Some time back some where I read a story about "Nitya Teen Minute Tahaliye (Walk every day for three minutes)" & It's benefits however due to my laziness and courtesy to to all the in-house treadmills i hardly implemented this thought.
On one fine day over a coffee, some of my colleagues & me were having conversation about the key highlights of Hyderabad and then the idea stroked to visit old city monuments.
Some of the googling and reading I found the few things quite exciting: zeroed in on exploring Salar jung Museum, Char Minar and chowmahalla Palace to enjoy, learn and appreciate the history of our Hyderabad.
On Saturday the 6th Sep, it was a fantastic morning, clouds were all over in the sky with a bit of drizzling and looked like a good day for the walk-a-mile. Quickly got ready and after grabbing a quick cup of Tea started for the long day at 9:30 AM. Reached to Afzulgunj while on the way enjoyed the cool breeze and scenic view of Hussain Sagar (Tank Bund). From the Afzalgunj started walking on Nayapul (New Bridge) for Salarjung Museum.
[Note: Nayapul: This bridge was built during Nizam's time on river Musi and called as Naya Pul as there was already a Puranapul (Old Bridge)].
If you are coming from Afzulgunj at the end of Nayapul one has to take the left turn to reach Salarjung Museum (Approx 300 Meter walk from the turning and approx 650 Meter from Afzulgunj Stop).
After a brisk walk, reached to Salarjug Museum by 10.25 AM.
Salar Jung Museum (Open 10:00 AM to 17:00 PM except on Friday):
An astonishing big white and tall building facing river musi and carefully stored art, history and amazing facts. This is the third largest Museum in India housing the biggest one-man collection of antiques in the world. This is having collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to 1st Century. It took nearly 35 Years of the life of Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889-1949), Prime Minister of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad and a substantial amount of money for this priceless collection. The museum was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in Year 1951.
Quick Facts:
Entry is via Ticket (Indian Citizen: 10 INR, Children below 12: 5 INR, foreign visitors: 150 INR, special discounts for students).
Photography / Video Camera is allowed inside with a 50 INR Ticket. However Flash use is not allowed inside while taking photo / Video.
Free cloak room is available to deposit luggage.
APTDC food court is also available inside.
Smoke items, Gutakha pouch, tobbaco and match boxes are not allowed inside.
Building Layout:
Three buildings: Central Block, Eastern Block (Mir Laiq Ali Bhavan) and Western Block (Mir Turab Ali Khan Bhavan)
Two Floors
38 Galleries (Central Block 27 gallery: 15 Ground floor + 12 on first floor)
Things to look out: All of the galleries are worth watching and includes the antiques from all parts of life but to name a few
Musical Clock : gong man comes out every hour to beat the drums
Clock Gallery : Variety of watches
Ivory Gallery : Specially a man walking with camel having a ivory chain in hand and ivory mat
Arms and Armor: swards with Dashavtar print, draggers known as Quma, swords of Tipu sultan and Aurangazeb.
Painting galleries: Indian, European and Miniature (Replica of Monalisa is also available)
Arabic, Persian Manuscript gallery
Galleries with Chinese, Japanese, Egypt and European culture
Veiled Rebecca gallery: Must appreciate the details and technique used for converting marble into looking like cloth etc.
Note: This is not a touch and go kind of museum, one has to spend some considerable amount of time and at a minimum it requires more than 6-7 Hrs just to cover the galleries. [38 Galleries X 10 Minutes each = 380 Min. Or 6 Hr 20 Min.]
There are notes displayed all over the galleries to help with the history and key things to see in individual gallery. Audio guides are also available on a nominal charge of 60 INR. There are Museum employees available in each gallery which will also guide you for key attraction in respective gallery (If asked).
Okay, this is quite more than what I planned to write so let's move on but still if the research guys (Read Google Ph. D. Scholars) want more here you go (www.salarjunmuseum.in).
So after around 3:00 PM I covered most of the galleries and was feeling to eat something again (Not to mention I grabbed my quick lunch during walk in galleries in APTDC restaurant, food was okay~average) and came out from museum, collected my belongings from cloak room and started walking for Charminar (Approx 1.5 KM from Salar Jung Museum) on the way had hot Kachories and Jalebis (Could not resist with Hot Jalebis!).
Note: from Salar Jung Museum one has to again come till Nayapul Bridge and take a left turn (Straight on Nayapul road if coming from Afzulgunj)
And then the moment of day...it started heavily raining when i was near Madina (A big shopping complex on char minar road), i took shelter in a nearby shop and waited for rain to stop (I was cursing myself for not bringing the umbrella!). Char minar road was having a lot of traffic, people all over the place, roads were occupied by the vendors / sellers of tea, samosa, cloths,, bangles and so on... But there was something in the air, the life is having a liveliness, people are courteous, helpful and enjoying the moments. I had tea (Irani Tea) with shop keeper where i took shelter and then rain stopped. I greeted him and made the promises to meet again soon and started walking to see the Global icon of Hyderabad " Charminar".
