarets and spiral staircases. These arches support two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name 'Charminar'. Each minar stand on a lotus-leaf base that is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings. Read More... 2) Golconda Fort - The majestic ruins of Golconda Fort stand as a backdrop to the sprawling city of Hyderabad. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1525, the Golconda Fort epitomises the opulent nawabi culture of the time. A new attraction at the fort is a sound and light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. Read More... 3) Qutub Shahi Tombs (7 Tombs) - The tombs are made of black granite or green stone with a shape of square or octagonal base. Its dome is in onion shape and arches are with fine sculptures. The road from Golconda fort goes to the north has the tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626 - 1672). The tombs of Abul Hasan Tana Qutb Shahi(1672 - 1687), Princess Hayat Baksh Begum (died on 1677), Muhammad Qutb Shah (1612-1626) and Pemamati, one of the mistresses of Muhammad Qutb Shah are also situated near to the tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah. Read More.. 4) HITECH City - (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy) Hyderabad is called as the second Silicon Valley in India after Bangalore. Hyderabad has a Software Technology Park with leading industries like Intergraph, UUNET, TCS, Wipro, Baan, Satyam, Park International, etc. HITEC City is spread across 151 acres of land for commercial development and has the best facilities and amenities, enabling hassle free IT operations. Read More... 5) Mecca Masjid - It is a grand mosque of South India. The construction of this masjid was started in 1614 by the 6th Sultan Abdulla Qutb Shah and completed by Aurangzeb. This vast mosque can accommodate 10,000 personnel during prayer time. It was built of enormous black granite slabs. The clay from Mecca mixed with red colour were used for stucco decorations at the entrance of the Masjid. Lies next to Charminar. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite. Read More... 6) Salarjung Museum - One of the largest private collections in the World. Situated at Afzal Ganj, the museum has a collection of more than 43,000 art objects and 50,000 books in the 38 rooms spread over three floors of the building. Open timing:10 to 7pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays. Read More... 7) Falaknuma Palace - It is believed that the Falaknuma palace was gifted to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mehboob Ali Khan by the generous Nawab. The palace was constructed over a period of seven years and it covers a total area of 9,39,712 square meters. The Falaknuma palace is a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings on the north. Read More... 8) Hussain Sagar Lake - Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. On the banks of the placid waters of the Hussain Sagar a water front or bund was constructed to arrest the flow of water on the other side. A major attraction at the Hussain Sagar is the 16 meter high, 350 tonne monolithic Buddha statue on the Rock of Gibraltar. Hussain Sagar has other attractions for lovers of water sports. The yatching and sailing clubs at the lake are active and the annual regatta draws a good number of sportspersons and lay people alike from all around the country. Read More... 9) Ramoji Film City - The world’s largest film production complex, is situated just 16 miles from the historic city of Hyderabad. Hyderabad, an international IT hub located in south-west India, is a modern metro and the home to several major transnational corporations. The Film City, spread over 2,000 acres of land studded with hills, vales and lakes, has few parallels as both a tourist attraction and major film-making facility. Read More... 10 ) 10) The Birla Planetarium & Science Museum - It is located in the heart of the picturesque city of Hyderabad on the panoramic hillock of Naubat Pahad, surrounded by gardens. The Birla Science Center houses a number of sections such as a Planetarium, a Science Museum, the Center for Applicable Mathematics and Computer Sciences, a Science projects division and so on. There are many other important places to see and visit in and around Hyderabad! > Museums. >Lakes & Rivers.>Monuments.>Gardens> Wild Life. Hyderabad Other Tourist Attractions: http://www.hyderabadtourist.com/other_attractions.html 1) AP State Museum: A visit to the Andhra Pradesh State Museum is a delight for art lovers. Located in the picturesque Public Gardens, the museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques and art objects in the country. Built in 1928 by the Nizam VII, the museum building itself is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The museum contairns a Buddhist gallery, Bahmanical & Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armour gallery, Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery and more. Adjacent to the State Museum is the Contemporary Art Museum. Timings: 10:30am to 5pm Close: Fridays 2) Aalankrita-the Ethnic Gateway: Spread over an area of 10 acres, Aalankrita blends the convenience of a 5-star resort, the ambience of a heritage site and the ethnicity of the times gone by. Located about 19 Km from Secunderabad on Karimnagar road, the facilities here include an air-conditioned Conference hall, Well side Restaurant, a pyramid shaped Meditation Centre, a covered swimming pool for day and night use, a sunken dancing floor, air-conditioned cottages, an antique shop, exhibition hall, walkways and a sprawling open air theatre that can accommodate about 3000 people. Thumkunta Village, Karimnagar Main Road, Shamerpet Mandal. 3) Asman Garh Palace: The palace was designed and built by Sir Osman Jah, a noble belonging to the Paigah family and one time Prime Minister of Hyderabad State. The granite turrets and arched windows of Asman Garh stand atop a hill some distance ahead of the Hyderabad TV tower. The palace now houses an archaeological museum. 4) Botanical Gardens: The first Botanical Gardens in Andhra Pradesh, spread over 120 acres, when completed will have 19 sections (Vanams). Already open to public is the first phase, with the completion of 5 sections. The sections include medicinal plants, timber trees, fruit trees, ornamental plants, aquatic plants, bamboos and so on. The Park has been designed to have large water bodies, rolling meadows, natural forests, rich grasslands and exquisite rock formations - all providing visitors an unforgettable experience. 5) Secret Lake: The 'Secret Lake' is situated close to Shilparamam Crafts Village and Hitec City, behind Jubilee Hills. AP Tourism organizes boating in the lake. Angling facility is available @Rs.100/- for 5 hours with a limit of 3 catch. Children Rs.15/ Rs.15/ Per Head Mechanized Boat Rs. 25/ Pedal Boat (per head) Rs. 20/Water Scooter (per trip) Rs.50/ Shikars (20 min per trip) Rs.25/Putty (20 min per trip) Rs.25/ For details contact Ph: 23323330 / 23327899 6) Legislative Assembly: Built in 1913, the building was originally the Hyderabad State Town hall. The architecture is a synthesis of Rajasthani and Persian styles, with an all white, aesthetic look. Located adjoining the picturesque Public Gardens, a massive statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a sitting posture is erected at the entrance park to the Assembly. 7) Nehru Zoological Park: Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. The biggest Zoo in India, it has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible. This is the first zoo to create moated enclosures for animals. The Lion Safari Park, Natural History Museum and Children's Train are the added attractions. 8) Paigah Tombs: There are many tombs of several generations of the Paigah nobles including Asman Jah, Viqar-ul-Umara and Shams-ul-Umara. The tombs are magnificent structures, decorated in stuccowork, and represent the Asaf Jahi and Rajasthani styles. The geometrical designs in the Paigah Tombs are unique and perforated with screens. This style is unique to the Paigah tombs and is not found elsewhere in the world. 9) SHILPARAMAM: It is an arts and crafts village showcasing various art forms and handicrafts of various artists from all over the State. Shilparamam plays host to myrid traditions of arts and crafts of the country. The annual All-India Festival of Arts and Crafts held here in February brings to the limelight the cultural and artistic traditions from every nook and corner of the country and is a unique opportunity to take home a piece o