It was an adventurous flight from Karachi to Hyderabad (Deccan) via Mumbai. The flight became adventurous after we landed at the Chatarpati Shivaji International Airport where we had to wait for one night to catch a connecting plane to Hyderabad, our final destination. And to my utter surprise, it was raining cats and dogs. It was really cold and chilly, unlike back home in Karachi.
When it comes to sight-seeing, Hyderabad Deccan has it all: museums, temples, historical places and modern-day wonders. While moving from the airport, on our way to the place we were supposed to stay, we could see Hussain Sagar Lake, a sprawling artificial lake. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with the newly-constructed Necklace Road. A major attraction of Ussain Sagar is the statue of Buddha standing majestically in the middle of the lake.
On the second day we visited the Charminar which is the most famous landmark of Hyderabad lying at the heart of the old walled city. This massive arch was built by Mohammad Quli Qutab Shah in 1591. There are two galleries inside, one over another. Near the Charminar stand four magnificent arches called the Char Kaman and are named Machli Kaman, Kali Kaman, Sher Gil Ki Kaman and Char Minar Ki Kaman. The arch is illuminated daily in the evening, which makes it a brilliant sight.
The Charminar is surrounded by a grand oriental bazaar known as Lad Bazaar, named after Ladli Begum, the wife of Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad. It is truly a shoppers’ paradise. Lad Bazaar, with its colourful shopping lanes, is a fabulous place to buy souvenirs from. It is the most fascinating place from where one could get the traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone-studded bangles, antique jewellry, silver, crystal, pearls, bridal wear and so many other items for women. Another shopping centre, Pathargatti, also located near Charminar, is famous for perfumes, bridal wear, clothing, gold jewellry, and pearls.
Historically rich and keeping in tune with contemporary trends, Hyderabad (Deccan) is a marvellous city
One mustn’t miss visiting the Salaar Jung Museum which is considered to be a must-see place for tourists. It is one of Hyderabad’s prime attractions as it is the world’s largest one-man collection. The 35 rooms of the museum house around 35,000 exhibits. It is a spectacular place which has on display an extensive series of unusual collections of jade, marble statues, rare manuscripts, Persian miniature paintings, and Chinese porcelain. Another not-to-miss place is the Chowmohallah Palace. We found it very elegant at first sight. The Nizams of Hyderabad were great visionaries and patrons of the arts, architecture and science. The Chowmohallah Palace used to be the centre of Hyderabad. Even now it is held in high esteem as it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty known as Khilwat Mubarak. The clock above the main gate to the Chowmohallah Palace is affectionately called the Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for over a hundred years.
The palace is now the venue for exhibitions of the treasures of the Chowmohallah Palace collection that offers a glimpse into the bygone era. We were totally mesmerized by the elegant and immaculate interior of the imperial residence which perfectly complemented the ambience of palace premises, surrounded by the dense and lush green meadows.
Despite the fact that we had a short time to see all of the historical and modern places in Hyderabad, thanks to our cousins we were able to see the seven wonders of Hyderabad, and the legendary Golconda Fort which is the proud producer of the Koh-i-Noor diamond. One of the cousins told us: “The fort is famous for its built-in acoustic effects because of which the clapping of hands at the entry gate can even be heard from the top of the fort.”
About a kilometre away from the Golconda Fort lies Qutub Shahi Tombs, the last resting place of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, where seven out of the eight sultans are buried.
Other places of interests around Hyderabad are the Secret Lake and, of course, the Nehru Zoological Park, the biggest zoo in India, situated along side the Hyderabad-Bangalore National Highway. It is named after the first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Spread across an area of 300 acres, it has over 1,500 different kinds of animals and birds, most of whom are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat. The Andheri Gali is known to be as the haunted area in the zoo.
The Imax theatre is yet another wonderful place. No visit to India is complete without watching a movie on the big screen.
Birla Mandir is a beautiful white marble temple built on a hillock, the Kala Pahad (well known as Nawbat Pahad). When illuminated, it turns out to be a beautiful sight at night, against a dark sky and looking down on Hussain Sagar Lake. The Bagh-i-Aam stretches below this hillock where stands the legislative assembly building. Among the newer additions to Hyderabad’s buildings are the Osmania University, the High Court and the Osmania General Hospital.
In the heart of the city lies the latest and the most modern planetarium in India, the Birla planetarium/science museum. It is being developed into a centre where astronomy could be studied.
Hyderabad is more than 400 years old, but today it is as famous for its burgeoning information technology and biotech research industries as it is for its minarets. A substantial part of the city is the suburb of Cyberabad, where Microsoft and Oracle are two major players in developing the Hi-Tech City, responsible for the city’s much-needed economic upswing.
We also enjoyed an exciting ride to the Ramoji Film City situated along side the Hyderabad-Vijayawada National Highway near Hayat Nagar about 25kms from the city. The Ramoji Film City is a destination that truly inspires tourists to think differently. A concept that is informal, yet exclusive. It is nearly 2,000-acre long, a natural as well as man-made beauty. The vintage film city coaches take you on a fascinating journey of discovery and exploration. Luxurious hotels, restaurants, Japanese gardens, Persian boulevards, lavish palaces, princess street, dream valley, make-believe airports/railway stations with the rustic settings of a mud village and a host of other fantastic creations, not to mention fresh air, all mesmerize tourists. Whatever meets your eye has a touch of freshness that makes you have new ideas. A holiday at this marvellous destination is an experience of a lifetime.
On our last day in Hyderabad we paid a quick visit to Makkah Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world and is said to accommodate up to 10,000 men during prayers. A particular mehrab here is believed to have been brought from Makkah. Close to the mosque are tombs of the Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The other mosques — Shah Qattal mosque, Toli mosque and the Jama Teen Posh mosque of Syed Shah Mehboob saheb Jilani-o-Qadri — are good to look at too.
We couldn’t help admiring the people of Hyderabad who are really hospitable and affectionate. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Hyderabad Deccan is a simple and beautiful city.
It was an adventurous flight from Karachi to Hyderabad (Deccan) via Mumbai. The flight became adventurous after we landed at the Chatarpati Shivaji International Airport where we had to wait for one night to catch a connecting plane to Hyderabad, our final destination. And to my utter surprise, it was raining cats and dogs. It was really cold and chilly, unlike back home in Karachi.
The palace is now the venue for exhibitions of the treasures of the Chowmohallah Palace collection that offers a glimpse into the bygone era. We were totally mesmerized by the elegant and immaculate interior of the imperial residence which perfectly complemented the ambience of palace premises, surrounded by the dense and lush green meadows.
Birla Mandir is a beautiful white marble temple built on a hillock, the Kala Pahad (well known as Nawbat Pahad). When illuminated, it turns out to be a beautiful sight at night, against a dark sky and looking down on Hussain Sagar Lake. The Bagh-i-Aam stretches below this hillock where stands the legislative assembly building. Among the newer additions to Hyderabad’s buildings are the Osmania University, the High Court and the Osmania General Hospital.
On our last day in Hyderabad we paid a quick visit to Makkah Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the world and is said to accommodate up to 10,000 men during prayers. A particular mehrab here is believed to have been brought from Makkah. Close to the mosque are tombs of the Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The other mosques — Shah Qattal mosque, Toli mosque and the Jama Teen Posh mosque of Syed Shah Mehboob saheb Jilani-o-Qadri — are good to look at too.
