Out on the city's northeastern fringes, the dramatic rock mound of Moula Ali hill is a wonderful change of pace, with long-distance views, cool breezes and at the top, up 500 steps, a dargah (shrine to a Sufi saint) containing what's believed to be a handprint of Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed. The dargah's reputed healing properties make it a pilgrimage site for the sick.
Visitors are normally allowed inside the dargah, which is covered in thousands of tiny mirrors, only during the three-day Moula Ali urs festival during Muharram, but you can admire them it outside at other times.
Moula Ali hill is 9km northeast of Secunderabad – around ₹110 one-way by autorickshaw, or take bus 16A or 16C from Rathifile bus stand to ECIL bus stand, and an autorickshaw 2km from there.
