"City of Nizams"- A peek into Hyderabad

This is the city where I landed more than two years ago to put my skills into practice. I reached the city with my Mom at around noon having taken a three hour bus ride from Vijaywada. The month was June and the city was toiling under the angry sun. However as we left the bus stop in an auto and traversed across the city towards our guest house we came across a very well designed city which was dotted by magnificent infrastructures of the IT companies.
With this piece of writing I am trying to put in certain details and statistics about this beautiful and old city for all you people to have a glimpse at.

The below mentioned facts have been compiled from the net.

Hyderabad is a city that sees an amalgamation of two major cultures - Hinduism and Islam.

The religious places in Hyderabad are a fine example of the peaceful co-existence of the two cultures. The temples and mosques of Hyderabad have splendid architecture and have withstood the tempests of time till today. One can give ones spiritual side a boost by visiting the famous places of worship of Hyderabad.One should start the tour with a visit to the famous Birla Mandir of Hyderabad. The spotless white marble temple, situated on an elevated ground shining under the bright sun, is an alluring sight to any one watching it for the first time. You can visit the Chote Hazrat Ki Dargah, which is also in the city of Hyderabad. The main Dargah can be reached after climbing a flight of 400 stairs. Also one should visit the Mecca Masjid of Hyderabad, which is the oldest and largest mosque of this twin city. One should also visit the Paigah tombs to view those unique geometrical patterns, which are believed to be the characteristic feature of this holy place. In the Qutub Shahi tombs one can get to know the ancient customs that were followed before the burial of a royal member. In the Raymond tomb, you can see the resting place built in the memory of a heroic European general. In St. Joseph's Cathedral you can hear the rhythmical bells, which are perfectly attuned to the serene atmosphere of the church.
The culture of Hyderabad is a diverse one. Not only does it have an amalgamation of different cultures, Hyderabad boasts of a rich cultural heritage too. Being ruled by the Asaf Jahi dynasty, it came to be known as the "city of Nizams". As this dynasty crumpled, the Mughals took over and brought about sea change in the cultural outlook of the people. Today Hyderabad flourishes in its rich cultural history.
Hyderabad is a city that is also famous for its beautiful parks and gardens. It has many exciting gardens and parks to choose from for entertainment and recreation and of course relaxation! You can visit the Indira Park and feel refreshed in the cool breeze while enjoying boating in the Hussain Sagar Lake. Plan a trip to the Lumbini Park to view the strikingly charming musical fountains, which are played usually in the evenings. The Public Gardens is a beautiful sprawling green garden where one can relax peacefully and also visit those heritage buildings, which are a symbol of cultural and political heritage of Hyderabad. In Sanjeevaiah Park you can find some rare species of roses, which are strikingly beautiful and relaxing to the eyes.The parks are an ideal getaway from the bustling city life. One can relax and feel rejuvenated after spending some quiet moments in these serene parks. The parks provide the perfect setting for kids to play their hearts out. Not just that, adventure lovers can head straight out to the Nehru Zoological Park, which has Lion Park safari for the daredevil inside you! Catch the wild beasts in their natural habitats stretching lazily under the afternoon sun.Any tourist visiting Hyderabad must make it a point to visit these parks and gardens which are no less than a treat for your tired soul. So get set to be cradled in nature's lap among lush green environments and recharge your energy levels.
Hyderabad is also famous for its beautiful lakes. It boasts of some of the most beautiful lakes with boating facilities to amuse visitors. Some lakes even offer adventure sports like Para sailing, water scooter, etc. though they charge a nominal fee for it. The lakes are home for many beautiful migratory birds, which travel every year to the lakes and provide people with visual treat.Gandhipet Lake in Hyderabad is also called as Osman Sagar, which is spread over an area of 46 square kilometers. You can also enjoy the lush greenery that surrounds the Gandhipet Lake. In addition to the 33 statues of different celebrities, which can be seen near the Hussain Sagar Lake, the towering Buddha statue put up in the glistening water is a breathtaking sight. As you approach the Shamirpet Lake, you are greeted with the sight of flocks of deer quenching their thirst at the water hole.So in your trip to Hyderabad, make sure you visit the beautiful lakes and have a great time floating in the middle of the lake, of course in a boat!
Make sure that you visit the amusement parks of Hyderabad. These places of amusement at Hyderabad are sure to make you feel re-energized as well as make sure that you enjoy yourself to the core. Visit Hyderabad's first ever proper club as well as family hangout zone known as Treasure Island. TI, as it known popularly, has exclusive bamboo cottages for families who need a desperate break from their hectic lifestyle, extensive swimming pool and a rocking nightlife which will definitely make you wear you’re dancing boots and get set to rock and roll! Get ready to kick up your heels and enjoy the wild rides in ocean. No, not the real ocean! Ocean Park is an amusement park that offers all the thrills of being at the ocean, literally. Spread over an area of 20 acres, the Park is no less than an ocean. It also has a pool with waves emerging just like it would at an ocean. Apart from the various pools, it has some really heady rides to offer to set your adrenalin rushing!So get up and get going to the amusement parks of Hyderabad to add the missing zing to your life. A visit to the amusement parks in Hyderabad will surely be a memorable one not just for you but also the children.
The monuments of Hyderabad are an absolute delight to visit. Hyderabad has its own share of famous monuments that are a must visit on every tourists' itinerary. You will be amazed at the rich history of each monument and will find the information on these monuments very interesting. Not only are they historically significant, they are also outstanding examples of ancient architecture still withstanding the tests of time.The most famous of all the monuments at Hyderabad is the Charminar, which is located in the heart of the Hyderabad City. The Charminar has an exquisite architecture that is worth seeing.The Golconda fort is another monument that oozes volumes of splendor and grandeur. The sheer size of the fort walls will appall you and you will remain mesmerized by its opulence.The Qutub Shahi tombs in Hyderabad are yet another example of subtle yet elegant architecture. The Qutub Shahi Tombs are a perfect blend of Indian and Persian architectural forms, constructed in gray granite decorated with exquisite ornamentation.The Paigah tombs highlight the intricate artistic qualities of the artisans of that time. It is amazing the kind of work done on the marble, so delicately and so finely, it is hard to say whether it is marble unless you touch it for yourself.
