Ellora Caves & Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad

Posted by Shashank Shekhar on April 19, 2013

The Splendid Kailashnatha Temple at Ellora Caves

A passing glance at the magnificent Kailashnatha Temple inside the Ellora Caves is enough to leave you jaw-dropped for a good 5-10 minutes. This 8^th century splendid structure, entirely carved in stone, was designed as a replica of Mount Kailash – Lord Shiva’s abode. The Kailashnatha Temple is cave number 16 among the 34 caves of Ellora.

Aurangabad is an overnight bus journey from Mumbai or Pune and is a tourist hub primarily due to its proximity to the Ajanta and Ellora Caves and its very own marvel – Bibi Ka Maqbara also called the ‘mini’ Taj Mahal. The Ellora Caves are located about 28 kms from the city and Ajanta caves fall at a distance of 102 kms or a three hour drive. Thus, the day tours are divided into two days wherein you can visit Ellora and the rest of Aurangabad’s tourist attractions on day one while the second day is earmarked exclusively for visiting Ajanta.

And the easiest way to experience the caves of Ellora along with Aurangabad’s other attractions – Bibi Ka Maqbara, Daulatabad Fort and Panchakki – is to hop onto the Maharashtra Tourism Department Corporations’ (MTDC) bus service that conducts daily day trips to these places for Rs. 300/head. However, do not rely on this service in non-peak season as the buses are cancelled often and without any prior notice.

I started my day tour at 7:30 am from the Man Mandir hotel at Aurangabad. Generally, any hotel’s staff at Aurangabad will be more than glad to book your tickets for the day tour as I experienced at Man Mandir.

Ellora Caves

My first stop was the Ellora Caves which is a 45 minute drive from the city. Apart for the grandKailashnath Temple, there are 33 rock-cut caves in all at Ellora; some breathtaking and some that could be bypassed. Of the 34, 12 are Buddhist caves with 17 Hindu and 5 Jain caves.

While it is a possibility that you may be short on time and will find it difficult to visit all the caves, I’d recommend that you must visit the caves 10, 11, 12, 15, 29, 31, 32 and 33. The Buddhist caves are rich in paintings and iconography. Cave 10 that represents a Buddhist Chaityagriha (prayer hall) especially stands out to the visitor for its distinct ceiling and the positioning of the Buddha’s statue a little farther away from the centre.

Most of the caves are rich in ancient carvings, scriptures and iconography. The Kailashnath or Kailasa temple (cave 16) is the largest monolithic structure in the world and was carved out by cutting three deep trenches of the hill (see picture). Protruding from the walls are exquisite sculptures of Shiva and other gods in different avatars while the main foundation for the temple (the plinth) commands its own presence with beautiful carvings of elephants all around it.

These caves were built between the 6^th and 10^th century AD and building the Kailasa temple itself consumed over 150 years and 7,000 labourers in all! The caves of Ellora come across as nothing less than an ancient wonder and I ended up spending about 5 hours simply hopping between caves! The rich sculptures and architectural style speaks volumes of refinement of our ancient society. This is a must visit, period.

A different view of the Kailasa Temple

Inside the Kailasa Temple

Exquisite sculptures carved out of the walls at Ellora

The Chaityagriha, Cave No. 10

The Daulatabad Fort

The caves did exhaust me a bit as my next stop was the strategically placed Daulatabad Fort which is located right on top of the Daulatabad hill at a height of 600 feet and is a 45 minutes climb from the main parking area.

But the fort impresses you immediately upon entrance with its high thick walls and a display of cannons in an aptly titled enclosure called, ‘topkhana’. The topkhana leads into the climb to the top where the ruins of the Nizam Shahi palace are located.

The Daulatabad Fort had been a seat of power for over a thousand years and has seen numerous dynasties come and go. As one walks past the ruins, the realisation creeps in that once these walls that stand so lonely today must have been witness to innumerable battles, blood must have been spattered endlessly and sultanates must have been destroyed.

The Chand Minar is the single most recognised structure of this fort which was once a stronghold of theYadav dynasty in the 12^th century AD but later passed on into the hands of the Turko-Afghan ruler, Ala-ud-din Khilji. Daulatabad, which was once a thriving city known as Deogiri, has also been the capital of Mohhannad-bin-Tughlaq in the mid 14^th century AD.

The part I enjoyed the most was the dark passages that lead to the citadel. Built to confuse the invaders, the passages have many devious routes through which they’ll eventually be trapped or better still, killed either by falling off the cliff or into hot oil! These passages are collectively called ‘Andheri’.

