In the nooks and corners of Hyderabad, there are a plethora of interesting places and things that stay hidden behind the city’s iconic monuments such as the Charminar, Mecca Masjid and Golkonda Fort. A cursory glance at Hyderabad’s tourist map won’t reveal these places. However, if you are willing to go the extra mile and dig slightly deeper, you will find these unique historical, modern and natural places scattered across the City of Pearls.
1. Paigah Tombs. An architectural gem in the most unassuming of settings
Near the Santosh Nagar flyover in Old City, you need to look for an unassuming lane with a board indicating that the Paigah Tombs are not far away. Once you follow that board, you will land up in a sinewy alley. Unremarkable, congested and narrow, the alley will give absolutely no indication to what you would be witnessing till you pass through an old archway with an almost invisible ASI plaque on it. The moment you pass through that though, all of a sudden you will be transported to a different world. The sprawling compound is full of relaxed charms, unhurried pace, a beautiful, well kept garden and the exquisite Paigah tombs that blend stucco and other architectural styles from Mughal, Persian, and Deccan heritages within its stone walls and endless arched passages that open into beautiful greenery.
An extra plus is that you will almost always have the place exclusively to yourself; especially if you can make it there by around 10.30 in the morning.
In a nutshell, the Paigah Tombs is a hidden gem. However, it might not remain so for very long as people have started to explore it. So smart tip is that if you are the off-beat traveler type and looking for something beyond the city’s iconic monuments, do make a plan for this place. In all likelihood, you will leave with a feeling of peace and quietude.
2. The Silver Ghost and other remarkable things residing at a corner of the Chowmahalla palace.
Barely 2 kilometers from Charminar, the Chowmahalla Palace is an architectural marvel that has started to gain some well deserved fame off late. However, even then the Silver Ghost that resides in its backyard, often manages to stay away from the tourist attention. The Silver Ghost and its army of allies that is.
It happened back in the early 20th century when the Silver Ghost rolled out from the Rolce Royce factory line. Over the years, others came in - the Napiers, APY taxis, old bikes and more. However, the Silver Ghost stills lords over all of them. A testimony to that is the fact that the ghost has now come out of the backyard and can accompany you anywhere, if you so wish!
One "vintage" experience for sure!
3. The strange book street of Koti-Abids. Rs 10 for a rare Lonely Planet back volume and more.
Imagine buying a rare back issue of a Lonely Planet travel guide for just 20 rupees. Or a collection of Shidney Sheldon’s novel for 50 rupees. Or some slightly used computer engineering study material books for about the same price.
Take a leisurely stroll in the busy streets of Koti and Abids in Hyderabad some weekend and land up in a unique place full of old world charms. Walk in footpaths around the markets full of book-sellers, bargain and buy books that you will never find online. smell of old books, find totally unexpected literary gems. If you have enough time, venture a little further, into the subways and underground passages that teem with more books.
The whole experience goes well beyond just buying books. It kind of doubles up as a local market place stroll where you get a slice of a bygone era. Once done buying, have a sit-in at the famous Gokul Chaat for some mouth watering snacks while skimming through the books you have just purchased.
4. The Transformers. Musicians from old bike parts and more.
If you land up in the Hitec part of the city you might be told that except some excellent dine-in and drive-in places, there is not much else to see here. However, right in the middle of the Hitec City there is something that somehow stays hidden in plain sight and certainly deserves a shout out.
Sitting right in the heart of the Hitec City is Shilparamam, a place well known for its handicraft market, its night bazaar as well as its auditorium that hosts high-end cultural events. However, at the backyard of this sprawling space, there sits a sculpture park that is quite surreal. Musicians, shape shifting terminators, an army of tinmen and many more! Weird and often downright quirky, this sculpture park hosts an astounding set of art installations that caters to the tastes of the casual onlooker as well as the connoisseur.
What's more, all of these are made from defunct and derelict metal and scrap from rusty and discarded machinery such as an old bike engine, discarded chimneys, abandoned iron planks and the like.
Long story short, it is absolutely recommendable that you do the shopping at Shilparamam, but then, spare about an hour or so before sunset to visit this sculpture park.
Here is a quick look at some of these impressive pieces of art.
5. Ameenpur Lake. India’s first bio-diversity heritage lake and a birder's paradise
When the Nizams came to Hyderabad they found an arid land and had to make it more habitable. So among other things, they created a number of lakes, bowlis and other water-bodies. These lakes thrived and became their kingdom's lifeline for many years.
One of the surviving lakes from that era is the Ameenpur lake.
It was constructed about 300 years ago by Abdul Qadir Amin Khan, a courtier from Pathancheru during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah (1550–1580 AD). Initially covering an area of some 300 acres, the lake's original purpose was to irrigate a garden (you read that right!). Cut to the present, nothing remains of that garden, but the lake does, albeit in a much shrunken state, with all of just 93 acres remaining.
For years, the challenge for the people in the area was to stave off encroachment in the lake’s catchment area. However, in recent times, the lake has got a new lease of life, thanks to its winter guests who wing their way from thousands of miles afar.
The flamingos came and they bought the necessary spotlight to the place. This in turn helped in the arrival of many other birds species such as egrets, herons, kingfishers and more.
One thing led to another and by 2016 it was reported that the lake was home to 8 species of mammals, as well as many birds, fishes and floral species. Consequently, the lake got the status of a biodiversity heritage lake, a first of its kind for a water-body in India.
If you are in the city’s software corridor, it will be at most an hour’s drive from any point on any weekend. The ideal time to go here will be any winter morning. You might just like the lake and its rocky outcrops. However, if you are an avid bird-watcher, you could be in for some special treat.
Some glimpses.
In a nutshell, like most Indian cities, Hyderabad too has many hidden gems that are just waiting to be explored.
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