Char Minar (Four Towers) (Approx. Height 160 ft) was constructed in Year 1591-1592 at center of city as Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah to commemorate the eradication of plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a mosque at the very place where he prayed. At each corner there is a minaret (Approx height 184 ft).
There are four streets/ lanes on all four side of Char minar and each lane has a big gate also built on it near char minar.
Currently The Char minar is being taken care by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). There is an entrance ticket INR 5 for Indian Citizen; Children below 11 Years are free, Foreigners INR 100, Video / Mobile Camera INR 25. This is Open on all days 9 AM to 5 PM (Closed on Friday 1 to 2 PM for prayers).
There is mosque in the char minar on upper stories with 45 prayer spaces and there is a Vazu (water cistem) in middle of ground floor with a fountain. From top of charminar one can see a panoramic view of Hyderabad (Including Mecca Masjid, Laad Bajar etc.)
After finishing entrance, climbing up, panoramic view and photos, came down to ground floor sat for some time there and started for the next destination at 4:00 PM i.e. Chowmahalla Palace. Inquired with one of the guy about the place; who was trying to sell me cheap sun glasses by showing them from Ray-ban or something similar and then started walking towards it (Approx. 300 Meter) through Laad bazar (A paradise for bangle lovers).
Chowmahalla Palace (four palaces): is a palace of the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizams of Hyderabad while they ruled their state. This palace is said to be modeled on*Shah of Iran's palace in*Tehran. This palace is said to be of 18th Century (Around 1850-60). This palace consist four palaces namely Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal.
Entrance to palace is with Ticket INR 40 (for Indians) INR. 150 (for foreigners), still camera permit INR 50 / video camera INR 100 (Tripod not allowed). Closed on Friday and national holidays.
Palace is very well maintained and displaying the royal elegance. There is a big lawn and fountain in middle of palace. Palace also displays different artifacts of Nizam’s such as Portraits of All the Nizam’s of Hyderabad, Gallery displaying metal and utensils, wooden carving artifacts, Personal photographs of Nizam’s and their family, collection of ceramics and porcelain utensils, Armor collection, Cars and jeeps, Rolls-royce, display of costumes, clothes of Nizam’s and The clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace is affectionately called as Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for around 100 years.
Note: Entrance ticket issuance is closed by 4:15 PM only.
So after having a quick walk in the palace and few clicks thought of calling it a day. Came out from palace and headed for a sugarcane juice (Ganne Ka Ras) shop, had a glass and chapter is closed for the day. Back to base camp by 7:00 PM !!
This was one of the most fulfilling day, burned few calories by walk, explored the Hyderabad, learned the history and facts / life of Hyderabad and last but not the least had the Hot Jalebbis too !!
Happy Reading !
Some Pics !
On one fine day over a coffee, some of my colleagues & me were having conversation about the key highlights of Hyderabad and then the idea stroked to visit old city monuments.
Some of the googling and reading I found the few things quite exciting: zeroed in on exploring Salar jung Museum, Char Minar and chowmahalla Palace to enjoy, learn and appreciate the history of our Hyderabad.
On Saturday the 6th Sep, it was a fantastic morning, clouds were all over in the sky with a bit of drizzling and looked like a good day for the walk-a-mile. Quickly got ready and after grabbing a quick cup of Tea started for the long day at 9:30 AM. Reached to Afzulgunj while on the way enjoyed the cool breeze and scenic view of Hussain Sagar (Tank Bund). From the Afzalgunj started walking on Nayapul (New Bridge) for Salarjung Museum.
[Note: Nayapul: This bridge was built during Nizam's time on river Musi and called as Naya Pul as there was already a Puranapul (Old Bridge)].
If you are coming from Afzulgunj at the end of Nayapul one has to take the left turn to reach Salarjung Museum (Approx 300 Meter walk from the turning and approx 650 Meter from Afzulgunj Stop).
After a brisk walk, reached to Salarjug Museum by 10.25 AM.
Salar Jung Museum (Open 10:00 AM to 17:00 PM except on Friday):
An astonishing big white and tall building facing river musi and carefully stored art, history and amazing facts. This is the third largest Museum in India housing the biggest one-man collection of antiques in the world. This is having collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to 1st Century. It took nearly 35 Years of the life of Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889-1949), Prime Minister of the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad and a substantial amount of money for this priceless collection. The museum was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in Year 1951.
Quick Facts:
Entry is via Ticket (Indian Citizen: 10 INR, Children below 12: 5 INR, foreign visitors: 150 INR, special discounts for students).
Photography / Video Camera is allowed inside with a 50 INR Ticket. However Flash use is not allowed inside while taking photo / Video.
Free cloak room is available to deposit luggage.
APTDC food court is also available inside.
Smoke items, Gutakha pouch, tobbaco and match boxes are not allowed inside.
Building Layout:
Three buildings: Central Block, Eastern Block (Mir Laiq Ali Bhavan) and Western Block (Mir Turab Ali Khan Bhavan)
Two Floors
38 Galleries (Central Block 27 gallery: 15 Ground floor + 12 on first floor)
Things to look out: All of the galleries are worth watching and includes the antiques from all parts of life but to name a few
Musical Clock : gong man comes out every hour to beat the drums
Clock Gallery : Variety of watches
Ivory Gallery : Specially a man walking with camel having a ivory chain in hand and ivory mat
Arms and Armor: swards with Dashavtar print, draggers known as Quma, swords of Tipu sultan and Aurangazeb.
