|
|
 |
|
How to reach:
Air: The nearest Airport is in Hyderbad.
Rail: The nearest rail junction is Hyderabad.
Road: Hyderabad is well connected with roads to all major cities
|
|
What to see?
Lakes
Hussain Sagar
Located in the heart of the city, the Hussain Sagar, popularly known as the Tank Bund, not only bridges the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, but also forms a continuum between Hyderabad's historical glory and contemporary status. Right in the middle of the lake stands a monolith Buddha statue. It is the largest stone statuette of Buddha in the world, at a length of 17.5 m.
Osman Sagar
This is an artificial lake created by building a dam over the River Musi. A popular tourist attraction, it is also one of the drinking water sources for the city. A sprawling lawn with colourful blooms towards the lower side of the dam is a good place to spend an evening. You can also go boating in the lake.
Monuments
Charminar
A symbol of success, the Charminar, stands tall. This majestic monument in the heart of the old city is the signature of Hyderabad, it was erected by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah to commemorate the eradication of plague from the city in the year 1591. Visitors are allowed inside only the cellar of the monument. It is open till 10 pm.
Mecca Masjid
Hailed as one of the largest mosques in India, Mecca Masjid can house up to 10,000 worshippers. The mosque owes its name to the fact that the bricks for the central arch were brought from Mecca. Non-Muslims are denied entry into the mosque.
Golconda Fort
The name Golconda comes from the Telugu word 'Golla Konda', meaning 'Shepherd's Hill'. The majestic fort with eight gates and 87 bastions is famous for its acoustic system, palaces and ingenious water supply system. It had a famous diamond market, and if legend is to be believed, the Kohinoor came from here.
Time your visit such that you can catch the sound and light show. English shows are held every day from March to October, 7 pm to 8 pm. Golconda is around 11 km from Hyderabad.
Qutub Shahi Tombs
Just half a kilometer from Golconda Fort lie the tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. Inside Ibrahim Bagh, these tombs were once furnished with carpets, chandeliers and velvet canopies on silver poles. Qurans were kept here for people to recite verses at regular intervals.
You can visit the tombs on all days except Fridays, between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm.
Birla Mandir
A blend of Oriya and Dravidian architectural styles, the temple stands on Kala Pahad, facing the Tank Bund. See it at night, when it is lit up. Museums
Salarjung Museum
Keep time on hand, the museum has one of the biggest collections of antiques, displayed in 35 rooms. The most famous is the Jade Room which contains belongings of Aurangzeb, Tipu Sultan, Shah Jahan and the Asaf Jahi rulers of Hyderabad. The museum also displays an impressive collection of European and Indian paintings.
Salarjung Museum is open all days except Fridays and government holidays, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Birla Planetarium
In the heart of Hyderabad city, the planetarium holds shows both in Telugu and English. It is open all days, except the last Thursday of the month. Timings are 10.30 am to 8.15 pm.
Gardens
NTR Gardens
Spread over 34 acres, the garden it is unique with large scale use of fibreglass in the form of insects and fruit as well as a number of other attractions such as the Machan Tree, (can't figure out what this means) railway ride and lots more. It's worth visiting especially after the lights are turned on in the evening.
|
|
Foodie
Andhra Cuisine is distinct for its hot and spicy food with a range of chutneys, curries, meat preparations and pickles. One can also taste the cuisines of Karnataka (Udipi) and Tamil Nadu - the omnipresent dosas, idlis and vadas.
Biryani also known as Bryani or Brianni For those who want a taste of the royal menu, there are a variety of Biryanis (a rice and meat preparation, seasoned with spices and flavourings). Hyderbadi Biryani is so popular that it takes a special mention in the world of food. Apart from this king of the delicacies, the entire Shahi Nizam cuisine is very popular for its rich and aromatic taste.
Chinese Food Hyderabad also boasts of a number of Chinese restaurants ranging from the inexpensive to the exclusive.
Fast Foods For somebody looking for a quick and filling snack, there are many western-style fast food joints which offer pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, etc. There are also several places serving Indian fast foods. For the adventurous, the Punjabi Dhabas on the outskirts of the city (Hyderabad-Bombay Highway) offer a unique culinary experience. These 'dhabas' are located on open tracts of land with benches and charpoys (a wooden cot with jute netting) to sit on.
For Dessert One can have a pick from Double-ka-meetha (a bread and cashew-nut pudding); Qubani-ka-meetha (stewed apricot dessert); Anday-ka-piyosi (made with eggs, mild, almonds and purified butter); Badam-ki-jhab (marzipan) and Dil-e-Firdaus (a rich, milk-based sweet). The number of ice cream parlours seems an ever-expanding one, with popular brands such as Kwality, Dollops, Vadilal, Scoops, Yankee-Doodle, Jumani, Go Cool, Funn and many more.
Kababs (meat pieces or minced meat cooked in many different styles such as Boti Jhammi, kalmi, Shikampur, Sheek, Lagan-ke-kababs, Dum-ke-kababs). Khormas (either meat or vegetables cooked in a rich creamy gravy) and Lukhmi (pastry). Nahari is another speciality eaten very early in the morning and is a curried soup of sheep's trotters and tongue…sounds far worse than it tastes.
