In comparison to some cities in India, Hyderabad has a good selection of activities for children. The local infrastructure is well geared to providing entertainment for all the family and indeed those travelling with little ones should have no difficulties keeping them entertained on days when sightseeing is not on the agenda.

Krazi Chicks
Krazi Chicks is aimed at the little ones, primarily those under 12 years of age, and is a popular amusement and entertainment centre situated underground. Attractions include merry-go-rounds and other fairground rides, bumper cars and video games. It’s a fairly low-profile place and tends to be frequented mostly by adults with little ones. A morning or afternoon visit would probably suffice. Phone: +91 40 2475 3473

Movies
Hyderabad has a large selection of movie theatres among which are a number showing popular Hollywood movies, invariably in English with foreign subtitles (though occasionally dubbed into local language). Theatres are usually air-conditioned and can be a good place to kill a few hours if the heat of the summer or the rain of the monsoon season is getting to the little ones.

Ocean Park Gandipet
In nearby Gandipet is the popular Ocean Park, an outdoor water park offering fun for all the family. A section aimed primarily at kids includes a variety of slides, rides and water features such as the Floating Bridge, Tilting Bucket, Mushroom Umbrella, Tube Slide, Wide Slide and Duck Jets. The dry section of the park meanwhile offers roller coasters and other rides plus other amusement park-style attractions. A guest house near the park offers overnight accommodation for those wanting to visit from far away or spend more than one day at the park. Phone: +91 40 9233 3335; website: www.oceanparkindia.com.

Thunderbowl
A mixed selection of attractions is to be found at Thunderbowl, among which, not surprisingly, are bowling lanes as well as a ball pool for the little ones and a video game arcade for kids of all ages. Phone: +91 40 2322 1737

Treasure Island Gandipet
Travel just 15kms out of Hyderabad to the town of Gandipet where the Treasure Island amusement park awaits. Over 60 acres of land are home to activities such as swimming, horseback riding and go-carting. The park is in fact several venues in one, offering activities for the children, dancing and drinking areas for the adults in the evening, and cottages so that visitors can stay over and enjoy a weekend break.

Hyderabad is teeming with places of cultural interest and any visitors looking to get some good snaps for their photo albums will find countless opportunities to do so at the variety of historic structures and landmarks. The Charminar and the Golconda Fort are perhaps the highlights with the latter so large that it could easily warrant more than one visit.

AP State Museum
An impressive collection of artefacts features pieces that date back as far the 1st century and others from as recently as the 20th century. In the former category, the Lotus Medallion is especially notable; while in the latter, treasures that belonged to the Nizams might be considered highlights.

Charminar
The city’s best known landmark was built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 and is a magnificent structure comprised largely of lime-mortar and granite. This impressive square monument is notable for its four towers or minarets: Charminar actually translates as ‘four towers’. The design is typically Islamic with each minaret comprising four storeys and every side of the structure featuring giant archways, each of which faces a major thoroughfare.

Chowmahalla Palace
This late 18^th century building was once the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and the place where guests and royal visitors of the Nizam were entertained. Construction was started in 1750 at the hands of Salabat Jung and completed around 1857 by the Nizam. Similarities have been drawn between the Chowmahalla Palace and the palace of the Shah of Iran in Teheran. The palace’s estate consisted of some 45 acres of land originally but has since been cut down to 14 and now includes two courtyards, the Durbar Hall and gardens with fountains.

Falaknuma Palace
Located on a 650-metre-high hill in the south of Hyderabad’s old city, this scorpion-shaped structure was the work of Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra and in 1897 went on to be purchased by the sixth Nizam, for the purpose of providing the ruling elite with a weekend getaway and holiday residence. The palace, which took almost nine years to complete, is home to a collection of rare Nizam treasures including books, manuscripts, statues, paintings and furniture.

