It is rare to come across a place that welcomes the 21st
century with an 'adaab'. Hyderabad is one such place. There is so much here
to awe the senses. From the magnificent food to the majestic monuments, from
its terrific landscapes to a populace steeped in respect and tradition.
Consisting of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Hyderabad is
also the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Once the largest princely
state in India, Hyderabad had its own flag, currency, railway, and postal
system, before being incorporated into the Indian nation.
With a rich history, Hyderabad boasts of some fine examples of Qutub Shahi architecture
- the Jami Masjid, the Mecca Masjid, Toli Masjid and of course, the impressive
symbol of Hyderabad, the Charminar.
A unique
feature of the city is that it is the only city in the south, where the
major language spoken is Urdu.
Home to the Nizams, reportedly,
the world's richest royals, Hyderabad is also home to famous folk arts like
shadow puppetry and kuchipudi.
Population: About 4.3
million
Climate: Maximum temperature is 38 degrees
Celsius, minimum temperature 12 degrees Celsius, annual rainfall less than
200 mm. Hyderabad is fairly warm throughout the year and does not receive
much rainfall in the monsoon. Temperatures do come down in winter with
September to December being the best times to visit. June to November are
monsoon months. The best time to visit then is during or just after the
monsoons.
Best times to visit: Though the climate is
suitable for visit anytime of the year, the best season is between
October-February. Just avoid June when it is too hot to sightsee.
Charminar The principle landmark of Hyderabad is the
Charminar (four towers), the massive arch built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah
in 1591 to commemorate the end of a devastating epidemic of the plague.
There is a small mosque on the second floor, which is the oldest in
Hyderabad. In the south-east corner is a small Hindu shrine honoring Laxmi,
the goddess of wealth. Each evening, the arch is illuminated and is a sight
worth seeing.
Salar Jung Museum One of Hyderabad's
prime attractions is the Salar Jung Museum, the world's largest collection
by a single individual, Sir Yusaf Ali Salar Jung III. The 36 rooms, house
around 35,000 exhibits from all over the world including sculptures,
illuminated manuscripts, unusual collections of jade, marble statues, rare
manuscripts, Persian miniature paintings, Chinese porcelain and other
objects d'art. The collected items in the museum could be far better
classified because a lot of the really good pieces of art need to be hunted
for. Whatever the inevitable drawbacks of a one man collection, a must
visit. The museum is closed Fridays.
Mecca Masjid
One of the largest mosques in the world, the Mecca Masjid is said to accommodate
upto 10,000 worshippers. The foundation of the mosque was laid during the reign
of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1614, but was completed only in 1687, when the
Golconda Kingdom was annexed by Emperor Aurangzeb.
Nehru Zoological Park Hyderabad also boasts of one of
the largest zoos in India, the Nehru Zoological Park. It is spread over 1.2
sq. kms of landscaped gardens and houses about 3000 animals. There's a
prehistoric animal section, a toy train ride around the park, a lion safari
and a nocturnal section.
The Birla Mandir (Naubat Prahad)
The Birla Mandir stands on a hill overlooking the south end of
Hussain Sagar. It is a splendid temple built entirely out of white marble.
The Birla Planetarium is also quite a crowd-puller.
Golconda
Fort
A short distance away from the city, looms one of the most
magnificent fortresses in India, the Golconda Fort. The fort dates back to
the time of the Qutub Shahi kings, though its origin has been traced to
earlier periods, to the reign of the Yadavas and later the Kakatiyas. The
fortress is built on a granite hill 120 metres high. Its gates are studded
with menacing iron spikes, intended to discourage elephants from battering
them down.
What is unique about this fort is its system of
acoustics. The sound of hands clapped at the entry gate can be heard quite
clearly at the top of the hill, at a height of 61m. The stately tombs of the
Qutub Shahi rulers lie just outside the outer wall of the Golconda fort.
They lie amidst beautifully kept gardens and a number of them have
intricately carved stonework.
Hyderabad has a rich cultural heritage, which encloses within itself
an amalgam of various religious and cultural communities. While many of
these are common with the rest of the country, some are celebrated with a
distinct touch that carries the flavor of the city. One has to remember that
Hyderabad is a predominantly Islamic state and therefore, it stands to
reason that the festivals that stand out will be those of the Muslims. But
then again, like the rest of India, there are festivals that are celebrated
by all, regardless of one's own religion.
Til Sankranti: In
January, Til Sankranti marks the entry of the sun into the northern
hemisphere. The day, held auspicious by Hindus is marked by worship of the
Sun God. Houses are decorated with rangolis. This festival is also known as
the harvest festival.
Ugadi: Ugadi (March/April) is
the Telugu New Year. On this day, houses are cleaned, painted and a 'toran'
or string of mango leaves is strung up in front of each house.
Muharram: Muharram (June-July), the day of martyrdom of the
grandsons of Prophet Mohammad is celebrated with piety. Traditionally, the
Muharram period lasts over a month and is observed by Muslims and Hindus
with temperance. On the 8th and 10th days of Muharram, people of all
religions pay respect at Chote Hazrat ki Dargah, inside Devan Devadi, in
Hyderabad.
Bathkamma: Bathkamma (October/November)
is special to the Telangana region. In the month-long festival, Goddess
Bathkamma's idol is worshipped and taken to rivers and lakes and floated in
the evening.
HOW TO GET THERE:By
Road: Hyderabad is well connected with almost every major South Indian
city.
By Air: Hyderabad is extremely well connected by air
with major cities in India and is served by Indian Airlines, Jet airways and
Sahara Airlines with frequent flights. Hyderabad is now an International
Airport as well and is currently served by Qatar Airways, Emirates,
Malaysian Airlines, Indian Airlines, Air India and a few other International
Airlines.
By Rail: Hyderabad is well connected to
Delhi,
Mumbai, Chennai,
Bangalore
and to almost all other cities in Southern India by a network of Super fast
trains.
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India Travel Hotel.
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