Besides who hasn't heard of the smoothed, radiant, teardrop pearl of Hyderabad city? People from everywhere flock here to possess a few of the famous pearl jewellery. The city of Hyderabad has become almost inseparable with the mention of pearls. Hyderabad was a rich princely state. The imperial patronage ensured affluence of arts, crafts and cuisine. This prosperous lifestyle demanded and attracted many craftsmen from distant parts of the world, especially the Arabian Gulf where the rare original pearls are found in profusion. The royal families demanded that these pearls be brought to India in abundance. Hence, Hyderabad became the one-stop-destination for pearls. There is an entire street consisting of pearl shops named - Patther Gatti. Jewelers in the pearl markets of Hyderabad have combined pearls with the shimmer of gold, the rich rubies and the exquisite emeralds for centuries. It is indeed amazing to see traditional designs still going strong and surviving the tempests of time in the narrow alleys of the Old City today.Several styles of pearl jewellery have progressed along with the pearl trade. The 'Satlada' and 'Panchlada Haar' are respectively seven and five stringed necklaces and are very popular. They are often intermingled with emeralds, rubies and onyx beads set in nine-carat gold. Earrings set with uncut diamonds and pearls, are also very popular among the ladies of the city. The pearl markets of the city also offer infinite varieties of beautiful chokers, pendants and lockets.
Any journey is incomplete if you haven't tasted the local food while traveling. Eating out in Secunderabad is sure to be a pleasant experience. More than eating in a plush restaurant, you must try out the dishes that Secunderabad has to offer in those small roadside stalls.
The adventurous kinds can drive to the dhabas of Bowenpally. Eating out at the dhabas is highly recommended as it is not only tasty and freshly prepared, but is also easy on the pocket. The dhabas are roadside joints that offer absolutely yummy food, which is heavenly. Some of these dhabas have seating arrangements outside, under the cool blue sky, so you can enjoy the fresh air as well as your fresh food. You will not get to see those mechanical waiters with a smile that seems more like a reflex action. Sit comfortably amid simplicity at its best and be ready to see some genuinely nice people serving you and making sure that you are enjoying yourself. After a hearty meal, get set to enjoy and savor piping hot snacks and "chaat" items served at Emerald Chat Bhandar, on the corner of the Park Lane crossroad. To savor eating the spicy chaat items, you stand surrounding the cart off which it is sold out. The chaat items are usually eaten as snacks followed by hot tea or coffee to wash it down. It is said that if you have tea or coffee after a snack item, it sobers down the process of any damage done your digestion.Secunderabad also has modern hotels and restaurants that are definitely worth a visit. Two commendable watering holes are 'The Outswinger' at Hotel Basera and 'Spanish Fly' at Hotel Asrani, where you get a variety of drinks, cocktails and mocktails to suit your tastes. Alcohol is served in licensed bars attached to popular hotels.
While in Hyderabad, one must make it a point to try out the famous cuisine the city has to offer. Hyderabad boasts of a wide range of traditional vegetarian dishes, which are tempting to the core. They also have an assortment of typical non-vegetarian cuisines. Both the categories are rich in spice content and you need to be careful if you are not used to spicy and tangy food. Though spicy, it is extremely tasty and delicious and is definitely worth a try.The prominent mouthwatering vegetarian dishes of Hyderabad are the Dahi Vada, Mirch-ka-sabu and Bagaara Baingan. The Dahi Vada essentially contains spicy and creamy curd in which round pieces of ground lentils have been immersed after being fried. The mirch-ka-sabu is a delicious vegetarian dish of Hyderabad consisting of hot chilies, which are immersed in cream gravy. For all of you who have an active sweet tooth, pamper yourself with yummy sweet dishes like double-ka-meetha (bread pudding), Gajar-ka-halwa (carrot sweet dish) and Qubani-ka-meetha (apricot pudding). After relishing on the yummy Hyderabadi dishes one should have a sip of the Iranian chai or tea. This hot drink has a distinct flavor and you can easily find it in the street side cafes where you can just laze around and enjoy this famous Hyderabadi beverage.The cuisine of Hyderabad is highly influenced by the Mughals who ruled here. Hence, the cuisine also has some elements of the Mughlai cuisine. The most famous of all is the Biryani, which is an aromatic assortment of rice, meat and seasonal vegetables. There is also a wide range of Kebabs to choose from which include Chicken korma, Sheer korma, Sheekh Kebab, Shammi Kebab etc. These special vegetarian and non-vegetarian Hyderabadi dishes are best enjoyed in the traditional Shahi Dastarkhana or the Royal Dining Hall. It is a conventional dining place where the ancient royal families relaxed and relished on the Hyderabadi cuisine. It is a 'low chowki ' or wooden bed, on which cotton mattresses are spread. They are bordered with relaxing supports and soft cushions on the edges. All you have to do is make yourself comfortable and feel like a Nizam! No meal is complete without the traditional paan, which is betel leaf stuffed with a mixture of betel nuts and spices which is folded in the betel leaf and held together with a clove.Some of the ingredients of the traditional recipes are kept secret and are only known to the subsequent generations of the royal cooks. The royal cooks of the traditional Hyderabadi families are known, as 'Khansas' and are held in high esteem in these families.
In addition to the traditional Hyderabad food and dishes, there are many fast food joints offering fast food and Chinese delicacies. Some of the noted fast food joints in Hyderabad are Domino's, Pizza Hut, Pizza Corner, and McDonald's. Bedsides these food joints, many other restaurants and hotels also provide good quality fast food to satisfy your taste buds.

