I recently visited Qutub Shahi tombs, where seven generations of Emperors are resting. The tombs are on the way to Golconda Fort but are normally given a miss by most of the visitors. But once you visit the tombs you will realize what you would have missed. I think it won’t be wrong to say that Qutub Shahi tombs form the Golden Triangle of Hyderabad along with Golconda Fort and Taramati Baradari. The tombs were built by successive generations of the Qutub Shahi kings as their final resting place. There is even an unfinished tomb which could not be completed due to political disturbances. This time when I visited the tomb my aim once again was to click some photos during the sunset.
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The tombs are surrounded by a densely populated residential area with the green coverage slowly being gobbled up by growing concrete jungle. You will find a lot of families from nearby areas coming there for picnic and playing in the shadow of the majestic tombs which stand taller than a multi- storey building. Each tomb is unique and when you start looking at them closely you realize that each one has finer details different from the other. Besides the tombs of the kings you will also find tombs of other members of Royal family and some ministers also.
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While looking at the tombs I was wondering looking at all the people playing around, enjoying their snacks if any one of them realized that we were all actually inside a graveyard, a Royal one but still a graveyard. Such is the beauty of the majestic Qutub Shahi tombs that you forget you are surrounded by graves, and you simply start enjoying the moment.
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Besides the tombs there are two mosques inside the complex and true to the multicultural heritage of Hyderabad a small temple dedicated to mother goddess is situated right in the middle.
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How to Reach Qutub Shahi Tombs: On way to the Golconda Fort, take the Qutub Shahi tomb road from the CR Road, the tombs are just after the Masjid E Abdullah Qutub Shah. They are visible from a distance though I am sure in a few years, they will be dwarfed by all the high- rise buildings coming around. Or follow a Google Map.
Timings: From 10 am to 6 pm
Entry Fee to Qutub Shahi Tombs: INR 10 for an Adult
Car Parking: Ample parking is available for INR 20/4 cars.
Photography is allowed by paying a camera fee of INR 20.
Best time to visit: Around 3 pm in afternoon, this way you can explore the tombs and then click some good sunset pictures of the tombs. More pics on : http://desitraveler.com/qutub-shahi-tombs-hyderabad/
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Quli Qutub Shah was a very fine poet. He wrote poetry in Urdu, Persian, and Telugu.