Hyderabad

No reviews yetCity Sindh, Pakistan

Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur Tombs were restored in 2016 1, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Badshahi Bungalow 004, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Hyderabad Fort (Pacco Qillo) 02, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

Main hall gate of Mai Khairiji Masjid, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan

About Hyderabad

Hyderabad rises on a long limestone ridge above the Indus plain, and for three quarters of a century it was the royal seat of Sindh. Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro founded the city in 1768 on the Ganjo Takkar hills, naming it after Haydar, a title of Imam Ali, and building a great brick fort to guard it.

The Talpur Mirs took the city in the 1770s and made it their capital, and under them Hyderabad grew into a busy trading town known for calligraphers, bookbinders and craftsmen. Their rule ended in 1843, when British forces won the Battle of Hyderabad and annexed Sindh. The domed tombs of both dynasties still crown the ridge, and the old city is still known for its rooftop wind-catchers, built to pull breezes into houses during the fierce summer heat.

Today Sindh's second city is famous across Pakistan for glass bangles, made by thousands of artisans in the Churi Para quarter, and for its crowded bazaars. Winter is the time to explore, when the fort, the tombs and the markets can be walked in comfort.

Best seasonNovember to February, when the heat eases

Ideal stay1-2 days

ArrivingBy the M-9 motorway or train from Karachi, roughly a two to three hour journey

Exploring Hyderabad: 10 Must-See Spots

Landmarks 2

Pakka Qila Hyderabad

Built in 1768 and 1769 by Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, the Pakka Qila, or strong fort, was made of fired brick and served as the roya...

Navalrai Clock Tower

Built in 1914, this clock tower stands over the busy Navalrai market area and is one of the most recognisable landmarks of colonia...

History 2

Tombs of the Talpur Mirs

On the northern edge of the Ganjo hills stands a cluster of domed tombs of the Talpur rulers of Sindh, some decorated with glazed...

Tomb of Ghulam Shah Kalhoro

The founder of Hyderabad is buried in a domed mausoleum on the city's ridge, close to the fort he built. The tomb is admired for i...

Religious Sites 2

Shrine of Shah Makki

The Kacha Qila, or mud fort, was built around the tomb of the Sufi saint Shah Makki, whose shrine remains a living place of devoti...

Mai Khairi Mosque

This historic mosque in Hyderabad is admired for its domes, slender minaret, arched gateway and decorated prayer hall with an orna...

Shopping 2

Shahi Bazaar Hyderabad

Running through the heart of the old city from the fort area, Shahi Bazaar is one of the longest market streets in the region, a n...

Churi Para

Hyderabad makes almost all of Pakistan's ornamental glass bangles, and this quarter is the centre of the craft, where hundreds of...

Parks 1

Rani Bagh Hyderabad

Opened in 1861 as Das Gardens and later renamed in honour of Queen Victoria, Rani Bagh is the city's best-known park, with lawns,...

Museums 1

Sindh Museum Hyderabad

This provincial museum presents the history and culture of Sindh, from archaeology of the Indus Valley to the courts of the Kalhor...

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Photo credits

Photo: Chander.sothar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Waheed.chandio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: MUrad Ali Shah Bukerai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Sikarsa, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL

Photo: Syed Zeeshan Ahmed, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Soban, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL

Photo: MUrad Ali Shah Bukerai, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Saqib Qayyum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: SYED BILAL ALI, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Soban, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: MazharAbbas90, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Saqib Qayyum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Waheed.chandio, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Saqib Qayyum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Guddu Pakistani, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Abbaskorejo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL

Photo: Saqib Qayyum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Furqan Imran, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons, FAL