Hussain Sagar Lake Private Walking Tour: Stories of Hyderabad

The heart-shaped lake that links Hyderabad and Secunderabad, told through the rulers and saints who built it.

A private walking tour around Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad with a live English-speaking guide, covering 2.5 hours of lakeside paths and monuments. You walk past the 125-foot B.R. Ambedkar statue (India's tallest), the monolithic Buddha in the middle of the lake, the Tank Bund's 33 statues of regional leaders, and the Telangana Martyrs Memorial, while learning the history of the Qutub Shahi kings, the Sufi saint Hussain Shah Wali who commissioned the lake, and how Secunderabad began as the first British garrison in India. The tour is wheelchair accessible and welcomes children from age 2.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour around Hussain Sagar Lake

• Walk around Hussain Sagar Lake
• See 125-ft tall B R Ambedkar statue
• Visit N T Rama Rao memorial park
• Explore Telangana State Secretariat complex
• View Telangana Martyrs Memorial
• Walk along Tank Bund with statues
• See Buddha statue on Hussain Sagar Island
• Relax at Buddha Purnima park

The experience

The walk starts along the boulevard that glows like a pearl necklace in the evenings, lined with restaurants, shops and cafes on Eat Street. The lake itself is heart-shaped, and from the water's edge you see the monolithic Buddha statue standing 58 feet tall on an island in the middle. It can be reached by boat in 15 minutes if you want to get closer. The guide walks you through the stories of how the Qutub Shahi kings built Hyderabad, and how Hussain Shah Wali, the Sufi saint the lake is named after, was its architect.

The 125-foot B.R. Ambedkar statue dominates the walk. It's India's tallest statue of the man who wrote India's Constitution, and the circular entrance building echoes the design of India's Parliament. On the Tank Bund, the dam that links the twin cities, you pass 33 statues of great Telugu-speaking leaders, and the world's largest cricket bat stands nearby. The Telangana Martyrs Memorial, a seamless stainless-steel monument five times larger than Chicago's Cloud Gate, sits on the opposite bank and honors 369 students who died in the 1969 agitation for a separate Telangana state. North of the lake lies Secunderabad, which started as the first British garrison in India with 5,000 troops and later became the largest.

The boulevard itself is busy year-round with exhibitions, music shows, and an annual kite festival. The area has become known as an Art District, with wall paintings and national and international art campaigns. Parks and gardens line the route, and the Telangana State Secretariat, a modern integrated complex with lush green surroundings, sits next to the historical lake. All surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and the walk is paced for moderate fitness.

What’s included

• A private live guide in English.
• the guide fee.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 18:00

AgesAdult (25 to 54 years) · Senior (55 and older) · Youth (13 to 24 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (2 to 3 years): free

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.Operator's directions: “guide meet at Love Hyderabad Sculpture”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hyderabad by locals

Is this one for you?At 2.5 hours, the walk fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free for the Nehru Zoological Park, restaurants on Eat Street, or exploring the Art District galleries nearby.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 24 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (2 to 3 years): free.

What is the Buddha statue in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake?

The monolithic Buddha statue stands 58 feet tall and weighs 350 tons, making it the world's tallest monolithic Buddha statue. It sits on a concrete platform called the "Rock of Gibraltar" in the middle of the lake and can be reached by boat in 15 minutes from the shore.

Who was Hussain Shah Wali and why is the lake named after him?

Hussain Shah Wali was a Sufi saint who was the architect of Hussain Sagar Lake. The lake is named in his honor, and the guide shares his story during the walk around the water's edge.

How long does the walking tour take and what's included?

The tour lasts 2.5 hours and includes a private live guide who speaks English. The guide fee is included. Entry to any paid attractions is separate.

What are the 33 statues on the Tank Bund?

The Tank Bund is the dam and embankment that links Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is lined with 33 statues of great leaders from the Telugu-speaking region, and it is now a major tourist attraction along the lake.