I won't say that I have traveled enough, but I have tried my level best to enjoy the elixir of life. It was privilege that I stayed in some of the best places in India and yes, Hyderabad- City of Nizams was one of the best memories I have. The city has given me everything, starting from family to beautiful memories as a traveler. The famous places definately grab your attention and I was no exception to that. Maybe I visited Charminar for the 7th time staying in the city. The beauty of the Minar standing tall braving the weather conditions making it an impeccable place to capture. Unfortunately, when I was visiting Charminar I wasn't well-equipped to capture the best of the photos there. With the passage of time, I was glad I visited more and more places surrounding the city of Nizams. If you are visiting Hyderabad for the first time, then Charminar is a must visit place. You could taste tea and some famous Osmania biscuits at the oldest cafe- Nimrah Cafe. I have known friends who are that crazy about these biscuits that they drive in from Bangalore just to grab boxes.
If you have time you can go around, the famous Laad Bazaar, which is famous for Bangles. Its a crowded market place shimmering in the glow of night with clings of colored bangles around. The bazaar can never be a disappointment for anyone. I, myself, have ended up purchasing dozens of bangles without any occasion. Shopping at Charminar can be tiresome, so it is advisable to visit in early hours of the day around 1100 hours.
Chowmahalla Palace is about magnificent palace situated in the Old City of Hyderabad, around few minutes drive from Charminar. It was a palace of Nizams in Hyderabad, which has been converted into museum open for public. The palace was awarded Asia Pacific Merit Award by UNESCO in 2010. The palace is divided into Southern and Northern Courtyard, housing the famous arms and ammunition of Nizam era. The palace also has a collection of vintage cars used by the Nizams. The palace is a nice heritage walk for photographers.
Golconda Fort was a capital of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty, situated 11kms from the city of Hyderabad. The fort falls under the Archaeological Survey of India. The fort is divided into different areas such as durbar halls, temples, mosque, stables and gardens. The fort is spread across 11 kms where you go climbing steps or even walking up the ramp to reach the top of the fort. There are cannons also in the fort adding a hint of historical era. From the top of the fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs are visible. It is believed that there is a secret underground tunnel which leads from the "Durbar Hall" and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The fort also contains the tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. These tombs have Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km, north of the outer wall of Golconda. It is also believed that there was a secret tunnel to Charminar. Every evening there is a laser show conducted depicting the war scenes of the Qutb Shahi Era. The laser show is a must watch if you have few hours to spare.
Qutb Shahi Tombs are located in the Ibrahim Bagh, close to the famous Golconda Fort. They contain the tombs and mosques built by the various kings of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are two storied. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remains. I would say, I was lucky enough to bid my goodbye to Hyderabad from this place. I have been love with the place for the serenity and mesmerizing architecture of ancient times. If you are visiting Qutb Shahi Tombs anytime soon, be prepared to hear a lot of construction noise. There are parts of the tomb complex which are under-construction.
I have spent good amount of time in Hyderabad and visited these places in bits and pieces to add one more place to my list of travel diaries. I hope you would love to visit Hyderabad as much as I did. My second home forever.
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