Painting galleries: Indian, European and Miniature (Replica of Monalisa is also available)
Arabic, Persian Manuscript gallery
Galleries with Chinese, Japanese, Egypt and European culture
Veiled Rebecca gallery: Must appreciate the details and technique used for converting marble into looking like cloth etc.
Note: This is not a touch and go kind of museum, one has to spend some considerable amount of time and at a minimum it requires more than 6-7 Hrs just to cover the galleries. [38 Galleries X 10 Minutes each = 380 Min. Or 6 Hr 20 Min.]
There are notes displayed all over the galleries to help with the history and key things to see in individual gallery. Audio guides are also available on a nominal charge of 60 INR. There are Museum employees available in each gallery which will also guide you for key attraction in respective gallery (If asked).
Okay, this is quite more than what I planned to write so let's move on but still if the research guys (Read Google Ph. D. Scholars) want more here you go (www.salarjunmuseum.in).
So after around 3:00 PM I covered most of the galleries and was feeling to eat something again (Not to mention I grabbed my quick lunch during walk in galleries in APTDC restaurant, food was okay~average) and came out from museum, collected my belongings from cloak room and started walking for Charminar (Approx 1.5 KM from Salar Jung Museum) on the way had hot Kachories and Jalebis (Could not resist with Hot Jalebis!).
Note: from Salar Jung Museum one has to again come till Nayapul Bridge and take a left turn (Straight on Nayapul road if coming from Afzulgunj)
And then the moment of day...it started heavily raining when i was near Madina (A big shopping complex on char minar road), i took shelter in a nearby shop and waited for rain to stop (I was cursing myself for not bringing the umbrella!). Char minar road was having a lot of traffic, people all over the place, roads were occupied by the vendors / sellers of tea, samosa, cloths,, bangles and so on... But there was something in the air, the life is having a liveliness, people are courteous, helpful and enjoying the moments. I had tea (Irani Tea) with shop keeper where i took shelter and then rain stopped. I greeted him and made the promises to meet again soon and started walking to see the Global icon of Hyderabad " Charminar".
Char Minar (Four Towers) (Approx. Height 160 ft) was constructed in Year 1591-1592 at center of city as Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah to commemorate the eradication of plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a mosque at the very place where he prayed. At each corner there is a minaret (Approx height 184 ft).
There are four streets/ lanes on all four side of Char minar and each lane has a big gate also built on it near char minar.
Currently The Char minar is being taken care by ASI (Archaeological Survey of India). There is an entrance ticket INR 5 for Indian Citizen; Children below 11 Years are free, Foreigners INR 100, Video / Mobile Camera INR 25. This is Open on all days 9 AM to 5 PM (Closed on Friday 1 to 2 PM for prayers).
There is mosque in the char minar on upper stories with 45 prayer spaces and there is a Vazu (water cistem) in middle of ground floor with a fountain. From top of charminar one can see a panoramic view of Hyderabad (Including Mecca Masjid, Laad Bajar etc.)
After finishing entrance, climbing up, panoramic view and photos, came down to ground floor sat for some time there and started for the next destination at 4:00 PM i.e. Chowmahalla Palace. Inquired with one of the guy about the place; who was trying to sell me cheap sun glasses by showing them from Ray-ban or something similar and then started walking towards it (Approx. 300 Meter) through Laad bazar (A paradise for bangle lovers).
Chowmahalla Palace (four palaces): is a palace of the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizams of Hyderabad while they ruled their state. This palace is said to be modeled on*Shah of Iran's palace in*Tehran. This palace is said to be of 18th Century (Around 1850-60). This palace consist four palaces namely Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal.
Entrance to palace is with Ticket INR 40 (for Indians) INR. 150 (for foreigners), still camera permit INR 50 / video camera INR 100 (Tripod not allowed). Closed on Friday and national holidays.
Palace is very well maintained and displaying the royal elegance. There is a big lawn and fountain in middle of palace. Palace also displays different artifacts of Nizam’s such as Portraits of All the Nizam’s of Hyderabad, Gallery displaying metal and utensils, wooden carving artifacts, Personal photographs of Nizam’s and their family, collection of ceramics and porcelain utensils, Armor collection, Cars and jeeps, Rolls-royce, display of costumes, clothes of Nizam’s and The clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace is affectionately called as Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for around 100 years.
Note: Entrance ticket issuance is closed by 4:15 PM only.
So after having a quick walk in the palace and few clicks thought of calling it a day. Came out from palace and headed for a sugarcane juice (Ganne Ka Ras) shop, had a glass and chapter is closed for the day. Back to base camp by 7:00 PM !!
This was one of the most fulfilling day, burned few calories by walk, explored the Hyderabad, learned the history and facts / life of Hyderabad and last but not the least had the Hot Jalebbis too !!
Happy Reading !
Some Pics !
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