The city of the Nawabs as Hyderabad is most popularly known, has a charm that is quite unlike any other place in India. It is a place that is a perfect amalgamation of both the old era that is gone by and a new period, each mixed at exactly the right proportions.
For a person like me, who loves history and is fascinated by the times of kings and emperors, Hyderabad is a gem that never failed, even for a second, to mesmerize me with its aura. From the moment I stepped out of the railway station, it charmed me and made me fall in love with the place. The locals with their warm and friendly behaviour, the foods that are delicious and carry with it the authentic flavour of the place and the forts, monuments and museums dotting the city made me so happy that even the monsoon rains could not dampen my spirits.
In this blog, I will tell you about the places I have visited in Hyderabad during my one-week tour of the place.
Though it may look like that I covered only minimal places in my tour of the place, that is due to the reason that I enjoy minutely exploring every place which is time-consuming. Someone who does not want to devote too much time to one place can explore even more avenues than what is mentioned in the blog.
Birla Planetarium and Science Museum:
With monsoon rains pounding the city, I and my partner decided to visit the planetarium as it is an indoor place and can be explored without getting drenched. But the surprise that we got, in the form of a science museum which also houses a Dinosaurium is something we never expected.
We are awed by the huge Dinosaur which is approximately 160 million years old. The huge fossil of the Dinosaur, Kotasaurus, totally blew our minds with its magnificent build and grandeur. The dinosaur egg along with the other fossils of the era gone by is sure to spellbound anyone.
The Science Museum was thrilling with its cool stuff and experimental exhibits. We enjoyed exploring the place and stayed there till the time it was about to be closed.
Also, the view of Hyderabad from the hilltop of the Birla Planetarium and Science Museum complex was mesmerizing. It is a perfect place to take selfies and enjoy the scenic beauty of the clouds as they pass by.
Golconda Fort
No description can sum up the thrill I felt when I saw the Golconda Fort for the first time. Occupying a huge area with a gentle breeze blowing and the spectacular view of rain-washed Hyderabad in the background, it transported me to an era gone by.
Built by the Qutb Shahi rulers, it is one of the most important landmarks of Hyderabad and a must-visit place for every tourist. We took a guide who gave a thorough narration of the history of the place in great detail.
We were so impressed by the grandiosity of the Fort and by its brilliant structure that we trekked through the entire Fort twice and spent the whole morning exploring the place thoroughly.
Chow Mahalla Palace
As I already told you, I love to explore places having a historical connection. Chow Mahalla Place was the place of the Nizams of Hyderabad. The place houses the artefacts such as armoury used during the Nizams times, vintage cars, ceramics and other such things.
The Clock Tower of the Chow Mahalla is one of the prominent attractions of the place. The clock is ticking for the last 251 years. The mechanical clock is winded every week by a family of expert horologists.
Salar Jung Museum
One of the national museums of India, Salar Jung Museum is known for its exquisite collections. A treat for art lovers around the globe, it houses 43,000 art objects and 50,000 priceless manuscripts.
Though all the collections of this museum are mesmerizing in their own right, the Veiled Rebecca, the Double Statue of Mephistopheles and Margaretta and the Musical Clock that has an elaborate ritual to bang the gong every hour is truly amazing.
As far as I was concerned, I spent the whole day in the museum, right from the moment it opened till the moment it closed. The museum also has a food court inside its premises which serves amazing dishes, so you don’t have to leave the museum to eat as and when you feel hungry.
Nehru Zoological Park
Termed one of the largest zoos in India, Nehru Zoological Park has a wide range of animals, birds and reptiles. The zoo is spread over an area of 380 acres and has more than 140 different types of species.
The best feature of this zoo is that the animals are not kept in a closed enclosure but in an open space that resembles their zoological habitat. You can catch a glimpse of the majestic Asian and African Lion, the Indian Rhino, Bengal Tiger, Panther, Giraffe and many beautiful species of birds.
As the zoo is spread over a huge area, and if you are someone who can’t walk long distances, taking a Battery-operated vehicle is one of the best options. It has hop-on, and hop-off features so you can cut down the significant time to reach different enclosures.
I was quite excited when I heard the lions roaring. It made me feel like Jim Corbett who is exploring the beautiful jungles.