- Hyderabad first awarded itself a trophy after its victory against the deadly plague, almost 500 years ago. That medal, the Charminar, may as well still be considered a symbol of resilience and triumph - of a city that underwent an incredible metamorphosis into a vibrant urban marvel that's starting to define 'state-of-the-art' in many a field, but without ever being in conflict with its lineage.
Hyderabad is the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and is the 2nd largest and the 6th most populous city in India, with a population of over 6.2 million spread over an area of 940 square kilometres. Approximately 1,000 years ago, this region was ruled by the Kakatiyas. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty (the ruling family of the Golconda), previously a feudatory of the Bahmani sultanate that declared independence in 1512, founded the city on the banks of the Musi River in 1591, to relieve the water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golconda. This part of the city is now known as the Old City, home to the Charminar and the Mecca Masjid, and lies on the southern bank of the Musi.
The heart of the city has, of late, seen a shift to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Hussain Sagar lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the merging of Secunderabad, 12 municipal circles and the Cantonment, has resulted in a large and populous area, now called Greater Hyderabad.
Hyderabad has hot summers (temperatures have risen to about 43 degrees Celsius in recent years) from late February to early June, the monsoons from late June to early October, and a pleasant winter from late October to early February.
Hyderabad, in 2009, is as savvy about slicking its hair, spritzing on the deo, fastening its tie and picking up the laptop, as it is about tucking into its authentic biryani made from a recipe that hasn't changed in centuries. And a visitor never has to be forced to turn Hyderabadi at least for a day – it's tempting enough to watch the city do its thing.
More than a decade after the first IT installation, at Cyber Towers in Madhapur, Hyderabad has the sheen of a well-maintained limousine. Laced with pearls, of course.
A fast-paced work culture, coupled with an increase in disposable incomes, has led to quite a few revolutions – in the fields of retail, food, real estate, transportation and luxury. Hyderabad shared the spoils of India's overall retail boom, and department stores like Shoppers' Stop and Pantaloon Retail were suddenly not so stratospheric in reach. Families increasingly found comfort in shopping carts and the air-conditioned aisles of apparel stores as well as supermarkets, and the promise of evolving shopping tastes led to a bloom in malls, designer stores, and several specialized retail chains. The local grocer, however, has retained his charm and accessibility – keeping in tune with our proverbial pearl lacings.
The arts and entertainment scene has metamorphosed from the quaint world of ghazals, to a commendably inclusive universe of Indian classical music, dance and theatre, jazz and blues, rock concerts, salsa classes, a dozen art exhibitions at any point of time, and much appetite for the new. This, apart from India's favourite form of entertainment – films – that audiences throng to at multiplexes as well as single screen cinemas.
Hyderabad also has a bustling nightlife, as well as a limitless array of dining options. The choices range from traditional south-Indian platters and snacks, to spice-laden aromatic Deccan cuisine, and from Oriental Hakka noodles, to Middle-Eastern shawarmas, to European fine dining. There are also the KFCs, the McDonalds and the Subways. It's getting harder and harder for visitors to have a tough time feeling at home here. But then, for everyone who's a-visiting, Paradise (the biryani place) is pretty much a fixed bullet point on the itinerary.
And no vacuous affluence this – the city's top storey is bursting at the seams. Hyderabad has known to churn out quality education, even before the Indian School Of Business (ISB) set up camp in a sprawling campus, followed by the Birla Institute Of Technology & Sciences (BITS). The International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT-H) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) are big names, and so are the places that grew up with the city – Nizam's, RBVRR, and the Osmania University.
The classrooms get panoramic at times. The HICC (Hyderabad International Convention Centre) and the convention centre at The Marriott host conferences that several inaccessible brains from around the world fly down to enjoy – doctors, mathematicians, geo-scientists, management honchos and techies, to name a few.
Then, the old world charm is reflected in the city's iconic tourist spots – the Charminar, the Qutb Shai Tombs, the Golconda Fort, Mecca Masjid, the Salar Jung Museum, the Chowmahalla Palace, and the Art College at Osmania University. There's also the Birla Mandir, the Hussain Sagar lake, the Public Gardens, the Legislative Assembly, and the year-long arts and crafts fair – Shilparamam.
If you're looking for a place to stay, there's no dearth of hospitality. From budget hotels that let you spend between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000 a night, to semi-luxury hotels in thriving business districts, to world-class hotels that let you experience nothing short of royalty, Hyderabad has several options.
There's much, much more, and you'll do best when you explore it at your own pace. Like anyone in town will tell you, you're never too late for anything here.
Article courtesy: fullhyd.com
- Prof J Prabhakara Rao Co-ordinator
Centre for Study of Foreign Languages
School of Humanities
University of Hyderabad
Hyderabad, 500046, INDIA
+91-40.23133650
pjandhyala1@gmail.com
