HYDERABAD CITY TOUR
Two dynasties, five centuries and a diamond that changed the world
The City the Qutub Shahi Kings Built and the Nizams Made the Richest on Earth
Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shahi, a king so in love with a Hindu courtesan named Bhagmati that he built an entire city on the banks of the Musi river in her honour and named it after her. The diamond that would eventually become the Kohinoor was mined in the Golconda region and first traded at the fort that bears its name, making Hyderabad the centre of the greatest diamond market the ancient world ever produced. The Nizams who came after the Qutub Shahi dynasty inherited this extraordinary wealth and multiplied it — the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, was listed by Time magazine as the richest person in the world, a man who kept the world's fifth largest diamond as a paperweight and whose treasury was described by British officials as beyond imagination. Our private Hyderabad city tour takes you through the full sweep of this extraordinary history in a single day, from Golconda Fort to the Chowmahalla Palace to the Charminar, with an expert cultural guide who brings both dynasties and all five centuries to life. 5 Senses Tours is recognised by the Department of Tourism, a winner of the Outlook Responsible Tourism Award and the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award.





What to expect
The Hyderabad city tour begins with hotel pickup at 8:30 am in a private air conditioned vehicle.
Golconda Fort is the first stop and the oldest layer of Hyderabad’s story. Built originally as a mud fort in 1143 AD, it was progressively fortified between the 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans and then the Qutub Shahi dynasty into one of the greatest medieval fortresses in India. The fort covers an area of 11 kilometres and contains palaces, mosques, stables, magazines and the famous acoustic system — a hand clap at the main entrance can be heard clearly at the top of the hill 90 metres above, a feat of medieval engineering that allowed guards to signal the approach of visitors to the royal apartments without the visitor’s knowledge. The Golconda region around the fort was the source of the world’s greatest diamonds — the Kohinoor, the Hope Diamond and the Nassak Diamond all originated from mines in this area. Your guide tells the full story of how Golconda became the diamond capital of the ancient world and what happened to the stones that passed through it.
The Qutub Shahi Tombs stand in the Ibrahim Bagh gardens a short drive from the fort, a collection of seven domed mausoleums built for the seven kings of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The tombs combine Persian, Pashtun and Hindu architectural elements in a style unique to Hyderabad — the arches, columns, dome minarets and carved galleries surrounded by gardens that in the Qutub Shahi period were maintained as a place of reverence where even criminals taking refuge were granted sanctuary.
Chowmahalla Palace is the centrepiece of the Hyderabad city tour and the most intimate encounter with the Nizam world available anywhere in the city. This was the private residence of the Nizams — the palace from which they administered one of the wealthiest states in India, received foreign dignitaries, and conducted the ceremonies of a court that rivalled the greatest in Asia. The grand durbar hall with its Belgian crystal chandeliers, the collection of vintage cars including Rolls-Royces that carried the Nizams through the streets of Hyderabad, and the extraordinary personal artefacts on display give a direct and vivid sense of a world that ended in 1948. At its peak 7,000 attendants maintained this palace. Your guide brings the personal and political story of the Nizams to life at every room.
Charminar is the final stop, the iconic four-minaret monument built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shahi to commemorate the end of a plague that had devastated the city. It stands at the heart of the old city, surrounded by the Laad Bazaar famous for its bangles and the lanes of the attar market where perfumers have been selling fragrances since the Qutub Shahi period. Your guide will share the legend of the secret tunnel said to connect Charminar to Golconda Fort, built as an escape route for the royal family in times of crisis.
Hotel drop by 4:30 pm.
This private Hyderabad city tour is fully inclusive. We take care of hotel pickup and drop in a private air conditioned vehicle, your English speaking cultural guide throughout the day, all entry fees and a South Indian vegetarian lunch.
Inclusions
Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned vehicle English-speaking cultural guide throughout Entry fees to all sites Indian Lunch All taxes Duration: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Guided Tour
Hyderabad city tour is a guided tour where a cultural evangelist will provide the cultural context during our visit to Palaces, Forts and Tombs. Our cultural evangelists unpack authentic India for better comprehension and appreciation of the cultural and heritage of the ancient Indian civilization.
Private Tour
A private Hyderabad city tour ensures that we are able to focus all our attention on you and adjust the pace of the tour according to your interests. Pick and drop from your hotel in an airconditioned vehicle is included in the Hyderabad tour.
Strenghening local community
Our company is helping the local community by training & employing local guides. This initiative is to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tripadvisor Reviews
For an illuminating blog on the life and legacy of the Nizams, please read The Nizams of Hyderabad, a tale of diamonds and diplomacy.
Pricing chart
- Hotel Pick & drop
- Private Car
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
- Hotel Pick & drop
- Private Car
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
- Hotel Pick & drop
- Private Car
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
Trip Itinerary
Experience cultural immersion in the Hyderabad city tour.
Related Tours
Choose from our comprehensive list of private guided tours that are immersive cultural experiences.
Motorcycle Tours
Ride on a Royal Enfield motorcycle and explore authentic India. Tours are led by an escort rider.