The summit offers a splendid view of the surroundings and then you realise its strategic importance. Although I visited the fort just at the beginning of the summer season, something tells me that the adventure will be twice as much the fun during the monsoon season.

The Chand Minar

The Daulatabad Fort

A cannon at display at the Topkhana

Bibi ka Maqbara

After sweating it out at the Daulatabad fort it was time to head back to the city. It was a 30 minutes drive from the Daulatabad Fort and I found myself standing in front of the most recognised monument of Aurangabad. As in what the Gateway of India is to Mumbai or the Red Fort to Delhi, the Bibi ka Maqbaraor the ‘Mini Taj Mahal’ is to Aurangabad.

This immensely beautiful reproduction of the Taj was commissioned by the austere Mughal rulerAurangzeb but built by his son Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum in the late 17^th century. As I entered the venue, I hired for guide (he appeared more like a tout) for 50 bucks who promised me a ‘value-for-money’ crash course on the structure!

He made me stand next to the monument’s main gate and in 2 minutes flat rattled over 1000 words! Only if he knew who Baba Sehgal was!! Still whatever I could make out from his monologue was this: That the mosque was built as a symbol of love not by the father (Aurangzeb) but by Dilras Banu Begum’s son. That the plaster of Paris required for the mosque was made by grinding sea shells. He also muttered some figures relating to the cost of building this monuments which was considerably cheaper that the Taj Mahal. Vroom…50 bucks gone!  

But, in reality, the mausoleum is a sight to behold. It may not be bathed in the whitest marble but the complex carvings and the overall feel of the structure is enough to justify its moniker, Dakkhani Taj or Taj of the Deccan.

Bibi ka Maqbara, Aurangabad

The maqbara of Dilras Banu Begum

Inside the mausoleum

http://blog.travelyaari.com/aurangabad/aurangabad-ellora-caves-mini-taj-mahal/

Package Starting from Rs. 9000 for 8nights/9days

Includes:

• Train Ticket in 3tier AC
• Mumbai (3N) Aurangabad (3N) drop at Mumbai - Hotel Accommodation on quad sharing
• Meal: Breakfast + Dinner(except while in train)
• Sightseeing & Pick up drop by Non A/C Bus 
• Toll parking includes in rates

Excludes:

* Any other charges which is not mention in rates

Itinerary:

Day1: Travel from Kerala by Train

Day2: Pick up from LTT Local Half day tour of Mumbai Night stay at  Mumbai

Day3: After B/f Proceed for Local Sightseeing of Mumbai Night Stay (Elephanta)

Day4: After b/f Visit to Water Kingdom/ Essel World Night stay at Mumbai

Day5: After B/f Proceed for Aurangabad Local Sightseeing Night stay at Hotel 

Day6: After B/f Proceed for Ajanta Ellora sightseeing night stay at hotel

Day7: After B/f Proeed for Grishneshwar / Bhimashankar Night stay at Aurangabad

Day8: After B/f Check out from Hotel Drop at Mumbai Station 

Day9: Arrive back in Kerala

A Doorway to Paradise, at Munnar

18 Dec 2012

Gayathri

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There is a doorway to heaven, and I can tell you how it looks like. Heavenly swirls of clouds passing beneath you, amidst the greens and vast mountains. Also, luscious reds and purples, beautiful flowers with shades of yellow and pink. Feel the breeze embrace you when leaves from the pines and oaks dance to the tunes of the wind. Munnar it is! Pure bliss.

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

A hill station located in Idukki District of Kerala, Munnar is the centre for merging of three rivers, and hence the name ‘Munnar’. This time, you would know why the tag ‘God’s own country’ to Kerala means much more than just another cliché. With the beauty of Western Ghats encompassed, and charm of a hill station captured at its best, Munnar is a treat to a worn out soul. It refreshes, rejuvenates and relaxes every visitor.

The nearest railway station is at Ernakulam or Aluva, with a 3 hour journey on road to Munnar. Finding a place to stay in Munanr wouldn’t be difficult as it is one of the most sought after hill stations in the country. That means, you can easily choose a place to stay with your budget. Hiring a taxi to take a round in the town is best suggested. Also, you can opt to rent a cycle and go around places. Once a retreat to the British Empire, you can still see the remains of British era in the form of archaic buildings and tombs made for the English.

