Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the fifth largest metropolis of India, is the state capital of Andhra Pradesh, known for its rich history and culture with monuments, mosques, temples, a rich and varied heritage in arts, crafts and dance.

Electricity

230-240V, 50 HZ.  Sockets accept round pins. Should you wish to use appliances of 110 volts, some hotels may provide adaptors on request. It is advisable to carry universal adaptors.

Insurance and Liability

The Organisers do not take responsibility for any individual, medical, travel or personal insurance. Participants are advised to secure their own insurance policies as necessary.

Health

Please consult with your physician regarding health precautions prior to visiting India.

If you are coming from or have visited Africa, South America or an area infected with Yellow Fever within five days prior to your arrival in India, proof of inoculation against Yellow Fever is required.

Currency

The currency in India is the Rupee, which comes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Please use authorised money changers and banks to change currency. They will issue a certificate of exchange which is required at the time of re-conversion of any unused currency. Under the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, it is an offence to exchange foreign currency other than through authorised money changers or banks. The currency may be exchanged at the airport on arrival. The currency exchange facility will also be made available at the congress venue.

Most bank ATMs honor Visa, Visa Electron, Master & Maestro cards & you may use these ATMs also to withdraw money.

Most hotels, shops & other establishments accept credit cards. Master & VISA cards are accepted at almost all such establishments whereas some of them accept Diners & American Express cards as well.

A snapshot of must see attractions include:

Charminar: Charminar is the symbol of Hyderabad and was built by the ruler Quli Qutab Shah in honor of his Hindu wife. The monument is surrounded by a very busy market place and falls in what is known as the old city.

Mecca Masjid: Lies next to Charminar. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite.

Golconda Fort: This fort, originally built by the Kakatiyas, the rulers of the neighbouring state, was made with mud. Later, the Shahis converted it into a marvellous piece of architecture using advanced acoustics wherein sound signals could pass from the entrance of the fort to the top without the use of any electric gadgets. There is a sound and light show in the evening which is quiet popular.

Naubat Pahad: These are two hillocks from where announcements were made during the olden days. Nowadays there is a hanging garden.

Nehru Zoological Park: This is a 300 acre park filled with various species of birds and animals.

Tank Bund: This is a dam on the Hussain Sagar lake and is famous for the 33 statues of statesmen and a huge monolithic statue of Buddha.

Hussain Sagar: Hyderabad spreads around this lake which is the largest lake in the city. It is surrounded by well maintained parks.

Nagarjuna Sagar: This is the world's largest masonry dam and lies on the river Krishna. There is a museum which houses ancient Buddhist sculptures, carvings, and terracotta. 149 km from Hyderabad.

Kolanupuka: It is a 2000 year old Jain temple with a 1.5 m tall jade statue of Mahavira. It is 80 km from Hyderabad.

Tirupathi: A town housing several temples. The black idol of Balaji which stands 2m high and decked in gold can be found here. It is one of the richest temples in India. 740 km from Hyderabad.

Kondapur: Excavations here date back to 3000 B.C. Copper, lead and silver coins of Roman, Satachana era and Buddhist period were excavated from here. 90 km from Hyderabad.

Osmansagar: An artificial lake off the river Moosi. Complemented by well kept gardens and swimming pools.

Paigah Tombs: These are 200 year old tombs of the royal nobles made out of lime and mortar with carvings.

Pakhal: This is an old wildlife sanctuary and retreat built around 1213 A.D. Approx 900 sq. km. The sanctuary has wildlife like tigers, leopard’s hyenas, and deer. 200 km from Hyderabad.

Raymond's Tomb: A tomb for a French soldier who served in the Nizam Army 1786 A.D.

Lumbini Park: A new amusement park near Hussain Sagar. This park has a musical fountain show at 6.30pm and 8.00pm. The park is open from Tuesday to Sunday 9.00am to 9.00pm.

Ocena Park: Ocean Park is located at Gandipet in 20 acres of landscaped gardens. The park provides a number of amusement and water rides. The park is also equipped with fast food restaurants offering a variety of cuisine.

Ramoji Film City: The Ramoji Film City is a colossal creation. This is Hyderabad's answer to Universal Studios - nearly 2000 acres, a complete world created for assisting the dream merchants of cinema.

High Tech City: One of the modern monuments of trade and technology, it embodies the new found attitude of Hyderabad and today finds a place of pride. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it is the nucleus of Cyberabad, the IT destination in these parts of the world.