Nobody ever recommended me traveling to Hyderabad other than the Thelugu speaking friend of mine who looked to be a bit too ’patriotic’. But I still end up in the place just because I wanted to check those new Naidu roads with a good surface, and I was yet to try the Biriyani cooked by its inventers. So I picked up my friends car, and went driving around Banjara Hills and jubilee hills in the morning right after I land in the place. Yeah, roads were too good for an Indian city. And I had to wait for another four or five hours to get the taste of the Biriyani at the famous Palace Hotel. Biriyani according to the waiter was: for one, good enough for two. I took up the challenge, and asked for one for myself. I managed to finish unlike the friend of mine, but not without leaving a macho image regarding an average Biriyani eating Hyderabadi. I was not in a position to follow my instinct and go for a sleep, as I had to see the Nizam’s collection at Salar Jung Museum. I went by bike instead of car as it was recommended when I had to pass through the extremely crowed Old Hyderabad. Don’t ask me the route, I don’t remember, but I was right there at the right time. I really don’t know how I agreed to leave my x-pensive camera outside at the entry security, which didn’t look to be very safe to me. But soon I forget all that, and find myself lost among the huge collection of artifacts. Man, this is something you can’t afford to miss seeing if you are in Hyderabad, just for its variety and size. I guess that clock out there must be some cool stuff, but I can only say that based on the crowd I saw around the clock. I was nowhere near this antique piece, as the jantha didn’t really want me to. But I went wandering all around. Pottery? Ivory? Glass? Brass? Its all there.
I went to the see the lakes (Banasura Sagar etc.), they are big, and I was offered another boating experience, which I politely refused because of its predictability. It is a better feeling to sit near the lake watching other people boating in the evening. I derived a mathematical formula to calculate the size of the big Buddha placed in the middle of thelake w r t the size I see. The guy selling ice cream offered me one for a cheaper price (compared to Bangalore), I taste that and I scream, I wanted to drop that somewhere. Waste bins placed every 10 ft. But then the ice-cream seller told me about Golconda fort near Jubilee hills next to Banjara Hills where I stay, I was happy to know I can click pictures unlike Salar Jung. Good.
Next morning I end up in Golconda fort which holds an extremely interesting history to tell you, the medium being the Telugu accented English of the guide, who was the first expensive thing I found in Hyderabad. He interrupted me with clinical accuracy in my photography but that’s forgiven for his good story-telling talents. Without him I wouldn’t have noticed those unbelievable acoustics they did inside the fort. I realize the big mistake our old architects committed: they never wrote a book on advanced architecture.
Talking about architecture I visited Charminar later, you must know lots about the place as it is one talked about destination out there.
My nightlife during the trip consists of five parties in two nights and a few short drives from pubs to pubs. Hyderabad doesn’t have the so-called pub culture like Bangalore, or nightlife like Mumbai. Pubs are just coming up, and look less hep and colorful and the lack of attendance of fairer sex community is visible. I Guess lots of in-house parties must be happening, I was getting invitations for such from my friends, friends’ friends etc.
I picked up a bus back to Bangalore and I noticed the maintenance of buses or bus stations to be professional and staff, committed. Good behavior as well, and the Bus left on right time. At last I was convinced such things are possible in India. Thanks, Hyderabad.
Highway down to Bangalore is straight and smooth with no pitfalls; I slept in a short while though I didn’t plan it that way.