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

If you are lucky enough, you can see the ‘Neelakurinji’ in full bloom. This is a flower that blooms once in 12 years. The carpet of purple flowers spread across the hills would take your breath away. A rare sight and a treat to your eyes, this is the time when tourists flood the region. Just so that they can see this inimitable beauty on the hills!

Credits: Jayesh Mohan

Munnar is a wildlife paradise. From rare species of insects to animals, make sure you take a camera to capture this classic beauty. A walk around the place is something you wouldn’t want to miss when you are at Munnar. Nature at her best, and in sync with all universal beauty, that is Munnar for you!

Courtesy:- See more at: http://padhaaro.com/blog/doorway-paradise-munnar/#sthash.mPdBTwo9.dpuf

About the Author

A lifestyle journalist working with an online magazine in Kochi, Gayathri is passionate about experimenting with the uniqueness and beauty of literature. She believes traveling makes a person hold a grab of the charm in entirety offered by this lovely world. And that traveling is when you get to know your own self in-depth. 
- See more at: 
http://padhaaro.com/blog/doorway-paradise-munnar/#sthash.mPdBTwo9.dpuf

Hogenakkal Falls - The Cascading Beauty

The beautiful Hogenakkal Falls in the state of Tamil Nadu are a part of the River Cauvery.  A perfect picnic spot, the falls are known for its curative and healing powers.   Ranging in height from 50 feet to 150 feet, Hogenakkal Falls are sometimes referred to as the “Niagara Falls of India” given the similar U-shaped configuration that they both share.  The word "Hogenakal" is derived from two Kannada words which together mean ("smoking rocks")...a reflection of the spray that is created by the waters crashing on to the solid rock base below. In Tamil Nadu, Hogenakkal Falls is referred to a "Marikottayam" .

 The roaring and the gushing Hogenakkal Falls are spread over half a km and in the second section the river flows calmly down through a narrow and steep gorge. The carbonate rocks around the innumerable falls are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and also the oldest in the world.  At Hogenakkal, the Cauvery River slows down and spreads out to create sandy beaches of either side making for excellent picnic spots.

Set in a lush green setting, Hogenakkal Fall are also considered sacred bathing grounds place and a healthy / curative resort cum destination.

Things to Do in Hogenakkal Falls:

•  Close to the Falls is View Point tower from where entire topography of the area and the gushing waterfalls can be best viewed. 

• Boating in Hogenakkal Falls: Coracles are circular boats called as Parisal in the local language. The boatman can take you close to the falls where ou are completely drenched with spray and mist. The boatman often tends to swirl the boat, a dizzying but exhilarating experience. 

• Another famous feature of the Hogenakkal Falls are the Malishkarans or masseurs, who treat tourists to oil massages, followed by a bath in the curative powers of the waterfall. On wide slabs of rocks the malishkarans treat customers with oil massages to the 14 points of the human body followed by a bath in the curative waters of the falls.  

• Picnics on the beaches below Hogenakkal Falls with fresh fish caught from the river cooked up for you.

While technically a destination in Tamil Nadu, Hogenakkal Falls shares borders with Karnataka. It is possible to experience the falls, and take boat / coracle rides, from both sides.

How to Reach Hogenakkal

By Air: Nearest airport is Bangalore, 150 km away By Rail: Nearest railhead is Bangalore, 150 km away By Road: Several taxis and buses ply from Bangalore to Hogenakkal. It is a two and a half hour drive to the falls.

About Hogenakkal: Hogenakkal Information & Fact File

Altitude 250 meters Temp Summer 34 (Max) & 23(Min) Degrees Celsius Winter 27 (Max) & 13 (Min) Degrees Celsius Best time to Go October – March Monsoon June - September Summer April - June Winter December - February Clothes Cottons all year round Nearest Airport Bangalore, 150 km Nearest Railway Station Bangalore, 150km Bus Station Hogenakkal (Direct buses from Bangalore) Hospital & Doctor Hospitals equipped to handle emergencies are located in Bangalore (150 km) Places to see Hogenakkal Waterfalls, Pennagaram village, Theerthmalai…

For Hogenakkal Packages, please contact greenoasisholidays@gmail.com

Ooty Honeymoon Destination

Situated in the Nilgiri district, Ooty is definitely touted as one of the most beautiful honeymoon destinations in the Southern region of India and hence, witnesses a large influx of global travelers and tourists all year round. Most newly-weds opt for Honeymoon tours in Ooty owing to its popularity for being one of the most visited and scenic honeymoon destinations in India.

