Sunday, October 30, 2005
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.
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. I think I will go around one of these evenings and get some pictures for you, which will definitely add some spice and life to this boring narration.
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