A Beautiful Morning in Hyderabad: Hussain Sagar Lake
Our morning started with a lot of excitement to explore the beautiful city of Hyderabad. My cousin Mahmood and I woke up early, ready for a full day of adventure. We wanted to see the city wake up, so we decided to visit the famous Hussain Sagar Lake first.
From our stay in the Abids area, we walked to the bus stop and took a public bus. Traveling in local buses is always a great way to see how the local people live. Soon, we reached the lake and started walking along the shore. Let me tell you, the early morning vibe at Hussain Sagar is simply awesome.
The weather was very cool and fresh. In the middle of this huge lake stands a massive, beautiful statue of Lord Buddha. Looking at the statue surrounded by calm water was very peaceful. There were groups of pigeons everywhere, adding life to the quiet morning. We walked towards the boat starting point and the lovely garden nearby. Because it was so early in the morning, the boat service had not started yet, and the garden gates were not opened. Even though we could not go inside, we enjoyed our long morning walk there before walking back to catch our next bus.
📌 ishabil tips
If you want to enjoy a boat ride at Hussain Sagar Lake, plan your visit after 8:00 AM when the ticket counters and gardens are fully open to the public!
The Grand Golconda Fort
Our next destination was the historic Golconda Fort. At first, we waited to get a public bus. But after waiting for some time, we changed our minds. We wanted to save time but also keep our travel cheap. So, we chose the second cheapest option: an Uber Auto. The auto-rickshaw came within minutes, and we started our journey.
The fort is around 10 kilometers away from the lake, and the auto ride took us about 30 minutes. The cool morning air blowing through the open auto was very refreshing. When we reached the area near the fort, we felt very hungry. We found a small, local restaurant right near the fort and took our breakfast. We had hot, fluffy Poori with delicious potato stew. It gave us the energy we needed for a lot of walking.
Exploring from Bottom to Top
After our tasty food, we moved to the grand entrance of the fort. We bought our entry tickets and walked inside. The size of Golconda Fort is huge! We decided to explore everything slowly, starting from the very bottom and climbing our way to the top of the hill.
Right at the entrance, we saw the massive iron spikes on the giant wooden gates. These were made to stop elephants from breaking the doors in the old days! As we walked inside, we saw the clapping portico. This area is magic. If you clap your hands loudly at the bottom, the sound travels all the way to the top of the fort. We tested it, and it really works!
💡 ishabil fact
The acoustics at Golconda Fort are a marvel of ancient engineering. A simple handclap at the Bala Hissar pavilion can be heard clearly at the highest point of the fort, almost a kilometer away. It was used as a warning signal in case of an attack.
We continued our climb up the stone steps. We passed by ruined palaces, old meeting halls, and the royal living areas. Even though they are broken now, you can still see how beautiful they must have been hundreds of years ago. We walked through old gardens and saw the water supply systems made of clay pipes. It is amazing how smart the old builders were.
Finally, we reached the highest point of the fort. Here, we found a beautiful old mosque area resting peacefully on the hilltop. The wind was blowing strongly up here, drying all our sweat. The view from the top is absolutely wonderful. We could see the whole modern city of Hyderabad spreading out for miles below us. After spending a long time taking photos and enjoying the view, we got down using another different pathway so we could see new parts of the fort on our way out.
Journey to the Old City
After our great fort visit, we wanted to see the famous Old City of Hyderabad. We took a local private bus to go to the Charminar area. That bus ride was a very special and funny experience. In the small streets, the bus speed was incredibly slow. We felt like we were walking! But whenever we reached a big, open road, the bus suddenly became very fast. After a long run through the busy streets, we finally reached the colorful and crowded Old City area.
The Iconic Charminar
First, we visited the world-famous Charminar. This grand monument with its four tall pillars (minarets) stands right in the middle of a very busy market. We bought our tickets and joined a very long queue of people waiting to go inside. After a long wait, it was finally our turn to climb upstairs.
The steps to the upper floor of the Charminar are very narrow and round. It felt like climbing inside a dark stone pipe! We had to walk slowly and carefully. But once we reached the upper balcony, the hard climb was worth it. The view from up there is so nice. We could look down at the busy Laad Bazaar, where people sell shining glass bangles and clothes. We saw colorful shops, auto-rickshaws, and thousands of people moving like tiny ants. Standing inside this old building and looking at the lively market below is an unforgettable feeling.
Peaceful Makkah Mosque
Just a short walk from the Charminar is the grand Makkah Mosque (Mecca Masjid). It is one of the oldest and largest mosques in India. The courtyard is huge and full of hundreds of friendly pigeons. When you step inside from the noisy market, the mosque area feels very quiet and deeply peaceful. The giant stone pillars and large prayer hall are very impressive. We sat there for a while, feeling the cool breeze and enjoying the calm atmosphere of this holy place.
The Royal Chowmahalla Palace
Next on our list was the Chowmahalla Palace. This place is not just one building, but a large group of beautiful buildings inside a huge green compound. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, where the Nizams (rulers) of Hyderabad entertained their royal guests. Walking inside, we saw grand halls with giant crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. There were green gardens with water fountains in the middle. We even saw a collection of old, vintage cars that the kings used to drive. Every corner of the palace is clean, beautiful, and makes you feel like you have traveled back to the days of kings and queens.
Food, Goodbyes, and the Journey Home
The Famous Hyderabadi Biryani
By now, we were very hungry again. You cannot visit Hyderabad and not eat the famous Hyderabadi Biryani! We went to a nice local restaurant nearby. We ordered a large plate of biryani. The smell of the basmati rice mixed with rich spices and soft, tender meat was amazing. We ate it with spicy salan (curry) and cool raita (yogurt). It was the best meal of our trip. Our stomachs and our hearts were completely full.
A Missed Museum and the Journey Home
At 3:00 PM, we went to visit the Salar Jung Museum, which is famous for its large collection of antiques. But sadly, that day the museum had a holiday. It was closed, so we missed seeing it. But that is okay, it gives us a reason to visit Hyderabad again!
Later, we walked around the city streets a bit more until we reached the main city bus stand. It was time for Mahmood and me to go our separate ways. My co-traveler and cousin Mahmood went to the train station by taking the fast city Metro. I took the special Airport Bus to go to the Hyderabad Airport.
My flight was with GoAir to Kannur Airport in Kerala. The flight was smooth, and I reached Kannur Airport at 9:00 PM in the night. Luckily, a passenger sitting near me was going the same way, so he took me with him in his auto to Talassery. From Talassery, I caught a local bus to Kozhikode. Finally, from Kozhikode, I got a comfortable KSRTC AC bus to Kakkad. It was a long journey back, but as I sat in the bus looking out the window, my mind was full of the beautiful memories of Hussain Sagar, the grand Golconda Fort, and the tasty biryani. It was truly a perfect trip!
About the Author
Ikbal Valiyathodi is the founder of Ishabil.com , a travel blog sharing budget-friendly travel stories, stopover hacks, and real experiences from around the world. He believes travel should be simple, honest, and possible for everyone.
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