HERITAGE BULDINGS & MONUMENTS

HYDERABAD

Hyderabad city, despite radical changes during the last century, is a store-house of natural and man -made heritage. It has archaeological monuments,some of which are more than 400 years old, palaces, historical buildings, traditional bazaars, lakes and natural rock formations. city sight- seeing tours cover most monuments and land marks. The tourisam department also organises 'heritage walks' to the old city . Here are thumb -nail sketches of some of the heritage buildings and monuments.

Masjid Safe at Golconda Fort-The Oldest Mosque(1518AD)

Deriving architectural inspiration from the Bahmins, the first Qutb Shahi Mosque of Hyderabad , the Masjid at Golconda situated beside Habshi Kaman, is strikingly similar to Jami mosque at Bidar. It has an extermely simple but dignified facade with seven ogee arches.

Aview of Charminar from the Jama Masjid

In addition to the characteristic pointed ogee arches the Qutb Shahis also used the facade of Moghal cusped arches in conjustion as seen at jama Masjid. this could either be due to Moghal influence are a later imposition when most of the important Qutb Shahi's mosques restored are renovated.The grid of the two principal intersecting roads meeting at charminar,the Pathergatti-shah ali Banda road and the Lad BaZaar road, is tilted at a distinct 10 degrees angle with the north -south access.

This is perhaps due to the compulsion of placing the charminar with its roof- top mosque such away that the mosque could face exact direction of Mecca as geographically aligned with referenced to Hyderabad.

Entertainment World in Hyderabad

Snow world

A unique snow theme park, centrally located on lower tank bund road, this fun place is spread over 2 acres. Real snow environment has polar bears, penguins, Alpine trees and an igloo. Rides in the snow include sleigh slides; ice bumping cars, snow merry -go-rounds, ice sculptures and more.

Imax Theatre

The latest attraction near the necklace road is the Imax theatre ,the only of its kind in south India .with a capacity to seat about 600 people, it has an extra large screen with a sound system that is awe inspiring. A shopping mall food court and India’s first multiplex theatre are located in the complex.

The Historical Culture Continues

The historical culture continues

The Hyderabad of the old has the transformed it self into a thriving modern metropolice with wide roads, stretches of green, the awe-inspiring hi-Tec city amidst the newley created cyberabad. The people of Hyderabad are a friendly, hospitable and extremely courteous lot, driven by the passion to achieve.

With its rich heritage of over 400 years, Hyderabad has imbedded a culture that is a confluence of north and south, Hindu Muslim and Christian -tradition and modernity.

This fascinating blend is reflected in its buildings, ancient forts and palaces to hi-Tec structures ,traditional bangles and pearls to a dazzling array of contemporary apparel and gadgets ,generations -old moghlai cuisine and traditional Andhra fare to authentic Chinese to pizza eateries, leisure parks to bustling commercial centers, colloquial Telugu and Urdu, hospitable and gracious people who have embraced the cultures from far and wide and made a unique character which is endearingly ,distinctly ‘Hyderabadi’.

This heady mixture is Hyderabad where the life style is conducive both for leisure and path breaking industry. Hyderabad is a today what is founder Mohammed Quli wanted it to be-'A replica of heaven and unique in the world'.

Come Easy to Hyderabad from Any Place

Come Easy

Hyderabad has easy access to the other major tourist spots in Andhra Pradesh such as Warangal, Nagarjuna Sagar, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. The city is well connected to the major cities of India, and to the Middle East, Malaysia, Thailand & Srilanka and Singapore also.

Hyderabad, truly precious pearl amongest cities! A city that is old yet breathes and feels young, alive and pulsating. It mingles with the present while retaining a semblance of the past. A vibrant, bustling lifestyle. Acity going on more than four centuries, yet on terms with industrial progress, prosperity and ready for the challenge of the 21st Century.

Royal Fare

Royal Fare

A little afternoon or moments after sunset nothing whets the appetite like the sight of mouth watering Hyderabadi Cuisine. Savour Haleem, a preparation of pounded wheat cooked with tender portions of meat and garnished with crisply baked onion rings. Competing zestfully is Nahari, sheep hoof (paya) and tongue (zubban) and spices, stewed overnight over a slow charcoal fire and eaten with local bread Kulcha or Sheermal. Among the many vegetarian delights is bagara baingan- rich spiced curry of aubergine (eggplant) simmered in gravy of tamarind. Indeed, the variety in Hyderabadi cuisine is vast.

For dessert, we have rich creamy sheer (milk) Khorma flavoured with crushed almonds and garnished with rose petals or, Double-ka-meetha topped with a fine sheet of edible silver foil. The favourite, however, seems to be the Khubani-ka-meetha with dried apricots boiled into a sweet syrup. Hyderabad offers a wide choice of hotels to suit every budget. From low priced to economy to 5-star.

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.

Four Centuries Old Bazaars

Four Centuries Old Bazaars

The Bazaars around the charminar are much the same as they were in the pages of history. Here, the fragrance of jasmine and aroma of heart spiced kababs mingal in the air.

Laad Bazaar offers pearls and silver filigree work; jewellery, exotic or traditional, and gorgeous glass are lacquer bangle sets. Bidri curios with their fine silver inlay in gun metal...delicate nirmal lacquer ware and the sparkling mirrors work by the vibrant ,sprightly banjara gypsy folk are available at other bazaars.

Objects of art, tapestry or crystal from the collections of Ex-nawabs are also available in the little antique shops in the old city.

Step into the salarjung museum and you will be awed by the worlds biggest private one man collection of 43,000 art objects, 50,000 books and 9,000 manuscripts is housed in 35 treasures filleds rooms. This collection belonged to salarjung III, the 3rd in a family of Prime Ministers to the last two Nizams of Hyderabad.

The state museum is another treasure house of antiquities and art objects. Apart from early coins, Buddhist sculptures and relic caskets, prehistoric tolls, carving, manuscripts and paintings it has and Egyptian Mummy on display.

The veiled Rebecca, a delicate marble statue of a woman draped in a transparent veil and Mephistopheles and margaretta a double figured wood carving done in 1876, Japanese silk paintings, miniature quran, carpets, 300 walking sticks, English wine glasses, Noor Johan’s dagger, Jahangir's wine cup and Aurangzabe's sword are some of the collections on display.