Very well said by pandit jawaharlal nahru OOTY "Queen of hill stations",but its original name is origin of the name Ootacamund "mund" means Badaga which refers to the toda village and the Ootaca means "Otha-Cal" means Single Stone.Probably British could not pronounce it well so it became Ootacamund from Udhagamandalam it further changed into Ooty from Ootacamund.The change of the name of ooty could also be because 
Britisher were not able to pronounce Ootacamund and further it came up as ooty.
initially it was a tribal land and was dwelling with the Todas, who now known for raising water buffalo.Further, Mr John Sullivan the Governor of Coimbatore took ooty under his rule.He boosted the dwellers for growing tea, chinchona, and teak trees. Tribes cooperated the governor and together they came up with the flying colors.

Its longitude is 11.4 and its latitude is 76.7, it is situated 2,240 meters above sea level.Its premises comes under Tamilnadu. Basically ooty is situated on the lap of nilgiris which means blue mountains.

Ooty is aptly known as the 'Paradise for Honeymooners' and is no doubt one of the most naturally blessed quaint hill stations in South India. Ooty Honeymoon tours are extremely popular in India especially for city dwellers looking for the best and the most affordable honeymoon tours in India.

Ooty is a paradise for couples set away from the usual crowd where newlyweds can enjoy quality time and complete privacy together. The enchanting beauty of Ooty can only add to the honeymooner's delight cradled within the lap of nature offering them with that much wanted break.

A honeymoon trip to Ooty will ensure all the joys of being together in boat rides or enjoying a slow and long romantic stroll through the eucalyptus laden tracks and undulating trails off the beaten path transforming your stay in Ooty into one of the best romantic experience.

Ooty will ensure that you take back home some of the most unforgettable memories as couples. Ooty beckons couples to spend many more honeymoon vacations here and re-tune with the abundant beauty that Ooty has to offer.

Ooty also witnesses an influx of new couples every year especially after the wedding season. While a few couples visit Ooty during the summers, a few enjoy visiting Ooty during winters to enable them to enjoy solitary moments together that adds to the romantic experience of their visit.

Ooty offer couples with a wonderful retreat with the added combination of a pleasant climate and scenic charm transforming this region into one of the best honeymoon destinations in India. Ooty is sure to captivate Honeymoon couples with its abundant natural treasures seen in forests, stunning peaks and viewpoints, fresh water streams, rugged gorges, verdant valleys and green meadows.

Honeymoon in Ooty is also apt for adventurous couples seeking a destination for numerous trekking grounds. It gives couple an opportunity to re-discover themselves and also learn about the traditions and customs of the ethnic local tribes who have been a part of Ooty for centuries.

The options for sightseeing in Ooty for honeymoon couples are aplenty and diverse that matches well with some of the best accommodation options in Ooty to choose from. Being an extremely popular honeymoon destination, Ooty features some of the best Hotels to stay in and apt for every budget equipped with beautifully furnished guest rooms and all the modern amenities and world class services and facilities that will spoil you for choices. Irrespective of the Hotel options ranging from Heritage Hotels to Luxury Hotels, 5 Star Hotels, 4 Star Hotels, 3 Star Hotels and Budget Hotels in Ooty, couples will be promised with all the comforts for an unbelievable and memorable honeymoon vacation experience.

The prime idea for a Honeymoon in Ooty is to revel in its exquisite & natural verdant surroundings and to enjoy every moment and time that you get to spend with your partner.

Honeymoon in Ooty is a definite experience to explore where you get to enjoy its pleasant climate and some of the most unique and panoramic views to look forward to. Ooty offers one of the most unforgettable experiences for couples looking for a range of activities from leisure travel to adventure expeditions.

Couples are sure to enjoy their honeymoon in Ooty with all the splendid tourist attractions that Ooty has to offer. They can enjoy a tour and excursion to the nearby places of the region.

Ooty is a place where visitors and couples get to experience the true and warm hospitality of the people of Ooty, who are always open to welcome you to their abode all year round, irrespective of whether you are visiting Ooty for a honeymoon vacation, family vacation, weekend getaway or adventure tours.

