India GOMosques and dargahs in Hyderabad
Hyderabad was founded by the Qutb Shahi sultans, who raised Charminar in 1591, and their mosques are among the city's finest buildings: Makkah Masjid beside Charminar is the largest, Toli Masjid the most ornate. Add the Sufi dargahs (shrines built over a saint's tomb), a Shia ashurkhana with Persian tiles and a Moorish-style mosque begun in 1900.
The mosques: three centuries, three styles
Makkah Masjid, beside Charminar
The largest mosque in the city and one of the largest in India, with room for some 10,000 worshippers. Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah laid the foundation stone in 1617, and the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed it in 1694. Bricks made from soil brought from Mecca were set into the central arch, which gave the mosque its name. It is a state-protected monument. Non-Muslims visit outside prayer times. More on Makkah Masjid.
Toli Masjid, Karwan
Completed in 1671 by Musa Khan, the official in charge of building Makkah Masjid: by the story behind its other name, Damri Masjid, he paid for it with a commission of one damri on every rupee of that project. It is the most ornate thing the late Qutb Shahi style produced: lace-fine stucco, lotus medallions, jaali screens and minarets on pot-shaped bases borrowed from temple craft. It stands on the old Karwan road between Golconda and the city, about two kilometres from the fort, and few visitors come. More on Toli Masjid.
Spanish Mosque, Begumpet
Begun in 1900 by Sir Viqar-ul-Umra of the Paigah nobles, the family ranked just below the Nizams, and completed by his son after his death in 1902, this mosque follows Moorish lines in the spirit of the mosque-cathedral of Córdoba: horseshoe arches, slim spiral-carved minarets and spires. It holds around 3,000 worshippers and stands inside the former Paigah Palace compound, so it looks private and is easy to walk past. Ask at the gate, avoid prayer times and dress conservatively.
Badshahi Ashurkhana, near Charminar
Not a mosque but an ashurkhana, the hall where the Shia community mourns the martyrs of Karbala during Muharram. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built it in 1594, a few years after he founded the city; the Persian cut-tile mosaic on its walls was finished in 1611. It is a few streets from Charminar, and most visitors pass without stopping. Shoes off, and ask before taking photos. More on Badshahi Ashurkhana.
Dargahs: the Sufi shrines
A dargah is a shrine built over the grave of a Sufi saint or another venerated figure.
Moula Ali Dargah, built by the Qutb Shahi sultans, stands on a granite dome in the north-east of the city and honours Hazrat Ali. 484 broad steps climb past old tombs on the slope, and the rock ledge behind the shrine opens onto one of the widest views of Hyderabad and Secunderabad together. Shia and Sunni Hyderabadis both revere it, and the annual urs (the saint's anniversary) draws large crowds. Entry is free; shoes are left outside.
Yousufain Dargah in Nampally holds the graves of two Sufi saints of the Chishti order, Syed Shah Yousufuddin and Syed Shah Sharifuddin. By tradition they came to the Deccan with Aurangzeb's army, then left it to stay in Hyderabad and teach; the dome over their tombs dates from the Nizams' time, and the site received an INTACH heritage award in 2008.
On the summit of Khajaguda Hills, behind the Financial District, the tomb of a Sufi saint some 650 years old shares the rock with an old Vishnu temple and a Meher Baba shrine.
How to visit
A few simple rules cover the mosques and shrines on this page.
- Outside prayer times — Non-Muslims visit between prayers. These are working places of worship.
- Dress modestly — Come in modest clothing: the mosques and the ashurkhana on this page ask for it, and the UK government asks visitors to respect dress codes at religious sites.
- Shoes off — At Moula Ali Dargah and the Badshahi Ashurkhana shoes stay outside; elsewhere, follow what others do at the entrance.
- Ask first — Ask before taking photos, especially at the Badshahi Ashurkhana, and at the Spanish Mosque ask at the gate before going in.
Ramadan, Eid and Muharram
Through Ramadan Makkah Masjid holds the night prayers (taraweeh), and the fast is broken on its lawns at sunset, while the streets around Charminar turn into a night market of bangles, attar (perfume oil) and haleem. The largest Eid congregation is not at Makkah Masjid but at the open prayer ground of the Mir Alam Eidgah in Bahadurpura, where around two lakh (200,000) people pray on Eid al-Fitr (10 March 2027) and special city buses run from across Hyderabad. On Eid al-Adha (17 May 2027) the Eidgah fills again. During Muharram the Badshahi Ashurkhana becomes a centre of mourning, and its historic alams (standards) are brought out.
The UK government advises extra care during periods of religious significance such as Eid and avoiding large crowds, including at religious sites. More on festivals in Hyderabad.
Looking for temples?
Hyderabad's Hindu shrines, from Birla Mandir on its hill to the Chilkur Balaji 'Visa Temple' by Osman Sagar, are on temples in Hyderabad.
FAQ
What is the biggest mosque in Hyderabad?
Makkah Masjid beside Charminar, with room for about 10,000 worshippers. It was begun in 1617 and completed in 1694.
Which is the most famous dargah in Hyderabad?
Two names come up most: Moula Ali Dargah on its hill in the north-east, reached by 484 steps, and Yousufain Dargah in Nampally, the shrine of two Chishti saints.
What is the history of the Yousufain Dargah in Nampally?
It holds the graves of Syed Shah Yousufuddin and Syed Shah Sharifuddin, Sufi saints of the Chishti order who, by tradition, came to the Deccan with Aurangzeb's army and stayed to teach. The dome was built in the Nizams' time.
Can non-Muslims visit Makkah Masjid?
Yes, outside prayer times and in modest dress.
Is there a Spanish-style mosque in Hyderabad?
Yes, the Spanish Mosque (Aiwan-e-Begumpet) in Begumpet, begun in 1900 by the Paigah nobles in a Moorish style inspired by Córdoba.
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Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
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