Hyderabad through snapshots

From Top:
1. Faluknuma Palace

2. Charminar

3. Qutb Shahi Tomb

4. Hussain sagar

5. Birla Mandir

Hyderabad episode 3

In the last episode I have told you about true Hyderabadi, while telling you about Bhagmathi. Sorry for the diversion.
Well Bhagmati was a danseuse and Mahummud Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th Qutb Shahi Ruler was mad in love with Bhagmathi.
But, today’s Hyderabad is named after Begum Hyder Mahal, queen of Mohammud Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th Qutb Shahi ruler, who founded the city of Hyderabad.
Umm, Bhagynagar named after Bhagmathi and Hyderabad named after Hyder Mahal. So you see, it is a bit complicated.
So let’s keep complications for the future and take you for some actual sight seeing. While in Hyderabad you need to do some shopping, isn’t it? You heard of Hyderabadi biryani, you have to taste that. One more hyderabadi delicacy is Iraani Haleem (normally available during Ramzan), you must taste that also. While shopping and eating why not look at history also?Today. I will take you to some exotic bazaars, gullies, and chourastas:
First let me take you to Charminar. You remember charminar, don’t? Charminar is synonymous to Hyderabad. Once you are in Hyderabad you just cannot leave the city without a visit to Charminar. Charminar was constructed by Sultan Mahammud Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the end of plague epidemic. Legends tell that he prayed for the end of plague in his city and took vow to build a mosque on the very place where he prayed. God answered his prayers and the epidemic came to an end, soon after. Keeping his vow, he ordered for the construction of the mosque which became popular as Charminar because of its four huge and towering minerets. Charminar and it’s surrounding areas are full of history. Any lane or bylane around Charminar associated with some history.
Chudi bazaar and Laad bazaar - One of the most famous items of Hyderabad is bangles made of lac and set with different kinds of stones. So to purchase bangles you have to go to Laad bazaar and Chudi bazaar.
Burqa bazaar – no surprise you will find varieties of burqas in this bazaar.
Pathar ghatti - Hyderabad is called the city of pearls, hence you need to go to Pathar ghatti to shop for pearls.
You want to purchase some artifacts of metal ware famous in hyderabad. Go to Murgi chowk. Don’t worry; if you want to purchase Murgi (chicken) those are also available here. You will find small workshops where metal artifacts are manufactured. You will find them in various shapes and sizes. The most popular items are replicas of Charminar.
While searching for your metal ware do you hear the sound of pounding? Well these are the sound of pounding of silver. Here they pound silver to make them fine sheets of silver to be used on sweets for wrapping and in Paan (betel). Locally called tabak.
You can purchase dress materials like Kurtas and Salwar Kammez with plenty of zari and mirror works on them.
We have done enough shopping for one day and feeling hungry. So we need refreshment. What will be better than a visit to Madina Hotel or Shadab Hotel and tasting some Rumali Roties, with Kebabs and some Hyderabadi Biriyani? All are in walking distance from Charminar.
So we have done some shopping and we have got some feelings of the lanes and by lanes of the historic old Hyderabad. Better I will take to a heritage walk in the next episode around charminar. We will take your to Azha-Khan-E-Zehra, Dar-Ul-Shifa, Itebar Chowk, Purani Haveli, Purani Haveli museum, Mir Alam Mandi, Diwan Deori, Char Kamaans, Sher-E-Batil Kaman, Zariwali Gali and Mecca Musjid.
I have again managed to keep Bhagmathi away from you for today. I want you to imagine about Bhagmathi, the beautiful Danseuse for whom our prince fell in love. Let the mystery of romance, dynastic conspiracy hang in the air to create some mystery.
In the next episode I have a choice of taking you on a heritage walk or the story of Bhagmathi. But I think I will do something else. The area around charminar is at its best during night time in the month of Ramzan, with the shoppers shopping till early morning. This is the month of Ramzan. I think one of these evenings I will go around and get some pictures for you, which will definitely add some spice and life to this boring narration.