The main tourist attraction in this District is the Botanical Garden. Besides the Botanical Garden there are several other places. The important among them are the Boat house near Bus-stand, the Rose Garden, the Deer Park, and the Doddabetta peak in Udhagamandalam. Sim’s park,Pasture Institute, Kateri falls, Lamb’s rock and Dolphin’s nose are the Important Tourist sports in Coonoor. In Kotagiri block Kodanadu view point and St. Catherine’s falls are the two main tourist attractions. In Gudalur block the main tourist attraction in Mudumalai wild Life Sanctuary.

For Tour Packages to Ooty, you may feel free to contact greenoasisholidays@gmail.com

Gavi -A Perfect Holiday Place

Gavi

Spread across the beauty of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Gavi is a quiet, beautiful and pristine forest haven. It is at the eastern extreme of the Pathanamthitta District at 3400 ft above MSL. These evergreen forests are abundant with magnificent Wildlife including the tiger, elephants, leopards,bears, Indian gaur, sambar, barking & Mouse deers, lion tailed macaque, other varieties ofmonkeys, Nilgiri Marten and a lot more.For the nature explorers Gavi offers the complete acquaintance with the flora around including Nageia Wallichinia (Podocarpus Wallichinia), a highly endemic species of the Gymnosperm family seen only around Gavi in the whole Western Ghats !If you are a birder, the forests around Gavi are home to over 320 species of birds –the great Indian hornbills, sunbirds, woodpeckers, kingfishers and myriads of mynas, dongos, cuckoos and bulbuls-truly any birder’s dream!The sheer beauty of this place is indeed worth a closer look ! Here is nature at its unadulterated best. Gavi often serves as a base camp for deep jungle trekkers, birdwatchers, nature lovers, research students and the like.

Gavi is a heaven for birdwatchers. Active involvement of tribals in Gavi makes it a unique venture of its kind in the country. Traditional knowledge of the forest and its way of life helps Gavi to sustain its surroundings in its original state.

A highlight of the Gavi eco project is the involvement of the local populace in its activities as guides, gardeners and cooks. This will provide livelihood for the locals and also will help to create awareness on conservation of nature. Gavi offers its visitors activities like trekking, wildlife watching, outdoor camping in specially built tents, and night safaris.

The road leading to the picturesque Gavi is blanketed by tea plantations, which itself is a refreshing experience. En route to Gavi are places of interest like Mundakayyam, Kuttikanam, Peermeduand Vandiperiyar from where the road deviates to Gavi.

Once you reach Gavi the serene eco-lodge ‘Green Mansion’ awaits you like a fairy to embrace you in its protective fold. From the ‘Green Mansion‘, one can savour the spectacular view of the Gavi Lake and the adjoining forests.

Besides the accommodation provided in ‘Green Mansion’ visitors can also try out the tree houses and also even pitch tents amidst the wilderness. Here one can have outstanding trekking experiences, which are overseen by trained local people. Those who would love to be left alone can do so in the tranquil environs of Gavi or may even go canoeing in the placid waters of the lake or enjoy a breathtaking sunset. Visitors are usually provided vegetarian food and snacks, which further adds to the eco-friendly ambiance of the place.

Some of the breathtaking viewpoints at Gavi like the Valley View offer spectacular view of a deep ravine and the forest below. From Kochu Pampa, a point near Green Mansion eco-lodge one can track the grazing Nilgiri Tahrs.

The famous pilgrim destination, Sabarimala is a short trek from Gavi. For those interested in observing the nocturnal wildlife, night safaris to Kullur, Gavi Pullumedu, Kochu Pampa, Pachakanam provide ample opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Another unique feature of Gavi is camping in the forests. One can pitch a tent in the camping site, which is a rarity in many Indian forests. As the dusk stretches into the silence of the night, one can feel the presence of wildlife in the middle of nowhere, an experience that cannot be explained in words. There are also tree top houses where one can enjoy the avian life to the fullest.

Gavi is bound to cast its magical spell on every visitor and is surely a place that should not be missed in one’s lifetime. Gavi is pristine, and it belongs to the wild, which is a reminder that visitors are responsible for their intentions and actions, which will have a bearing on the upkeep of Gavi for a long time to come.

Climate

Summer: February-April, daytime temperatures up to 28 C. but can drop to 20 degree C at night.

Monsoon: June – August, daytime temperatures up to 25 C but can drop to 10 degree C at night

Getting There

Gavi is 28 kms south west of Vandiperiyar, a town in N.H 220 the highway connecting Kollam and Madurai, which itself is 14 kms from Kumily,near Thekkady. Let the rough journey to Gavi may better be made on a sturdy vehicle like jeep which are available on hire either from Vandiperiyar or from Kumily. Entry passes must be obtained from the Forest Check Post enroute at Vallakkadavu. Advance booking with the Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd. is highly appreciable wherein such formalities will be taken care of by the Company itself.