Golconda Fort
On the outskirts of the city, the Golconda Fort was built in the 16^th century by Qutub Shahi kings and was originally known as 'Golla Konda' which means ‘Shepherd's Hill’ in Telegu, Hyderabad’s official language. The fort encompasses four smaller forts, notable features of which include their drawbridges, cannons, temples, mosques, royal domiciles, etc. The 'Fateh Darwaza', or 'Victory Gate', provides access to the outer fort and is notable itself for its unusual acoustic effects.

Salar Jung Museum
Located on the Musi river’s southern side, the Salar Jung Museum is a facility dedicated essentially to displaying art objects that comprise the world’s most significant one-man collection, namely that of the Salar Jung family. Spread across 78 rooms in the ancestral city palace of Dewan Devdi, the museum’s collection features some 40,000 pieces with each room offering similarly themed artefacts. Highlights include the Veiled Rebecca, Yaquti-ul-Mastami's 12^th century Quran, Noorjahan's fruit knife, Jehangir's dagger and a 100-year-old clock.

Dining in Hyderabad can be one of the highlights of the trip if you are prepared to sample some of the local delicacies. Cuisine in the city is renowned for being among the best in India, combining influences from Mughal, Persian and Telangana cuisine.

Biryani is the city’s signature dish and is essentially a baked creation incorporating meat (often goat), vegetables and basmati rice. Hyderabad biryani is obviously unsuitable for vegetarians but a meat-free version does exist and can be equally as tasty. Biryani is often served with a curry gravy known as mirchi ka salan.

Biryani can be enjoyed at a variety of restaurants throughout the city. While the basic ingredients and cooking process do not differ greatly from one venue to the next, subtle adjustments can make one restaurant’s offerings that bit better or different to another’s.

If local cuisine isn’t so much your thing then head for the food court known as ‘Eat Street’. Here Middle Eastern food, Chinese food, burgers and pizzas can all be found. Additionally you can find upmarket international cuisine at the restaurants of the city’s top hotels.

For shopping, visitors will find Hyderabad is exceedingly well for visitors looking to take home souvenirs, purchase ethnic goods including clothing and artworks, pick up edible delicacies including herbs and spices, and even buy branded consumer goods such as electronics, household wares and designer clothing.

The city’s main shopping areas include Abids, Basheerbagh and Nampally; while Ameerpet, Begumpet, Himayatnagar, Punjagutta and Somajiguda are beginning to gain profile and popularity.

Hyderabad is famous for its pearl industry and is commonly recognised as a world leader in the pearl trade. Visitors will find a large number of retail outlets selling pearls and pearl jewellery including necklaces, bracelet and earrings. Additionally, the city has a large number of malls where visitors can find fixed-price branded goods from well known manufacturers. Among these are Citi Life Super Mall, MPM Mall, Amrutha Mall, Swapnalok Complex and Minerva Complex.

A small selection of outdoor activities is available to Hyderabad visitors and indeed it’s probably fair to say that this is the city’s weakest selling point. The city’s location precludes the pursuit of some activities that are available to other popular Indian destinations such as hiking or water sports.

Cricket
Cricket is Hyderabad’s most popular sport and all over the city in open spaces, you’ll find the locals enjoying light-hearted games. Buy your own cheap set with stumps, bails, ball and bat, and enjoy a game with fellow holidaymakers or get yourself invited into a game with the locals.

Golf
Hyderabad has its own golf club which, weather permitting, can offer visitors the chance to practice their swing or polish up on their putting skills amid some fairly beautiful scenery. The course is an 18-hole, par 72 facility with a yardage of 6,434 and is managed by the Indian army.

Swimming
The city’s best hotels all have their own pools, the majority being outdoor facilities. On a hot day, what better a way to cool down than a dip in the cool waters? Alternatively, work up a sweat by getting a few laps in if you are in need of some solid exercise.

Sanjeevaiah Park
Tourists and locals alike flock to this pleasant greenbelt area for walking, relaxation, picnicking or playing sport. A rock garden, rose garden and floral clock are among the park’s most notable visual features.