Hyderabad (India) beckons you

Today I will tell you the story of Bhagmathi. Did someone ask, why Bhagmathi? Because without Bhagmathi you do not have any Hyderabad. Surprised? Well, Hyderabad was earlier called Bhagyanagar, and Bhagyanagar was named after Bhagmathi. Hence you see without Bhagmathi you cannot talk about Hyderabad.
Before I tell about Bhagmathi, I must tell you about Hyderabadis. When you come to Hyderabad you should behave like a Hyderabadi ( when in Rome you should be Roman).
Now how do you find out a true Hyderabadi. I am giving you some tips to identify a true Hyderabadi:
You have come to Hyderabad, on the road, searching for an address. You ask anyone on the road, the answer invariably will be ‘Seedhe chale Jao’, whether you ask direction for Moosapet or Moosarambagh or Mojamjahi Market.
You will find people on the road able to speak Hyderabdi Hindi, Hyderabadi Hinglish, Urdu etc. fluently, except Telugu.
Any street you take, there is at least one mobile kiosk that serves chinees delikecies such as vegitable soft noodles, Navrotten Kurma, chicken manchewrian or American chompsee.
You will come across tailor sporting the board, immediate delivery, in two days only.
Seating in a five star hotel you find people asking for mangoe pickle while having lavish continental banquet dinner with exotic Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Lebanese dishes.
You will find people ordering for tea just after having finest desert after a lavish dinner.
Within a square yard you will meet at least One Srinivas, one Raju, one Reddy, one Venkatesh and one Prasad.
You will find everyone having at least one cousin, friend, collegue or acquainteance in the US in software.
Every time somebody gives any good news, the first response he/she receives, ‘ Party kab hai?’
“Parson” the word you will find used extensively for any past act, whether it happened day before yesterday or long before. For example don’t get surprised to hear ‘ Birla Mandir? Oh to parson parson bana.’ Actual date of construction should be some where in seventies.
In a fixed price shop you hear, ‘Dene Ka bhav bolo’.
You have an appointment at 5 P.M. and at 5 P.M. you start thinking at your residence what dress to wear.
You end up buying Salwar Kameez, whether it is in theatre, workshop, food mela, consumer expo, designer jewelry show, science show or an automobile convention.
Your response to any sane advice. ‘Kya dimag kharab hain?’

Well, I have again taken you to a wrong path, digressed from Bhagmati. Quite natural, after all, I am a true Hyderabadi.

Roshni - bring light to the hearts of a few unfortunates

Here below, I am reproducing my October communication to the lion leaders of my Region.
Dear Lion Leaders,
I wish you and your family happy Dusserah.
We, Bengalees celebrate Sree Sree Durga Puja during Dusserah days. Like every year, we are celebrating the festival at Keys High Schools, Secunderabad from 10th to 12th October. It is an occasion for us to meet friends and for socializing. The religious ceremonies are mixed with cultural activities. I hope you have received my invitation. Please join us in the celebrations.
Now the administrative responsibilities for the month of October.
You have to submit your audited Balance sheet for the year 2004-05 before 31st October.
You have to publish your quarterly club bulletin. Please give the full information of your club activities in the Bulletin. Send a copy to the Dist. Governor.
Start your permanent projects immediately.
I thank you and compliment you for your involvement in making campaign ROSHNI – 50 (under which we are conducting eye check up camp and will distribute spectacles to the children of 50 Govt schools in and around Hyderabad) a great success. All the clubs of our region have taken up the program in right earnest
We have inaugurated the ROSHNI-50 program at Addagutta Govt.Upper Primary School on 1st October. District Governor Lion P. Suryanarayana, was the chief Guest. Lion S. Manohar Raju, multinational Co-ordinator for Sight First II, Lion B. R. Rao, convenor, World Sight Day celebration, were the guests of Honour. Lion Ramesh Kosuri, Cabinet Secretary, has graced the occasion. Most of the clubs were represented by their Presidents, Secretarys, Treasurers and other members. In their speeches all the dignitaries lauded our effort in celebrating Lions World Sight Day in such a befitting manner. Lions club of Secunderabad Millennium, under the dynamic leadership of Lion B. Muralidhar, organized the inauguration function. I thank all the fine members of LC Secunderabad Millennium and the PSTs for organizing the program. I also thank all the lion leaders of other clubs for their enthusiastic participation. It gives me immense happiness that we will be able to contribute in removing eyesight problems to so many poor students.
The idea of this program came to my mind from my experience of last year’s eye check up camp conducted at Cheryal village, some 120 kms from Hyderabad. Lion M. Ramanaia, President of LC Secunderabad Diamond conducted the eye check up camp for villagers there. Till today I cannot forget the smiles on the faces of the old villagers when we distributed spectacles to them. They were profuse in their show of gratitude to the extent of embarrassment for us.
I take this occasion to urge you to extend the ROSHNI program to a new activity.
Diwali is fast approaching. Diwali is the festival of lights. We, Bengalees celebrate Diwali by worshiping Goddess Kali, the destroyer of the evil. We are celebrating the Puja at Bowenpally Cantonment playground, at Hyderabad Kalibari, Sainikpuri. I extend my invitation to join us in the celebrations.
On Diwali Day, I have decided to spend a couple of hours along with my family with the inmates of old age home, distribute some sweets to them and fire some crackers with them. I invite all of you to join me. You also can make this a club level activity by spending an hour or two at old age home or orphanage with your club members. This small gesture will really bring light to the heart of the unfortunates. Let’s give ROSHNI a new meaning – bringing light to the hearts of inmates of old age homes and orphanages.
Wishing you and your family – Happy Diwali.
Lion Bikash Ch. Deb
Region Chairperson