How to Reach

By Air: the Kochi International Airport (200kms) ,Trivandrum International Airport (250kms)and Madurai (195kms) are the nearest Airports.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kottayam (120kms) and is well connected with Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.


By Road: Regular buses are available to Vandiperiyar from Kochi & Thiruvananthapuram . A small bus rattles even up to Gavi from Vandiperiyar once a day(4 pm) the journey in which will be the most heart throbbing experience.

You may contact greenoasisholidays@gmail.com for different packages to Gavi

WILDLIFE, TECH INNOVATION, SPIRITUAL, HERITAGE – All in one Hyderabad Combo

So I am here again to continue my Hyderabad trip. Since we had planned long weekend (Saturday – Monday ) for our Hyderabad which means we had 2.5 days to cover Hyderabad out of which Saturday (One full day ) we had dedicated at Ramoji film city. You can check my post on Ramoji film city http://www.ghumakkar.com/2012/09/21/welcome-to-dream-world-rangeen-sapnon-ki-duniya-ramoji-film-city/ . So on Friday we reached Hyderabad at 0800 hrs by Charminar Express (Train no. 12759) from Chennai and reached to our cousin’s place which was at Madhapur (near Hitech City and Banjara Hills) at around 0900 hrs.

Although it was not my first visit to Hyderabad, but still I was very excited. Prior to this I visited Hyderabad in the year 2002 for official training purpose, stayed at Kakatiya Sheraton for one day, visited just Charminar, Hussain sagar lake and Banjara Hill area. From Hyderabad we went to Bhadrachalam for our training. Many of us might not be aware that Bhadrachalam* is a place approximately 320 kms from Hyderabad and around 130 kms from district headquarter Khammam. This place is an important pilgrimage for Hindus and the presiding deity is Lord Ram. As per Wikipedia “Presently it is the biggest kshetra of Sri Rama after Ayodhya. It is the 17th century Shri Ram temple perches on a small hillock, encircled by the holy river Godavari flowing towards southern direction”. It is a beautiful temple and if any one visiting this area must try to see this temple. Personally I liked this temple very much. That’s past but s memories are still fresh.

Bhadrachalam temple (Courtesy www.bhadrachalamrama.org)

Before coming to Hyderabad I had done my homework on Hyderabad all thanks to Google. If you go through APTDC website it shows you around 63 sight seeing points at Hyderabad. So I was very much confused but sure on two points first was Golconda and second was Ramoji film city. We had taken help of our cousin to choose spots for us to visit in these 2 days. . Thus Friday’s point were Nehru Zoological park, Sudha Car Museum , Birla Temple, Hussain Sagar Lake and Golconda Fort. We started our visit at 1200 hrs and hired a cab as it was convenient as well as will help us in covering our planned points.
a.Nehru Zoological Park*

We had first reached Nehru Zoological Park at around 1245 Hrs.It is approximately 20 km from Madhapur and is located at Bahadurpura west next to Mir Alam tank in the South West corner of the city. The Nehru Zoological park ,also known as Hyderabad Zoo is one of the largest Zoo’s of India. It is spread over 380 acres of land and was established in the year 1963.The Zoo is home to more than 250 species of animals,birds and reptiles. The Zoo is closed on Mondays and remains open from Tuesday to Sunday all year round. The entry ticket for the Zoo is Rs 25/- for adults and Rs 15/- for children. However a detailed rate list for the entry is available on the website www.hyderabadzoo.in. It is mentioned in the website that zoo facilities include train, boat and elephant rides, a cafeteria, a guest house and more. Unfortunately due to lack of time we didn’t get chance to see all these facilities. We had just used Zoo’s Battery powered vehicle. This vehicle takes you to the main attractions and lasts for 45 minutes. They had charged us Rs 200/- for this tour and we had happily accepted this. (Because we had a bad experience of walking and covering the vast Vandalur Zoo of Chennai and do not want to waste time in walking). Overall the Zoo tour was very good. Kids and elders too had enjoyed the Zoo .What I remember the most is dancing bear and Giraffe. In a nutshell, do not miss this even if you have very little interest in Zoo. This finishes our Zoo trip at 1400 hrs and we then headed towards our next point i.e Sudha Car Museum.

