Hyderabadi Biryani
Though the trip to Hyderabad was a corporate one in which out of 4 days I stayed in hotels and office, but still there are certain things which made me explore the beautiful city.
What's Different?
Background
Famous for pearls, char minar, Hyderabadi Biryani and the Karachi Biscuits, Hyderabad is located in Telangana and is also famous for being the hub and pearl trading in India. The city has grown tremendously in past decade with opening of various IT offices in the HITECH city.
Apart from the city's daily hustle -bustle there is a calmness which I felt when I landed on the big 5000 acre Hyderabad Airport which is located well outside the city and is also famous for the Shamshabad Go-Karting track which is a must try. One can get 7-9 laps in around INR 500 and can drive for good 20-30 mins.
What's Different?
Since I was mostly on training which were in the office or hotels, I was only able to to sneak out and explore during the night. And being a Delhiite I expected that cafes would remain open all night serving booze and loud music. But to my surprise it was totally different in a way that most of the cafes shut before 11PM in contrast to Delhi or Mumbai.
Yes, Hyderabad do sleep early but still there are various options which are still open to be looked upon such as the famous street food vendors near Avasa hotel in madhapur and a lot of stoned ice cream cafes which are mostly open late night.
Where all I went?
There are various places in Hyderabad but I could only visit the few famous ones
Golconda Fort:
The fort is considered to be one of the Hyderabad's wondrous architecture's especially for the history enthusiast. The walls and audio reflections are such that if you clap your hands in the particular place in the entrance, it would be heard over 1km away, at the highest point of the pavilion. Moreover there are various places in the fort where voice can be transmitted through the walls serving the purpose of intercoms.
Char Minar:
There are various places in Hyderabad but I could only visit the few famous ones
Golconda Fort:
The fort is considered to be one of the Hyderabad's wondrous architecture's especially for the history enthusiast. The walls and audio reflections are such that if you clap your hands in the particular place in the entrance, it would be heard over 1km away, at the highest point of the pavilion. Moreover there are various places in the fort where voice can be transmitted through the walls serving the purpose of intercoms.
Char Minar:
The most famous archaeological monument of the city, char minar is surrounded by over crowded market consisting pearl shops (of which mostly are fake, so beware), clothes, dates (which is another must try in Hyderabad), and biryani.
Hussain Sagar Lake:
Its the largest man-made lake situated in Hyderabad and is know for Lord buddha's statue at the right end of the lake. Most of the times its filthy and its not maintained as is with the case with most water bodies in India, but I was lucky as I went just after the state elections when most of the municipal bodies are active.
Also situated is the eat street on the other end of lake and has few coffee and snack options with a good lake view especially at night. But again as common oin Hyderabad it gets closed too around 11 PM and the policewala will push you out with his danda in hand.
Food Options:
Biryani is a must try whoever is visiting Hyderabad. There are various famous joints such as Paradise, Bawarchi, Shadab, maa ooru biryani etc but I could only go for Shadab which was the most recommended by the locals and tried Veg Biryani!
I know most of the people who listen to this give me weird looks but I couldn't go for any other option being vegetarian.
Karachi Biscuits are also very famous and I got to know about them because everyone in my office used to bring a box whenever they come from Hyderabad and believe me its so tasty especially the druit biscuits that a 1 kg box gets empty in even less than a minute.
The best part:
Its the people because they are the one, who make it memorable. Though I had a very less time in this pearl city, but still people I met be it uber cab driver who took us to all the above tourist attractions, security personal at char Minar who was instrumental in guiding accurately for the authentic pearl shops, date shops and the way to hotel Shadab. He even became more friendly and nostalgic as soon as he got to know I am from Delhi too.
And the two friends whom I met in training who were living in the city itself and were there to share all the above experiences and roam as if we we were long known buddies. Travel makes the bonds so strong that we even make plans and they keep on calling me in Hyderabad. I just hope one day again a travel plan with them will be materialized.
Hussain Sagar Lake:
Its the largest man-made lake situated in Hyderabad and is know for Lord buddha's statue at the right end of the lake. Most of the times its filthy and its not maintained as is with the case with most water bodies in India, but I was lucky as I went just after the state elections when most of the municipal bodies are active.
Also situated is the eat street on the other end of lake and has few coffee and snack options with a good lake view especially at night. But again as common oin Hyderabad it gets closed too around 11 PM and the policewala will push you out with his danda in hand.
Food Options:
Biryani is a must try whoever is visiting Hyderabad. There are various famous joints such as Paradise, Bawarchi, Shadab, maa ooru biryani etc but I could only go for Shadab which was the most recommended by the locals and tried Veg Biryani!
I know most of the people who listen to this give me weird looks but I couldn't go for any other option being vegetarian.
Karachi Biscuits are also very famous and I got to know about them because everyone in my office used to bring a box whenever they come from Hyderabad and believe me its so tasty especially the druit biscuits that a 1 kg box gets empty in even less than a minute.
The best part:
Its the people because they are the one, who make it memorable. Though I had a very less time in this pearl city, but still people I met be it uber cab driver who took us to all the above tourist attractions, security personal at char Minar who was instrumental in guiding accurately for the authentic pearl shops, date shops and the way to hotel Shadab. He even became more friendly and nostalgic as soon as he got to know I am from Delhi too.
And the two friends whom I met in training who were living in the city itself and were there to share all the above experiences and roam as if we we were long known buddies. Travel makes the bonds so strong that we even make plans and they keep on calling me in Hyderabad. I just hope one day again a travel plan with them will be materialized.
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