If you want to see the perfect amalgamation of ancient legacy and modern-day technology in India, Hyderabad (capital of Andhra Pradesh) is the place to be. Hyderabad also has a twin city, known as ‘Secunderabad’, from which it stands separated by Hussain Sagar Lake. When in Hyderabad, don’t forget to taste its spicy cuisine, which is sure to leave you asking for more.

Places to See in Hyderabad

• Charminar

The landmark of Hyderabad, Charminar is a magnificent monument built as per Cazia style of architecture. Constructed by Quli Qutub Shah, in the year 1591, it stands adorned with four (chaar), 55 meters long, arches (minaars), which give the monument its name. The roof of the monument houses a mosque, revered by Muslims. A trip to Hyderabad, without a visit to Charminar, is as good as incomplete.

• Golconda Fort

Situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Golconda Fort stands as the perfect testimony to the rich heritage of the city. Built on a 120m high granite hill, by Qutub Shahi kings, it comprises of four small forts within the premises. Apart from its four massive gates, the major attractions of the fort comprise of the ‘Light and Sound’ show held every evening.

• Qutub Shahi Tombs

Qutub Shahi Tombs, as the name suggests, comprise of the cenotaphs of the members of the royal family of the Qutub Shah dynasty. Serving as the perfect example of the fusion of the Indian and Persian architectural styles, these tombs stand surrounded by captivating minarets. The tomb complex serves as the venue of ‘Deccan Festival’, organized every year by the state government in Hyderabad.

• Raymond Tomb

Raymond’s Tomb is dedicated to Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, a French General. Known as Musa Ram among Hindus and Musa Rahim among Muslims, the Michel used to command huge respect amongst his fellow army men as well as the general public. The tomb, a conical structure made of black granite slabs, can be visited on all days except Friday.

• Salar Jung Museum

One of the oldest museums in Hyderabad is the Salar Jung Museum, comprising of rare antiques and knick-knacks, collected from the various countries of the world. The museum has been named after Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, also known as Salar Jung III, who was a major contributor to its amazing collection. The compilation displayed in the museum comprises of stone sculptures, bronze images, painted textiles, wooden carvings, miniature paintings, modern art, ivory carvings, jade carvings, metal-ware, manuscripts, arms & armor etc.

• Mecca Masjid

One of the oldest and the biggest mosques in Hyderabad is the Mecca Masjid. The construction of this splendid mosque began in 1617 and was started off by Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. However, the mosque was completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb in the year 1694. The mosque is named so because of the fact that some bricks used in the construction have apparently been brought all the way from Mecca. This historic mosque is located very close to the Charminar.

• Other Attractions

The other attractions of Hyderabad comprise of Hussain Sagar Lake, Gandhipet Lake, Shamirpet Lake, Lumbini Park, Nehru Zoological Park, Indira Park, Chote Hazrat ki Dargah, Sathya Sai Ashram, Birla Mandir, Ramoji Film City and St. Joseph Cathedral.

• How to Reach

• By Air

Hyderabad city has an airport of its own, divided into international and domestic terminals. All the major private and public airlines operate to and from here.

• By Rail

There are three stations in Hyderabad, namely Secunderabad railway station, Nampally railway station and Kacheguda railway station.

• By Road

A number of national highways, like NH-4, NH-5, NH-7, NH-9, NH-16 and NH-18, pass from Hyderabad, connecting it with the rest of India.

With Spring Break just around the corner, you can take a few precautions and still have the time of your life.

Here are some more tips for Spring Breakers:

• If you are taking a road trip, check out all belts, hoses, fluid levels, spare tire and tires on the car.

• Pack tools, a cellular phone, a first aid kit, a flashlight, an AAA card, fire extinguisher, water and snacks just in case the car breaks down.

• Remember to bring your health insurance card and allergy bracelets.

• Let your family and trusted friends know when you are leaving, when you’ll get back and how you are traveling.

• If you are traveling by bus, rail or air, don’t bring magazines with your name and address. Tear off your address label. You do not want people who know that you are away from home to know where you live.

• Don’t have your name and address highly visible on your luggage for the same reason.

• Be aware of pickpockets who prey on people in crowds. They get close and bump into you without you noticing. Pickpockets also work in groups. One will distract while the other slips away with your goodies.

• If you stop at a restaurant, bar or café and set your bag down, put your foot through the strap. That way it won’t be taken without you knowing. Also, you’ll remember to take it with you when you trip over it as you leave.

• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

You can’t get much better than a Marlin fishing trip in the Mexican sun with a couple of cervezas onboard. Unless of course, you follow up the fishing with a trip to El Squid Roe, the ultimate place to party when it comes to Cabo. Just ensure you go later in the evening, ’cause the party doesn’t get going until midnight. Not one for the frenzied college crowd? Try The Giggling Marlin or Sammy Hagar’s famous hangout, Cabo Wabo.

Hotspot: Looking for well-oiled sun worshippers in bikinis? Medano Beach has what you need.