Kids enjoying Battery operated vehicle tour at Zoo

b.Sudha Cars Museum* :

It is the first and only handmade Car’s Museum in the world. It is the brainchild of Mr K.Sudhakar, a Guiness World record holder for making the largest Tricycle in the World. It is located again at Bahadurpura, 2 min distance from the Zoo. The timing for this museum is 0930 hrs to 1830 hrs and is open all day. I am giving below the details of their achievement as mentioned in their website.
“Mr. Sudhakar had designed about 150 different types of cars, like ‘Go Karts’, Dune Buggies’, ‘Wacky Cars, like Brinjal Car, Camera Car, Cricket Ball Car, Shivling Car, Cup & Saucer Car, Helmet Car, Computer Car, Double Bed Car, Football Car, and the list goes on.
He had also designed early 20th century models of Cars & Buses, both single & Double Deckers. Presently the buses are being used for sight seeing in the city.
He has designed over 30 different designs of bicycles from single seater to multi seaters, the likes of which are ‘Penny Farthings’, ‘Tandems’, ‘Made For Each Other’, ‘Velo Cars’, ‘Recumbents’,’ Micro Cars’, ‘Lightfoots’, ‘Cycle Trains’, ‘Sociable’, etc. including the smallest bicycle in India, which is about 6 inches high.
Adding to his collection are 12 different types of motorcycles, the smallest being 13 inches high, which can travel at a speed of about 30kmph. The different designs of Mobikes include, ‘Three Wheeler Motorcycles’, ‘Easy Riders’, ‘Scramblers’ & ‘Go Pads’.
For a Social Cause Mr. Sudhakar made a Condom Bike in the shape of a condom to bring in awareness towards the deadly AIDS. The Condom bike has a built in player, which gives a brief history on condoms and AIDS awareness. Continuing to fight against the deadly AIDS, he is planning to start a Mini Condom Bike Race.
Cricket Ball Car was specially made to cheer the team India for 2003 World Cup with a tape briefing us on the cricket World Cup History and the Football Car was made to commemorate the 2006 FIFA Football World Cup held at Germany.
All these creations are made out of scrap and are workable. Sudhakar has given live demonstrations of these vehicles on the occasion of police traffic safety week celebrations at Tank Bund and Necklace Road at Hyderabad for five consecutive years.
Mr.Sudhakar has created a Guinness World Record for the Largest Tricycle in the World. The Tricycle is 41 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 3 tons with the wheel diameter of 17 feet. It is 37 feet 4 inches long. The Tricycle is powered by the Pedal, Chain Sprockets and Gears. It took him over 3 years to built this Giant.
The smallest double decker, which is at display at the museum, has recorded in the Limca Book of Records & with the GUINESS.”

FOUNTAIN PEN BIKE

HELMET CAR

CRICKET BAT CAR

CUP CAR

The main and important thing of this museum is that all cars are in working condition and most of the parts used are from scraps. So if you are also amongst those car and art connoisseurs who love to see such wacky cars, then Sudha Car Museum is a must visit. The entry ticket in this museum is Rs 30/- for adult and Rs 15/- for children. And the good news is Camera is allowed inside the museum. We had finished seeing this museum in half an hour and came outside to proceed further.

c.Birla Temple,Hyderabad*

At around 1445 hrs we reached Birla temple. The Birla temple is around 3 km from Hyderabad railway station and the nearest MMTS Station is Lakdi ka pul and Lakdi ka pul is also the bus stop.The timings for Birla temple is 0700 hrs to 1200 hrs and 1400 hrs to 2100 hrs. This Birla temple manifests a blend of South Indian , Rajasthani and Utkala temple architectures. In its entirety, it is made of 2000 tons of pure Rajasthan white marble.The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Venkateswara (Balaji ) and this 11 ft idol is very beautiful and is made up of granite. For temple entry, first we have to keep all our bag, cell phone etc in a locker room. Photography is not allowed in this temple. It was very hot weather and we faced difficulty in climbing this temple as the steps were very hot. In between while you are climbing there are many other small temples of Ganpati, Sai baba etc. But once you reach on the top and do darshan you will forget all the tiredness or hot weather as the idol is so beautiful and you would love to stand and stare at the Lord Venkateswara. By the way we didn’t find too much crowd and it was easy darshan for us.This finishes our darshan and at around 1530 hrs we reached at Eat street on Necklace road, Hussainsagar lake.