Paan No meal in Hyderbad is complete without Paan (betel leaf wrapped around a mixture of betelnut, aniseed, cloves, cardamom, gulkand). There are paan shops, almost one every few metres - quite a few of them an extension of the innumerable Irani Hotels. These shops sell a variety of paans- the most popular being 'Meetha', 'Ram Pyare', 'Meenakshi', etc., Offering paan is a tradition in Hyderabad and most Muslim household still keep the 'Paan - Daan' a specially crafted silver container meant to hold all the ingredients for making paans.
|
|
Nightlife
Pubs
Although many restaurants around the city serve liquor, the pub culture is new to Hyderabad. The Bier Keller (S.D. Road) for instance, is designed in the style of a German World War II Nazi bunker! One of the largest pubs is named 10, Downing Street! Other places worth mentioning are: Sailor's Inn (Paradise), Cloud 9 (Begumpet), Oaken Cask (Basheerbagh), Barrel House Street (Panjagutta), Beat Route (Park Lane), Pivot Pub (Punjagutta), Rock Castle (Banjara Hills), 10, Downing Street (S.D. Road), Black Cadilac (R.P.Road).
|
|
Shopping
Antiques The seventh Nizam of Hyderabad was the richest man in the world in his time. You can visualise then the kind of art and artefacts that flowed into the myriad homes of Hyderabad's nobility. Time and again some of these treasures come out into the market for sale. Although shopping for antiques can be quite a treasure hunt, Hyderabad is still home to many treasures.
Art Several well known painters offer their creations for sale at galleries and the art connoisseur may find something of his liking.
Bidri Behind the breathtaking beauty of Bidri lies hours of painstaking effort by the artisan. The amount of items available is astounding and you are sure to find a vase, bangle, bracelet, goblet, ashtray, plate, jewellery or box that will take your fancy and will travel home with you.
Handicrafts One of India's greatest treasures is its handicraft. With each state in India being as different from the other as one country would be from another, there's a dazzling array of art and artefacts to choose from. Whether it be tribal art or sophisticated workmanship reflecting an advanced skill the shopper is truly spoiled for choice. Apart from its own regional produce of exquisite Bidriware (silver inlays in alloy), Filigree (objects made from silver, so finely crafted so as to appear as being made of thread weave), Pembarti (relief work in brass), Nirmal (wooden furniture painted with colourful motifs), and Kalahasti (intricate carvings on wooden furniture), Hyderabad showcases an almost full representation of art and handicrafts from all over India.
Jewellery Hyderabad's fame for its diamonds and pearls remains a major draw to the myriad jewellery stores you see all over the town. Here you can browse leisurely for hours looking at gold silver or precious stone jewellery.
Kalamkari derives its name from the word 'Kalam' or pen, used for the drawing of patterns. The craft has now been in existence for a thousand years, but gained the height of it's popularity during the fifteenth century. Today the two main centres of Kalamkari production are Machilipatnam and Kalahasti. The work from these two places is different from each other. The Machilipatnam work is a combination of painting and printing. Outlines are printed with beautifully carved blocks, while the interiors are filled in with the vegetable dyes using the 'kalam'.
Kondapally Toys This is a simple, yet expressive art form of the Andhra. These handcrafted toys are created by artisans in the village of Kondapalli, about 16km from Hyderabad. A warm and realistic style is used to depict themes centered around rural life, mythological characters, animals, birds and occupations - All in a combination of bright colours. If you are looking for a gift for a child, then you can't go wrong by buying one of these.
Leather Puppets making is a craft that has carved out a niche for itself in the state. Puppeteers manipulate these colourful puppets using sticks from behind a curtain. Made from buffalo or sheep hide, they are bleached and tinted with local paints and are a popular purchase for all ages.
Nirmal Craft can be traced back to the Kakatiya dynasty. This form of lacquered woodwork was born in the town of Nirmal in the Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Since then, Nirmal has remained a fascination through the ages and is today made in both Hyderabad and Nirmal. The motifs used are floral designs, frescoes from Ajanta and Elora and Mughal miniatures. Apart from wall hangings, Nirmal craftsmen produce beautiful lacquered furniture, toys, pictures, trays, bowls, boxes and large screens. A large variety of utilitarian and decorative articles are also crafted in the Nirmal style.
Pearls are another popular purchase and can be found throughout the city at any jewellery store.
Textiles From intricate Zari work, involving the use of silver and gold threads, to print boutiques, textile shops and South Indian silks, Hyderabad's textile market offers a mind boggling variety to suit everyone's tastes and purse.
|
|
Language tips:
The locals speak Urdu, telegu and hindi.
|
|
|
|
Make my Holiday
A charming blend of the ancient and the modern, Hyderabad, also known as the 'Istanbul of India,' is a vital centre of Islamic culture, and central India's answer to the Mughal grandeur of the northern cities of Delhi, Agra and Fatehpur Sikri. It is also called as the 'City of Nawabs' and offers a combination of tradition and trend. Consisting of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, it is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. It boasts of some fine examples of Qutab Shahi architecture, after all it was founded by Mohammed Quli, the Sultan of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty.