All India Lions Meet

All India Lions Meet will be held on 5,6, and 7th of January, 2006 at Hyderabad. District 324C5 will be hosting the event.
This is going to be a great event. Hyderabad is famous for its hospitality. I felt it will be only befitting if we extend our hospitality in a unique war. From now on I will take you to a virtuallu journey to the city of Hyderabad. I invite you to join me. I shall come back often and definitely within every three days with a new story to a new place. Hence keep coming back to this blogg to find out about hyderabad. I am sure by the D day i.e. 5th January you will be fully prepared for the city of Hyderabad.
wlcome on board.
Bikash

Episode 1
Hyderabad (India) beckons you.
Hyderabad the city of Qutub Shahis, the city of the Nizams, the city of Koh-i-noor diamond, the city of Charminar, the city of folklore of Bhagmati, the city of Golkonda fort, the city of Salarjung Museum, the city of pearls, the city of Ramoji film city, the city of Hitek city………… the list is endless.
I am your guide to this beautiful city on the occasion of All India Lions Meet. From now on, till January 2006, I will take you to virtual trip to all corners of Hyderabad. We will make our journey through 400 years of history of Hyderabad, through the lanes and by lanes of Charminar, Ladbazar, koti, Husaaini Alam, commiserate, Kingsway. We will walk down memory lane, sometimes with real history, sometime with folklore.
From where should we start?

Let’s start with Golconda.
In telugu language Konda means hillock and Golla means shepherd. The story goes somethiong like this; a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. Hence Golkonda is a shepherd’s hill. The then Kakatiya rulers of Warangal constructed a mud fort around the hill. Nearly 200 years later in 1364 Bahmani rulers of Bidar took possession of the fort. In 1463, Sultan Mohammad Shah Bahmani dispatched Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Malik to the Hyderabad region to quell disturbances. Sultan Quli conquered Golconda. He strengthened and expanded it considerably and ruled from Golconda as the Subedar of Telangana. The early years of the 16th century brought the internal squabbles within the Bahmani Sultanate to the fore. Sultan Quli enjoyed virtual independence from Bahmani sultanate. In 1518, he declared formal independece from the Bahmani Sultanate and established the Golconda Sultanate under the title Sultan Quli Qutub Shah.
Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi Kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 Km. in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 10 km. outer wall enclosed the city. The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted 171 years until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurungzeb The fall of the fortess is a saga of bravery and treachery. Aurangzeb laid siege to Golconda in 1686. Golconda held fast under months of siege, and Aurangzeb had to retreat in frustration. Aurangzeb returned in 1687 and laid siege for 9 months camping in the Fateh Maidan (victory field). The fortress held on, but the gates were opened at night by a saboteur who was bribed by Aurangzeb. Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah, the seventh king of the dynasty, was taken prisoner. Thus ending the glorious chapter of Qutub Shahi dynasty.
Let’s get back from history and go to the present Golconda fort, which is in ruinous state. We are entering through the ‘Fateh Darwaza’(Victory gate – the gate through which Aurungzeb’s triumphant army marched in). Can you see them with studded spikes – they are to prevent elephants from battering them down.
Enter and encounter with the fantastic acoustical effects designed and constructed hendred of years back. Let me held up the details for your personal visit. Don’t forget to notice the engineering marvel of piped water supply for it’s residents in those day. Let me act villain again and keep the other details of the fort for your physical visit.
The fortress city of Golconda was famous for it’s diamond trade. The world famous diomnd koh-I-noor, the regent and the Hope are said to belong this fort.
A visit to Golconda is a must for a visitor to Hyderabad. Don’t forget to enjoy the light and sound show at Golconda fort, where you will get a more intimate taste of the history of the city of Hyderabad.
Let’s stop for today at Golconda. Do come back again to a guided tour to other places of this city. I will tell you the story of Bhagmati in the next episode.

All India Lions Meet

All India Lions Meet will be held on 5th. 6th and 7th of January,2006 at Hyderabad. Lions District 324C5 will be hosting the meet.
I welcome you all to this great event. We the lions of Hyderabad would like to extend the most memorable hospitality to all the delegates. I thought as part of our hospitality, I will start treating you with the details of Hyderabad from now only, so that you are fully prepared for the city of Hyderabad even before you land here.
I will try to update the blogg whenver I feel like, but definitely I shall be here evry three days of may be earlier also.
So do come back as soon as possible and wish you a happy journey to Hyderabad.