Birla temple, Hyderabad (Courtesy www.hyderabadadadvisors.com)

d.Hussain Sagar Lake and Eat Street*

It is a food court half open, half covered overlooking Hussain Sagar lake. Good place to sit especially in the evening if not too crowded. It has many food stalls of variety of foods like Pizza, Chhole bhature, ice cream, Frankie etc etc. Good place to sit and hang out. We reached Eat Street at around 1545 hrs and were almost drained. No energy left in us and were hungry also. We somehow decided to stop at this point and not to move further as we were very tired. We just picked up some pizza,garlic bread and Frankies. Sat and relaxed there for almost half an hour. We were also looking at the Buddha Statue which was right there in the middle of Hussain Sagar lake.Then decided not to leave Golconda, we must see it. As you never know when we can visit Hyderabad again.So we moved further to our next point Golconda Fort.

e.Golconda Fort*

Golconda Fort from the summit – Me and my loving family

We reached Golconda at 1645 hrs and came to know that tickets for Golconda can be purchased upto 1700 hrs only. Oh God…Thanks…We reached 15 minutes before. Great timing. All of us were very tired and were feeling so thirsty due to hot weather. There we saw Sugarcane juice person and each of us have actually drunk 2.5 glass of sugarcane juice. It was so fresh and tasty! So we entered inside the Golconda fort and our timing was just perfect. The weather was getting pleasant by this time. The timings for Golconda Fort are 0930 hrs to 1730 hrs (tickets can be purchased upto 1700 hrs) and it remains closed on Monday.For Light and Sound show the timings are 1900 hrs to 2000hrs in summer and 1800 hrs to 1900 hrs in winter. The entry fee is Rs 5/- for Indian and Rs 100/- for International visitors and for Light and sound show Rs 50/- extra. You have to pay extra for video. The Golconda Fort as I read in one of the website is “ The Golconda Fort is impressive all the way: it stands, magnificent and majestic, atop a 120 mt high granite hill.The crowning glory (quite literally) of the Fort is, however, the Durbar Hall,which stands atop a hill overlooking the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It’s approached by a thousand-step stairway, and if you can summon up the energy to accomplish the climb, you will be rewarded with a great view of the cities below.”
It is actually true; if you have energy to climb 1000 steps then you will be rewarded with great view. So as per my view if you are visiting Golconda you must see following:
- Balahisar Gate, famous for its acoustics. It says (we didn’t check) if we clap at this gate, supposedly even this can be heard at the Durbar Hall which stands at the summit of the hill.
- Hill top Durbar Hall (if you have energy to reach there), you will get spectacular view of city.
- Light and Sound Show
The positives of Golconda Fort are Good Architecture, Good Acoustics and a spectacular view from Hilltop.
The negatives are :
- No food or water arrangements as you climb up, so carry your stuff.
- No toilet facility inside the fort after 0530 hrs as they lock the toilets, unless untill if you are waiting to see light and sound show, then there is toilet inside that show area.
- No dustbins

So my advice to all the visitors:

- If you are going to see this fort in summer , its better you start climbing the fort by 1600 hrs so that by the time you reach on top, the temperature drops down a bit. Also you do not have to wait a lot for Light and sound show.
- - The 55 minutes long show is presented in three languages namely Hindi (Tuesday, Friday & Saturday), English (Wednesday & Sunday) and Telugu (Thursday), Monday being a holiday. So plan as per your language preferences.
- If you are really interested to see the old architecture and fort, then only climb. Else just check the fort base and light & sound show.

We were very tired after we reached down and wanted to see light and sound show but our tired bodies was not allowing us to wait as fatigue had set in , so we missed that show and returned back.

This finishes our Combo tour at Hyderabad and we landed at “Paradise” , a leading restaurant at Hyderabad famous for its Biryani….(We are Veg though so our cousins had a feast while we had to satiate ourself with some good veg stuff.)

I will come back again to share my last day experience at Hyderabad….Nawabi Nagari

PS: * Most of the details mentioned in the description above are taken from the websites for the ease of the prospective visitors

About Abhee K

Abheeruchi Kanungo has written 27 posts at Ghumakkar.

I am a Civil Engineer by Profession , but loves to travel...I had not traveled too many places but very few (Approx around 20 -25 destination ) which I had visited ,I just love those places and remember each and every experience I had at all these places.Also my trips are all very economical trip and these experience would surely help others to make their trip comfortable and easy...So I am here to share my experience...

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