Secunderabad, like its twin city Hyderabad has a number of tourist attractions. The city is small yet has tourist places that are worth visiting. Secunderabad was named after Sikander Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Secunderabad had its own municipality and city government, until lately when it was merged with Hyderabad. In common vernacular however, Secunderabad is seldom used these days outside the twin cities. Hyderabad is normally used.

Secunderabad has interesting places to see. Some popular tourist attractions are given below:

Rashtrapati Nilayam is considered the equivalent of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This serves as the office of the President during his yearly stopover in South India. The building virtually transforms into a grand office when the President of India comes here every year. One can also see the Trimulgherry Fort, situated in the cantonment area. The fort was built in 1867. A deep trench surrounds it, which is about 3 miles in length. The fort once comprised of barracks, arsenals, stables, mews, mess houses, and military offices. It has now been transformed to a Military Hospital. Among the other noteworthy places a visit to the tranquil Trinity Church is must, which was once famous among the British regiments. The local church community now looks after the maintenance of the church. There is a gloomy Military Prison from Victorian times, thankfully no longer used as a confinement quarters. The prison looks eerily grim and used to be no less than a nightmare for the prisoners.
The contemporary face of Secunderabad is reflected by Pizza Corner on S.P.Road, Anand and Sangeet cinemas, Elahe's boutique, Minerva Shopping Complex, Foodworld on Prenderghast Road, Sangeet Sagar, the music shop, and the office of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The city is also flanked by multiplexes that are popular hangout joints among the current generation.
The contemporary world sees this city as a blend of unique cultures with a touch of modern lifestyle. In general, Hyderabadi people are regarded as very friendly and hospitable. As a matter of fact, generosity is the other name of the Hyderabadis. They take immense pleasure and pride in conversing in their local, characteristic and vibrant Hyderabadi language, which is a mix of Urdu, Hindi, and Telugu. The Hyderabadi Urdu is more like city's vernacular of Hindi language. It thrives in a world of its own. Like the Mumbai 'tapori' language, Hyderabadi lingo too has its own dissimilar resonance and flavor. It is more assorted as it has its own dialects in different parts of the city. If the actual Hyderabadi has a manifestation of Urdu language and is archetypal to the old city, the new city has a fair mix of English and Telugu to it. In Secunderabad Cantonment region, there is a typical Tamil touch to it, due to the proximity of Tamil Nadu to it. You will find a very surprising element in these people. They wear the latest branded stuff, flaunt attitude and drink gallons of beer in the most happening bar. But when it comes to culture, no one can beat them nor question their traditional beliefs. You will find the prettiest women wearing shorts and tank-tops one day and at a temple in a nice traditional saree the other day! So be prepared to contact the blend of tradition and modernity in the unique city of Hyderabad.