Monday, August 11, 2008

Casting a Spell

Casting a Spell

And out on the courtyard of the legendary Mecca Masjid completed in 1687, you hear a flutter of wings of pigeons spread out as if to rush into the holy stone from Mecca after which the Mosque gets its name.

A few kilometers nearby from Mecca Masjid is the Nehru Zoological Park, housing more than 3,000 animals and birds. With over 300 pieces of animals, some living in their natural habitat, and 200 acres of peace and tranquility, the zoo is a pleasant resort.

Architectural splendour radiates from many structures in the city: The arts college building of Osmania University incorporating in granite the Hindu, Muslim, Arab, Moorish and Gothic schools of architecture; the Falaknuma palace made of Italian marble; The High Court built in red and white stone in Saracenic style, concealing two Qutb Shahi palaces.

Hussainsagar, the yawning water link between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Two and a half miles across and covering eight square mils, it was built by Hessian Shah Wali, son-in-law of king Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth of the Qutb Shahi rulers and father of Mohammed Quli. All along the 'Tank Bund' is a number of statues honouring some of the most distinguished personages of Andhra Pradesh, through the ages.

Two other picturesque lakes, Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, the legacy of the seventh Nizam, have pretty landscaped gardens and guesthouses for picnickers, besides providing drinking water to the city.