Hyderabad, India’s fourth-largest city, will leave you wanting more. With a population of around 8 million, the capital of southern India’s Telangana state is a similar size to London. There is so much to see and do, so you need to know how and where to find the hidden gems. With the help of Jonty, one of the best guides I have met anywhere in the world, I was able to really get to the heart of Hyderabad. My first full day here was one of my favourites of my whole trip.
I rose early and Jonty took me to see the 16th-century Golconda Fort, which was built under the patronage of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah. It is said that the site was once a renowned diamond market attracting merchants from the world over. Normally, tourists flock here but our guides know the hidden nooks and crannies and the right times to be there, so you will feel as though you have the place to yourself.