I first came to Hyderabad 2 years back in April. Not really the best time to come here! But this place has a way of growing on you, and not in a negative way! I really began to love this city within 3-4 months, and that tells a lot, as I just came B’lore where I lived for totally over 6-7 years.
I know it is so cliched to compare Bangalore with Hyd, but I can’t help it. Having lived in B’lore for so long the first thing that hit me was the heat! Not that B’lore is cold, but it is definitely cooler. The next thing that really got me (and it gets every person who come to Hyd for the first or n’th time!) was the total disregard of traffic sense! If you want to see a miracle in the making come here. People seem to love crossing the signal points only when it turns red!!! Not a sight for the timid, and certainly not for those with heart problems!
Next comes the Autos. The autos drivers here are actually decent enough. Not too many have tried to take me for a ride! Unlike those in Chennai, but that is another story. It is good for me that they all know hindi, so conversing with them is pretty easy for anyone who knows hindi. This rule hold good with any conversation with the local population.
Food - Hmmmm....... my favourite topic! :) One can get a variety of food here, the speciality being the Biryani along with the Mirchi ka salan. Now call me whatever, but I’m not too impressed with the Biryanis here. In some places they are good, no doubt , but on the whole I prefer the Biryani’s of Calcutta. But that is just my personal preference.
The best part about eating out is that people love to eat here, so you can get a variety of places to choose from should you decide to eat out. The one concept that is very popular here is the concept of lunch buffets, where almost all big restaurants and even pubs have the lunch buffets for a very modest price of Rs 100 onwards. This usually includes a full course meal and drinks. Unbelievable but true!
And this brings me to the main plus point of living in Hyderabad. The cost of living is fantastically low! Be it housing, food or day-to-day things. Take for instance housing. One has to literally take a loan to pay the deposit/advance if one wants a house in cities like Mumbai, Delhi and yes, even Bangalore.
Usual is 10-12 months advance. And you get a small usually dingy place. Here, for 5 K monthly rent, you can get a good sized 2 bed room flat (Price depends on area to area). And the advance to be paid is only 2-3 months advance. Not many cities can boast of such housing prices.
Weather wise, be prepared to roast in April - June. During these month, an A/C or a Cooler is very essential. If nothing else, get a large fridge and sit inside! :) The rest of the year, the weather is good. Of cause, coming from a cold place, I find the winters very pleasant. It is a different mater that people think I’m mad to wear short sleaves shirts in winter when the local population is bundled up in layers of sweaters and jackets!
People are very laid-back and easy going. You have to constantly prod/remind them to get thing done. The night life is not that good as in other cities, thanks to strict Policing by the cops! There is a good community peace maintained, which is really nice, given the diverse population, religion and sects who live here.
A brief note on the usual tourist spots -
Charminar: It is marked as one of the places one must visit. Personally I would recommend togive it a miss. Firstly it is located is maybe the busiest and most crowded place in Hyderabad. Just reaching there saps all enthusiasm. Secondly, there is really nothing much to see once you are there. It actually makes more sense to go there for the shops, that are famous for pearls and bangles. Thirdly, the market known as Chor Bazaar is next door. As it was said once, if you go to the Chor Bazaar, be sure to park your vehicle far off, else you may find parts of your vehicle being sold to you!
Husain Sagar: Husain Sagar is the name given to the lake in the middle of the city. It is said to divide the twin cities of Secundrabad and Hyderabad. There are many water sports once can enjoy there, from Paragliding to motor boat rides. But God help anyone who accidentally falls in the water! I really don?t know how often the water is cleaned (if ever!) Every years hundreds of idols are immersed into the water of the lake. (Remember this is a lake! There is no fresh supply of water into or out of the lake!)
There is a Buddha Statue in the middle of the lake, where once can go to via a launch. In and around the lake is the Tank Bund and Necklace Road, two roads that circle the lake. These roads look lovely at night, when they are lighted up. Across the road, are NTR Gardens and Lumbini Park. Both are popular places for families to come and relax. They have their own amusement park rides inside. And near by lies Birla Mandir, an imposing white beauty that attracts thousands of visitors daily!
All in all, one has many places to visit in and around Husain Sagar?.and I did not even mention Prasads Multiplex just down the road, that has one of the few Imax theatres in India.
Ramoji Film City: Never been here. Heard is it a lovely experience, although one needs to give atleast 3-4 hours for it.
Salar Jung Museum: If you are interested in Museums, this is one place you must to see. The collections inside is marvelous. Other notable museums are the Nizam?s Museum and Birla Museum.
Golconda fort: Never been here as well. Heard that the Light and Sound show is very good. Esp the Hindi one, as it has Amitabh Bacchan?s doing the narration.
For temples, there is the Birla Mandir. It is a nice place to go, but be prepared for a looonnngggg line! I personally recommend Sanghi Temple on the outskirts (towards Ramoji Film City) as it is less crowded, and gives a more sense of peace than Birla Mandir. But one has to drive for about an hr to reach there.
For the Techies, there is the famous Hitec city. Most IT companies have set up their offices in an area called Madhapur. So once can get to see a series of architectural wonders, as each firms tries to out-design the other! In Madhapur itself one can relax at Durgam Cherevu, a lake, where one can got for boating, or just chilling out in the evening. Word of caution, if you are going in the evening, carry lots of mosquito repellents with you!
There are many more places I can write about, but that’s it for now. Happy travels!