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When people think of Hyderabad, they often picture the iconic arches of Charminar, the regal charm of Chowmahalla Palace, and the historic allure of Golconda Fort.
But hidden behind the city’s famed landmarks are quiet, timeworn monuments—faded by history and often missing from glossy brochures. These forgotten corners of Hyderabad may not feature in curated travel itineraries, but they offer a deeper, more intimate look into the city’s rich and layered past.
From overlooked Qutb Shahi relics to crumbling colonial-era structures, this curated list by Siasat.com uncovers five hidden gems that truly deserve a spot on your Hyderabad visit.
1. Naya Qila – The Forgotten Wall of Golconda
Tucked behind encroachments and often missed by visitors to the main Golconda Fort, Naya Qila is a 500-year-old fortified extension built following a Mughal attack on Hyderabad in 1656 during Emperor Shah Jahan’s reign. Once part of Golconda’s outer defense system, it now lies isolated from the main fort complex—quiet, unguarded, and rich with forgotten tales.
Key Highlights:
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Majnu and Laila Bastions – Tall watchpoints that once guarded the city’s outskirts.
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Mustafa Khan Masjid – Built in 1561, even before Hyderabad’s founding.
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Mulla Khayali Masjid – Named after a famed Deccan poet.
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A massive 400-year-old baobab tree, believed to be planted by African friars, adds to the area’s mystical charm.
2. Raymond’s Tomb – A Frenchman’s Legacy in the Deccan
Perched on a quiet hillock in Malakpet, Raymond’s Tomb is a striking black granite obelisk that marks the final resting place of Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, a French general and artillery commander who served under Nizam Ali Khan (Asaf Jah II).
Revered by locals as “Musa Ram” by Hindus and “Musa Rahim” by Muslims, Raymond was known for his integrity and loyalty. Such was his influence that the Nizam himself continued to send offerings on his death anniversary until the 1940s.
Though partially restored in 2003, the tomb remains a serene, lesser-visited tribute to Indo-French friendship and Hyderabad’s colonial-era military past.
3. James Street Police Station – A Living Relic of the Raj
Standing beside the iconic Secunderabad Clock Tower, the James Street Police Station, built in 1867, is one of Hyderabad’s oldest colonial-era structures still in active use. Once a key administrative post during British rule in the Cantonment, it has witnessed the city’s transformation for over 150 years.
With arched verandahs, stone masonry, and a distinctly colonial aesthetic, the building quietly preserves the architectural legacy of the British Raj. Though often overlooked by passersby, this restored structure is a hidden gem for heritage and architecture lovers, offering a rare glimpse into Hyderabad’s lesser-seen colonial past.
4. Toli Masjid – A Forgotten Jewel of Qutb Shahi Artistry
Tucked away in the bustling lanes of Karwan, Toli Masjid is a 17th-century architectural gem built in 1671–72 by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar, a noble in the court of Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah. Often referred to as a floral-stucco masterpiece, the mosque exemplifies the pinnacle of late Qutb Shahi craftsmanship.
Its stunning facade features jali screens, elephant-bracketed chajjas, twin 60-foot minarets, and parapets crowned with miniature temple-style shikharas—a rare blend of Indo-Islamic and local influences.
Though protected by heritage laws, the mosque remains quietly tucked within an overlooked neighborhood, waiting to be rediscovered by lovers of art and history.
5. British Residency – The White Mughal’s Grand Legacy
Completed around 1805 and designed by architect Samuel Russell, the British Residency in Koti is a magnificent Palladian villa commissioned by James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the British Resident of Hyderabad famously known as the “White Mughal.”
With its six towering Corinthian columns, a sweeping double staircase, ornate painted ceilings, parquet floors, and statues of British lions, the structure mirrors the grandeur of European residences from the colonial era.
After 1949, it became part of Osmania Women’s College, where decades of neglect left it in decay. Thanks to recent restoration efforts, the Residency was finally opened to the public in 2022, offering a rare opportunity to experience a forgotten chapter of Hyderabad’s colonial heritage.