• Scottsdale, Arizona

Fore! One of the newest trends in bachelor parties is going on golf excursions. And with over 200 golf courses, Scottsdale is the perfect place to practice your backswing. After a long day on the links, Kona Grill cures your cravings for steaks and grilled entrees. Afterward, make your way to SIX and keep your drinks cold on the ice bar that practically runs the length of the dance floor. Or head to Axis/Radius, another attraction in downtown Scottsdale.

Hotspot: Babes Cabaret. If you plan ahead, you can even roast your buddy onstage.

• Manhattan, New York

One bite of the Big Apple and your buddy will be thrown out of the Garden of Eden. First, feast on money steaks at the Penthouse Executive Club. This joint combines the best of all worlds — Kobe steaks and strippers. And what would a trip to New York be without a visit to The House That Ruth Built?

Hotspot: Larry Flynt Hustler Club. Larry Flynt knows how to entertain, and with private lap dance rooms, VIP suites and a full bar, the Hustler Club does not disappoint.

• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

This Canadian Hollywood is the perfect place to club and keep an eye out for celebrities. Granville is the street to hit for a night out with the beautiful people. Check out Roxy Night Club if you’re looking for bachelor with a similar fate (or just some of her friends, for the single groomsmen in the bunch). Hope to catch Heather Graham’s eye? You can find celebrities hobnobbing at trendy AuBAR.

Hotspot: The Cecil Hotel, one of Vancouver’s largest strip clubs, is in the middle of the Granville action, making it easy to access while moving from club to club.

• Chicago, Illinois

Frank Sinatra believed Chicago was his “kind of town” and we agree with the classic crooner. Catch a Cubs game (hey, they’ve got to win the series one of these years, right?). Afterward, head to Division Street and check out Finn McCool’s or the Zebra Lounge. After hours, head to Deja Vu, as in “weren’t we this hammered last night?”

Hotspot: VIP’s: A Gentleman’s Club.

Ideally romantic destination has to be different, splendid and must be able to give an ever-lasting impression. The most popular ones are briefed below:

Well, romance can be found anywhere and everywhere if you have that passion to make any moment romantic with your partner. Some other romantic destinations can be Koh Samui, New York, Vienna, Milan, Rome, Cyprus and Mauritius. By this time, you must have shortlisted the place where you want to make your love feel special.

Shrines to the works that helped shape our society, art museums can be found in every major city around the globe. Whether it’s a modern building brimming with contemporary art from forward-thinking talent or age-old buildings that house priceless pieces from long-gone masters, art museums attract everyone from culture vultures to school kids.

Many art museums rotate their exhibitions, while many others feature permanent collections and a number of them are free to enter, which makes them a cool place to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon. Who knows? You might just pick up a hot art chick at your local art museum. Read on to discover the world’s top 3 art museums.

Tate Modern

Bankside, London, England

One of the most interactive art museums in the world, Tate Modern houses a wide variety of international modern art inside the former Bankside Power Station. Converted by architects Herzog & de Meuron into a museum that’s fit for art, the Tate Modern opened in 2000 and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. With gallery levels divided into Material Gestures, Poetry and Dream, Idea and Object, States of Flux, and The Turbine Hall, the museum is used to display specially commissioned works. The museum is also in the process of a costly extension to accommodate the growing number of visitors. What’s more, it’s free to enter.

• Permanent works

With works by Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly and Salvador Dali, the permanent collection at the Tate Modern is an eclectic mix of styles and genres, with no specific theme running throughout. The only criteria, it seems, is that every work needs to be wonderfully innovative.

• Masterpiece

Possibly one of the weirdest pieces of art to date, Dali’s famous 1936 Lobster Telephone is exhibited at the Tate Modern. A perfect example of the Surrealist genre that Dali is famed for, the Lobster Telephone draws close parallels between food and sex.

Museo del Prado

Madrid, Spain

Featuring some of Europe’s finest collections, the Museo del Prado is reminiscent of a grand courthouse with its angular design and stone pillars and steps at the entrance. Inside, the museum is home to more than 8,600 paintings, 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, 1,000 coins and medals, and more than 700 sculptures and fragments.

• Permanent works:

Featuring work from the 12th century to the early 19th century, the museum boasts a permanent collection that reads like a who’s who of the European masters. Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, El Greco, Botticelli, and Raphael are firmly among the.

• Masterpiece:

The most famous piece on permanent display at the museum is Las Meninas by Spanish portrait artist Diego Velázquez. It’s true that the artist provided the Prado with his own collection, but he also helped scout for many of the Italian pieces on exhibition today.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), situated along Wilshire Boulevard, houses more than 250,000 works that span the encyclopedic history of art. While the exterior of the building may be more parking lot than artistic wonder, the art museum boasts one of the world’s largest collections of Latin American Art, thanks in large part to the 2,000-piece donation by Bernard Lewin.

• Permanent works:

Divided by region, media and time period, LACMA’s permanent collection ranges from African and Chinese art to modern art and photography, and features all manner of artists who used different mediums and styles.

• Masterpiece:

A large-scale masterpiece-in-the-making, American artist Jeff Koons is set to build an enormous 161-foot-tall sculpture that features a working locomotive suspended from a crane in the redesigned main entrance. This will be the apple of LACMA’s eye.