My Way On Highway: Day 49, Sights, Statues and Shopping in Hyderabad

[button path="my-way-on-highway-day-48/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 48[/button][button path="my-way-on-highway-day-50/" color="theme" size="medium" padding:"14px" target="_blank"]DAY 50[/button]

Today our #MyWayOnHighway journey brought us closer to Hyderabad. The elegance of the stunning historic city is hard to be missed with its brilliant monuments that are peppered all over its length and breadth. No wonder, it is called the City of Nawabs because all those people who make the destination what it is today consider themselves nothing short of royalty. They might not go out of the way to help but they won’t stare either. Ask them for directions and they oblige generously.

NT Rama Rao, King Of Hearts

We made Gulabo comfortable under the shady parking in the noon sun and then walked to the gates of the NTR memorial. The love the Telugu have for late actor-turned-politician NT Rama Rao is no secret to anyone here. And the memorial stands testimony to that fact. A guard promptly appeared reminding us to take our shoes off. Yes, you have to enter barefoot in to the extremely spick and span precincts of the architectural dedication that fans of NTR have made in his memory. Strong signs of Victorian architecture with its elegant shapes and minimalist colouring intermeshed with a few Indian elements can be clearly seen. The open air dome is a touch of a genius with its ornate contours and deeper significance.

stunning-architecture — The stunning architecture of the NTR memorial

By the way, a whole bunch of bats nest in two trees right at the entrance. And it’s not just creatures but you would also see wild tamarinds (almost the size of gourds) growing here that are believed to have medicinal properties.

Bats-resting — Bats resting at the many trees near the memorial

And Now, The NTR Gardens

Where do Hyderabadis go on a Sunday for recreation? To the NTR Gardens! With an ideal location bang opposite the famous Hussain Sagar Lake, the greenscape invites a lot of families promising to offer something for everyone. Our tickets were purchased (yes, you need a 20 rupees ticket to enter the park!) and we walked through a whole gamut of carnivalesque razzmatazz that had a Time Machine ride in an Egyptian set-up, gaming arcade and multiple food joints. There is a Paradise restaurant outlet right next door (remember where I had Hyderabadi biryani yesterday). Next, we opted for the train ride that chugged to give us a delightful slow-paced tour of the whole place. Found the insect garden which can be an apt outing to get the kids to learn all about them.

Relax-at-the-lush — Relax at the lush green environ of the NTR Gardens

Take Me To The Lake

Just right opposite NTR Gardens is yet another park that goes by the name of Lumbini. That’s where we moved next to take the joy of zipping past the shiny waters of the Hussain Sagar Lake. Coming with our enthusiastic cousins, opting for the speed boat was one of the quickest decisions. There are frequent big boat charters for those who do not like speed combined with a splash or two. Well, 300 bucks were paid and we set out to chart as much of the aqua expanse as we could in the 5-minute boat ride. Good fun but wish it was longer. We also spotted the giant 18 metre high Buddha statue that oversees the city like a gentle angel! If you have time, stick around till evening sets in right and proper, and your camera will be in for a treat. A late buffet lunch happened for us at the Courtyard Marriot amidst laughter and sunshine sneaking in from the windows.

Hussain-Sagar-Lake — Buddha statue standing tall amidst the Hussain Sagar Lake

In Search Of The Charminar

Even before we entered the broad but supremely busy roads leading to the Charminar, I had a vision of the place’s likeness to the old world charm of Chandni Chowk in Delhi. I was not far from the mark because the place had the same kind of overwhelming glitz, food and chaos. But if you look beyond that, you will see the towering minarets of the Charminar Mosque - the iconic landmark of Hyderabad. Standing tall since 1591 CE to commemorate the spot where Quil Qutb Shah prayed for the end of the epidemic. The Islamic architecture with Persian influence dominates the 48.7 metres high minarets. You can actually go inside to explore but only between 9 am and 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. Friday has the mosque closed between 1 pm to 2 pm for prayers.

Charminar-in-Hyderabad — The iconic Charminar in Hyderabad

The market area here is a good place to indulge in a little shopping. Pearl ornaments are the most popular choice but please be careful as fakes are pretty dominant in this area. The shiny lacquer jewellery is another favourite with the ladies.

buy-in-Hyderabad — Pearls, a must-buy in Hyderabad

For dinner, we went to Shadab in the Charminar area and came out disappointed. The food was average and the service was even lower than that. Skip it and you wouldn’t have missed anything.

It is 1:30 am right now. After a long and satisfying (#HappyHappy) day, I probably should be catching up with my sleep now. See you with more travel stories tomorrow!

(Photo Credit: Tariq Khan)

Saba Shaikh

Saba is a nomad at heart. Having lived in 12 cities, she looks to experience different cultures and is dying to trot all over the world in more than 80 days (what’s the rush!). Daydreaming and baking are her other love interests!