There is more to Hyderabad than Charminar. Review on Hyderabad

I must confess...I have been a Delhite all my life and when I got trandferred to Hyderabad I was a bit sceptical...But two years which I spent in Hyderabad made me forget all the years I spent in Delhi...The place is amazing...people superb...food as good as it can get...and lots of places to visit...When I retire this would be one place I would want to be...Let me take you on a guided tour in terms of what you can do

The city

There are two cities and often they are called twin cities...Hyderabad and Secundrabad...They are just 10km apart...Secundarabad is the more cosmmopolitan avtaar of Hyderabad with large number of defence people residing there...The traffic in Hyderabad is totally unregulated with all sorts of two wheelers and four wheelers disregarding traffic rules...But you never see people fighting(as in Delhi)...Hydearabad is a perfect blend of the old and the modern with people having an easy going lifestyle...People are nice and helpful and you can roam in the night without any problems...One thing which confused me in Hyderabad was the maze of roads...I invariably lost myself...but since the place is small you eventually find your way back...You wont get lost no matter how hard you try

Shopping

There are loads of things you can buy in Hyderabad...Pearls...The best place to buy is Mangatrai...Bit expensive than others but genuine...You can bargain also if buying too much

Wood carvings...You get exquisite wood carvings done by hand at throwaway prices...Place to go is Shilparaman or Shilpagram(I cant recollect)...It is just on the out skirts...No matter how many carvings you have you just cant have enough...One wood panel six feet long which I bought there was selling for four times in Delhi

Biscuits...yes you read it right...one shop is famous for biscuits and cookies...The shop is Karachi Bakery on way to Charminar...Every time I came to Delhi I brought back the maximum the airlines would allow

Period furniture...You can get authentic replicas and even old furniture restored in Hyderabad at bargain prices...One shop is Guptaji at junction of Road No 1 and Road No 12...Just ahead of Pizza Hut...There is also a gentleman on Road No 3 who restores and sells...

For shopping go to Lifestyle...great place and good range of clothes...with superb ambience

Food

This place is a foodies delight...Mind you typical Andhra food is hot...I am quite fond of spicy food but this place people eat fire...There are red chillies which they get from Guntur...sprinkle it on rice...very librelly off course and have it...Try it at your own risk

The place is famous for biryanis...one name you will hear is Paradise...But this place is no longer what it used to be..Try other joints in and around Charminar....There is a small little reastaurant on Road No 3...Southern Spice...Good Andhra food you get....You may have to wait for an 30 minutes to get a seat...In chinese there is Mainland China on Road No 1...During Ramzan you have shops which are open all night serving Haleem(a dish of mince meat and wheat)...My friends tell me it is superb...In sweets have Khubani Ka Meetha...Much too sweet for my taste but some people just love it...

There is also another place for good Marwari food...Dhola ri Dhani...yes a north indian joint in Hyderabad...It is good...This guy also sells artefacts which are a bargain...negotiate with him hard and you will get stuff at amazing prices...Our house is full of stuff bought from this guy

Other places of interests

You can visit the Zoo...probably the best in the country...SalarJung Museum....Charminar....Ramoji Film City...The Golconda Fort....Nagarjuna Dam....Check this place out whenever you can