The Hyderabad Clock Tower, known as the Navalrai Clock Tower or Ghanta Ghar, was built in 1914 at the end of Shahi Bazaar, near the gate of the Pakka Qila. It is a street landmark rather than a ticketed sight: you see it from outside, in the middle of a busy market, and there are no set visiting hours.
Expect a worn colonial tower, not a restored monument. This guide covers its history, what condition it is in, whether you can go up, and how to fit it into a walk through old Hyderabad.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Also called | Navalrai Clock Tower, Market Tower, Ghanta Ghar |
| Built | 1914 |
| Designer | P. C. Thadani (engineer) |
| Where | Hirabad, at the end of Shahi Bazaar, Hyderabad, Sindh |
| Entry | Viewed from the street; no ticket |
| Going up | Needs permission from the municipal corporation |
History: who built it and why
The tower was completed in 1914, in the British period, and stands in what was a fish and meat market in the Hirabad area. It is named after Naval Rai, a collector under the Raj, honoured by the administration. The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation commissioned it under its president Dewan Chand Dayaram, with the engineer P. C. Thadani as designer. Sources say the stone was brought from Delhi.
It belongs to the group of market clock towers the British and local municipal bodies built across Sindh and Punjab, which were meant to give a bazaar a common time and a visible civic centre. It is one of the older survivors in a city that has lost much of its pre-1947 fabric.
What condition is it in today?
Frankly, poor. A 2020 Friday Times piece described the machinery as long since stolen, with only a symbolic clock face visible from the road, jammed doors and little upkeep. The market around its base was also in bad repair. Wikipedia records restoration work on the tower and adjoining halls in the 1990s, but that did not last.
Conditions may have changed since, and we could not find a recent report of a new restoration. Don't go expecting a working clock or a tidy plaza. Go for the setting: the tower is a good marker for the old town.
What is there to see?
- The tower itself. A colonial structure of stone, best photographed from the street in the morning before the bazaar is at full volume.
- The bazaar around it. The area is an ordinary working market, and the old streets nearby have traditional havelis with carved wooden balconies.
- The market halls. The old fish and meat market the tower was built for still sits beside it, and much of it is run down.
- Shahi Bazaar. The main bazaar runs from the Pakka Qila gate to the tower. Our Shahi Bazaar guide covers what to buy and eat.
Can you go inside or climb it?
Not as a casual visitor. Heritage notes say that going up the tower needs explicit permission from the municipal corporation, and reports describe the doors as jammed. Treat it as an exterior sight, and don't ask shopkeepers to let you in or climb anything around the base.
Timings and best time to visit
Because it stands in the open, there are no opening or closing times. What matters is the market's rhythm. Mornings and early afternoons are best for a walk. Streets are crowded and hard to photograph in the evening, and shop hours vary by day, so ask locally about market closing days.
Summers in Sindh are hot, so walk before midday between April and September. Our best time to visit Sindh guide covers the seasons.
How to reach the Hyderabad Clock Tower
The tower is in the old centre, near the Pakka Qila gate, and any rickshaw or ride-hailing driver will know it as Ghanta Ghar or Tower Market. From most parts of Hyderabad it is a short ride, and the last stretch is best done on foot because the bazaar lanes are narrow and busy.
From Karachi, Hyderabad is roughly 150 to 170 km up the motorway, so you can reach the old town in a morning. Park outside the congested centre, or take a ride-hailing car for the last leg. For a longer day, combine the tower with the Kalhora tombs, Rani Bagh and the Miani battlefield.
Is it worth visiting?
As a stop of 20 to 30 minutes on a walk through Shahi Bazaar, yes. History-minded visitors and photographers will find it rewarding, especially as a sign of how much municipal heritage has been left to decay.
If you want a polished monument with a guide, ticket and gardens, it is not that, and Hyderabad's Kalhora tombs will suit you better. For more ideas beyond the city, browse our experiences.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Hyderabad Clock Tower built?
It was completed in 1914 during British rule, on the site of a fish and meat market in Hirabad. P. C. Thadani designed it.
Why is it called the Navalrai Clock Tower?
It was named in honour of Naval Rai, a collector of the British administration in Sindh.
Does the Hyderabad clock tower work?
Reports say its machinery was stolen years ago and only a symbolic clock is visible. It has been silent for years.
Is there an entry fee or opening time?
No. It is a street landmark, so you can see it at any time of day. The market around it follows shop hours.
Can you climb the clock tower?
Only with permission from the municipal corporation. Ordinary visitors should plan on viewing it from outside.
Where is the Hyderabad clock tower?
At the end of Shahi Bazaar in Hirabad, close to the entrance of the Pakka Qila in the old town.