Art & Culture
Epicurean
Expression
The rich cuisine of the nawabs-superb dishes created with the subtle blending
of spices and tasty. Andhra fare with its emphasis on the fiery chilli, characterize
hyderabadi food. The famous local Biriyani with its distinctive aroma and
taste, the Kulcha, with a legend behind it to add romance to the flavour,
melt in the mouth Shikampur kababs, spicy, chicken, mutton kormas and salans,
tamatar-ka-kat and baghare baigan, haleem (meat and pounded wheat) are all
delicates from Hyderabad.
To top them all are the celebrated sweet almond flavoured badam ka jali, exotic
varieties of halwas and finally the elaborately prepared paan to be enjoyed
after a hearty feast. Typical Andhra food, which is a part of the menu in
most restaurants in the city, includes the delicious gongoora pachchadi (chutney),
the avakai (mango pickled with mustard powder), appalams, dals and rasams.
In the Wilderness
The Hyderabad Zoo- the Nehru Zoological Park, sprawls over an area of 300
acres. Since most of the park is left wild, it comes very close to resembling
the natural habitat of the animals here. They are not caged, but left to wander
in spacious areas enclosed by moats. The Mir Alam tank that adjoins the park
serves as a buffer against the outside world.
A Kaleidoscope of Unique Crafts
Hyderabad not only boasts of the crafts that are unique to the city, but is
also a centre for handicrafts from around the state. There are bargains to
be had at Charkaman, Mitti-Ka-Sher and Laad Bazaar.
They include bidriware, hookahs, boxes, jewelry made of jet black gun metal
which are inlaid with fine silver wire in delicate floral and geometric designs;
appliqued patch work skirts, bags and belts with sparking mirrors and tiny
beads, embroidered by the banjara and lambadi gypsies; Normal lacquerware,
brass from Pembarthi, Kondapalli carved toys, leather puppets and Warangal
carpets. A shoppers delight all the way. Hyderabad conjures up images of traditional
finery- rich clothes and exquisite jewellery-the legacy of the Nawabs, who
were connoisseurs of such adornment.
Images of Islamic Heritage
Hyderabad is the creation of the Qutb Shahi rulers, who were of Turkoman origin.
It was Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah who decided to shift his capital from the legendary
fortress of Golconda to the banks of the River Musi.
The splendid city that cane up was adorned with fine mosques and palaces built6
in a style of architecture that was uniquely theirs-elegant buildings with
their domes and minarets decorated with fine stucco ornamentation. Still adding
touch of elegance to the city are magnificent examples of their art the Qutb
Shahi tombs near Golconda fort, the splendid Mecca Masjid, the largest in
South India, the Toli Masjid and the imposing Badshahi-a-Shurkhana and Darul
Shifa.
Arc of triumph of East Standing majestically in the midst of the congestion
and cacophony of the old city is the Charminar-the elegant arch, a masterpiece
of Qutb Shahi architecture. An imposing square structure with its four minarets
piercing the sky, the Charminar is the symbol of this historic city. Salar
Jung museum Nawab salar Jung III's passion for rare objects d'art can be seen
here. The 35 rooms of the museum display 35,000 objects, there are unusual
collections of jade, carved and inlaid pieces, gem-studied boxes, marble statues,
as also displays of rare manuscripts, miniature paintings, arms and an interesting
collection of clocks.
Rhythm and Beat
:Being the capital of a state with a very rich cultural heritage, Hyderabad
offers a glimpse of a variety of performing arts that are unique to Andhra
Pradesh. Kuchipudi, a classical dance from, derives its name from a village
just north of the Krishna delta. The Hindu epics and mythological tales through
dance-dramas that combined music, dance and acting. The lyrics are mostly
Telugu, although Sanskrit is also used.
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