Mecca Masjid
The grand Mecca Masjid, located adjacent to the Charminar is the oldest and largest mosque in the twin city. Even though the construction of this majestic and imposing structure was started in 1617 by the 6th Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, it was completed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb only in 1694. The hall of the masjid measuring 67 meters long, 54 meters wide and 23 meters high can accommodate nearly ten thousand worshippers at a time. The roof is supported by 15 graceful arches. The octagonal columns on either side of the mosque and the stately entrance arches are made up of single slabs of granite. Inscriptions from the holy Quran have been intricately depicted on many of the arches and doors. It is believed that bricks brought from Mecca were implanted in the walls of the central arch and hence the name Mecca Masjid. 

In the courtyard of the mosque, there is a beautiful man-made pond of bluish water, flanked by two stone and slab seats. The masjid also houses many ancient and sacred relics, one of which is the hair of Prophet Mohammed. Towards the southern end of the mosque lie the marble tombs of members of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Birla Mandir
The modern enchanting temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, the Birla Mandir stands in all its grandeur on the hilltop of Kalapahad. Made of pure white marble from Rajasthan, the Birla Mandir overlooks the serene and placid waters of the Hussain Sagar lake. The granite image of the presiding deity Venkateswara which is about 11-feet tall is a replica of the one at Tirupati. The consorts of the lord, 'Padmavati' and 'Andal' are housed in separate shrines in the temple. Exotic scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are finely sculpted in marble.

Birla Mandir is a wonderful blend of North and South Indian temple architecture. The tower over the main shrine is built in the Orissan style, while the towers over the shrines of the consorts and the sanctum sanctorum are built in the South Indian style. The brass flagstaff of the temple reaches to a staggering height of 42 feet. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The Birla Mandir presents a spectacular sight when illuminated at night. The temple is open from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. all days of the week.