4-hour, small group tour that covers two of the best preserved monuments from the Qutb Shahi period – the Charminar and the nearby Mecca mosque. This will be followed by the Asaf Jahi highlight of Chowmahalla Palace. Add-ons include transport, tickets to monuments and food.
Description
Hyderabad was founded by the fifth Qutb Shahi king, who tasked his Persian builders with creating the best city in the world. The Charminar was one of the elements that were built in accordance with the design, which recreated the plan of heaven on earth. A couple of hundred years later, the Asaf Jahi kings lived and ruled from the Chowmahalla Palace, one of the best-preserved palaces in Hyderabad.
In a small-group half-day tour lasting 4 hours, we will visit one of the best-preserved monuments from the Qutb Shahi period – the Charminar, and the nearby Mecca mosque. We will follow it up with a visit to the Asaf Jahi highlight of Chowmahalla Palace.
Highlights
Charminar: Discover why this iconic Hyderabad monument was built (hint: it had nothing to do with a plague!) and climb to the top for amazing photo ops Chudi Bazaar: Walk through the quintessential Oriental bazaars around the Charminar that have retained their character over the last four hundred years. Peep into the workshops of bangle-makers and silver-beaters, and try your hand at haggling a good price! Chowmahalla Palace: See where the last kings of Hyderabad lived as recently as the 1960s, and marvel at the grandeur that marked their everyday life
Itinerary
Charminar
Mecca Masjid (Outside)
Chudi Bazaar
Chowmahalla Palace
Things to Note
Inclusions
Guide throughout the tour
Narrated walks through the attractions
Bottled water
Exclusions
Any personal expenses
Entry tickets (If add-on not purchased)
Transport (If add-on not purchased)
Things to Carry
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Wear comfortable and sturdy footwear
Dress so that your knees and shoulders are covered, as some of the places we might go into are of religious significance
Cost
Tour Cost
₹6000 per person for up to 2 persons ₹5000 per person for 3 or more Children under 12 pay half
Add-Ons
Air-conditioned transport – ₹4500 (1 to 2 guests) / ₹6000 (3 to 5 guests) South Indian Breakfast (Start 30 minutes earlier) – ₹400/person Lunch at Shadab – ₹1200 per person
Book Now
Once you submit this, we will get back to you within 48 hours to confirm.
Curated by Navin Sigamany
Navin founded The Hyderabad Walking Company in 2017 to bring well-curated experiences to folks who wished to explore Hyderabad’s heritage and food. Delivering storytelling tours to hundreds of guests from dozens of countries over the years has helped him hone his craft, to the delight of many tour-goers.
Best walking tour I've ever been on! After being picked up from the hotel, we drove downtown to Hyderabad and started at the Charminar. Climbing the wicked tiny steps is totally worth the view from the top and then the descend makes the next stop for chai and biscuits a well deserved treat. Following the chai, we strolled down the streets looking at the old shops and then we made our way to Chowmahalla Palace. A beautiful complex with many years as a "working palace", you can get a sense of the grandeur this site once had (and is being restored back to). After viewing all the amazing automobiles in their collection, we made our way back to the shopping. We had an opportunity to see how bangles are made, plus try some on and purchase some to take home. Navin is an amazing partner to take you on this adventure. He has a true love of the area and is excited to share his knowledge and stories. This was truly the highlight of my trip and I would HIGHLY recommend that you make an appointment with the Hyderabad Walking Tour when visiting this great city.
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yreshetar
29 Oct 2018
It all started off with me casually mentioning to Navin that I would like to try out the Dosa's at Govind's. Off went Navin and in a span of minutes put together an entire plan for the walk and got a group of friends together. It was interesting to try out the various tea and bakery items at Nimras and then walk along the various by-lanes and get our dose of history and myths busted. Post that, we ended up at the famous (and original) Govind's.
All in all, a great Saturday morning spent with lots of history, minimal exercise and loads of buttery idli, dosa, and vada.
If you are interested in a fun walk, check out "The Hyderabad Walking Company". You will have fun, add to your store of knowledge and ensure a full tummy.
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Veera
10 Jun 2018
Memorable Evening - Highlihgt of Our Trip If you're considering a food tour in the area, look no further than Jon Wilson – this was truly an excellent experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and there was no pressure to try anything we weren’t comfortable with. Jon not only shared fascinating history about the city, but also took photos for us, making it a memorable experience. As four white women in a busy, crowded market, we never once felt unsafe – Jon made sure we were always taken care of. He even stayed with us well past our tour time to ensure we were safely in our Uber back to the hotel. Plus, we all enjoyed the food without any GI distress afterward, which is a big win! I can’t recommend Jon and the company enough – 1000% recommend!
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Krysta
24 Nov 2024
Excellent! I very much enjoyed the tour in the old city of Hyderabad and learn about the history of the city, the laad bazaar and the Nizam rulers. The tour guide John was really great and guided me well through the streets and the bazaar. I very much liked climbing up the Chaminar and have chai tea and cookies at the local bakery. I had an excellent time during the tour.
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