A distinctIndo-Islamic architecture style with local contribution is reflected in the historical buildings of Hyderabad, making it the first and "Best Heritage City of India" as of March 2012.^[1] The city houses many famous historical sites constructed duringQutb Shahi andAsaf Jahi period, including variousmosques andpalaces.^[2]

Hindu Temple Architecture is also seen in thetemples of Hyderabad, including theBirla Mandir,^[3]Jagannath Temple andAkanna Madanna Temple.^[4][5]Modern architectural styles are seen in most buildings constructed after independence.

Qutb Shahi architecture of the 16th and early 17th centuries followed classicalPersian architecture featuring domes and colossal arches.^[6] Inscriptions in Persian and elaborately carved stucco work are found on most of these buildings. The oldest surviving Qutb Shahi structure in Hyderabad is the ruins ofGolconda fort built in the 16th century.

The most important monuments from this time are theCharminar andMecca Masjid, both built byMohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad. Most of the historical bazaars that still exist were constructed on the street north ofCharminar towards the fort. The Charminar has become an icon of the city, located in the center ofold Hyderabad. It is a square structure with sides 20 m (66 ft) long and four grand arches each facing a road. At each corner stands a 56 m (184 ft)-high minaret.^[7]

To the north of the Charminar is a public square enclosed by four giant arches, known as theChar Kaman.^[8][9] A fountain calledGulzar Houz is at the center of this area.

Another example is theQutb Shahi Tombs complex, a complex of tombs of the Qutb Shahi rulers, as well as other royals and noblemen. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain.^[10] The tombs are set in a garden. The complex includes a step-well,^[11]Turkish bath, and a mosque.

TheCharminar,Golconda Fort and theQutb Shahi tombs are considered to bemonuments of national importance in India. In 2010, the Indian government proposed that the sites be listed forUNESCO World Heritage status.^[12][13][14]

The style is also seen in theTaramati Baradari,Khairtabad Mosque,^[15][16]Musheerabad Mosque,^[17]Shaikpet Sarai,^[18] andToli Masjid.^[19][20][21]

The only significant architectural contribution during the briefMughal rule in Hyderabad was the construction thecity wall of Hyderabad, constructed out of granite in typical Mughaldefence architecture.^[22] The wall had twelve gateways, each wide enough for an elephant to pass through.^[23] Mughal emperorAurangzeb also completed the construction of the Mecca Masjid, adding a gateway and topping the minarets with domes.^[24]

TheNizams of Hyderabad ruled between the 18th and 20th centuries asvassals of theBritish Empire. Therefore, European architectural styles became prevalent during this period.^[25]

Apart from the Nizams' palaces, the noble families built their own palaces and mansions in Indo-European styles. This includesDiwan Devdi,^[26]Asman Garh Palace,Errum Manzil,Khursheed Jah Devdi,Bashir Bagh Palace,Bella Vista,Hill Fort Palace, andPaigah Palace.

With the introduction of a sizable Christian population, churches including theSt. Joseph's Cathedral,^[27]St. George's Church,^[28][29]CSI Garrison Wesley Church,^[30] andHoly Trinity Church were built in the city, especially in and aroundSecunderabad, the new city built as a British cantonment.

TheBritish Residency, completed in 1798, was probably the first major example of neoclassical architecture in Hyderabad.^[31]The other examples of neo-classical architecture in Hyderabad includes the various buildings ofChowmahalla Palace

TheFalaknuma Palace, used as a guest-house by the Nizam, was inspired byAndrea Palladio's villas. The Nizams appliedEuropean styles in some of the palaces such asFalaknuma andKing Kothi Palaces.^[32][33]

In the 17th century,Asaf Jahi architecture emerged with palatial style outweighed secular construction. The earliest examples include thePurani Haveli, which served as the seat of theNizam until theChowmahalla Palace was constructed. TheChowmahalla Palace, located a stone's throw away fromCharminar was constructed over a period of 100 years. It was recently restored and opened to the public. A wide variety of Indian and European styles, ranging from baroque to neoclassical, are seen in the palace^[34][35]

The last NizamMir Osman Ali Khan is called as the maker of modern Hyderabad. The buildings constructed during his reign are impressive and represent a rich style ofIndo-Saracenic architecture, such as theOsmania University^[36] andMoazzam Jahi Market.^[37][38] These buildings are quite distinct from their earlier Qutb Shahi counterparts.

In the early 20th century, the Nizam invited British architectVincent Esch to design four major public buildings of Hyderabad — theHyderabad High Court,Osmania General Hospital,^[39]City College,^[40] andKachiguda Railway Station.^[41] Esch, a pioneer of the contemporaryIndo-Saracenic style designed these building in this style combining Indo-Islamic and European features.

TheSpanish Mosque,Paigah Tombs,^[42]Mahbub Mansion,Saidani Ma Tomb,Aza Khana-e-Zohra,^[43]Hill Fort Palace, andNizamia Hospital, also contribute to the architecture of this period.

Art deco buildings were built in the 1930s and 1940s.^[25] Art Deco style was introduced to Hyderabad by a German architect called Karl Heinz.^[44] TheMoazzam Jahi Market,SBH Building, buildings byMohammed Fayazuddin and a number of cinema halls are examples of such architecture.

Modern architectural styles with skyscrapers of glass and steel dominate the newer areas of the city. These include thenew airport at Shamshabad, Cyber Towers inHi-Tec City etc.

• Bilgrami, Syed Ali Asgar (1927).Landmarks of the Deccan. Government Central Press, Hyderabad.
• Haig, Major T. W. (1907).Historic Landmarks of the Deccan. Pioneer Press, Allahabad.
• Mudiraj, K. Krishnaswamy (1929).Pictorial Hyderabad. The Chandrakanth Press, Hyderabad.
• Khalidi, Omar (2009).A Guide to Architecture in Hyderabad, Deccan, India(PDF). Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 13 March 2020. Retrieved28 September 2019.

• Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Volume 22 (1963)
• Vottery, Madhu (2010),A Guide to the Heritage of Hyderabad, Rupa Publications, Hyderabad

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