Hyderabad From a Local’s Eyes
Hyderabad is known for its Mughlai culture embedded with a typical south Indian mindset. This city can be called the Delhi of South, people are more inclined towards winning an argument in a what-so manner ever, everything else fades away at that moment and to be honest food and culture play a huge part in this behavior. The real Hyderabad is not in the Salar Jung Museum or the Golkonda Fort, the heart of Hyderabad doesn’t lie in its heritages, it lies in its food, culture, and atmosphere. The very dialect of a language in a place can tell you about the food they eat and the type of life they lead. Being born in Hyderabad is a privilege and I am a hard-core Hyderabadi. In this blog, you will see Hyderabad from a local’s eyes. And trust me if you ever visit Hyderabad you will not follow any other blog. If you’ve missed any of these spots during your travel to this insane city, you should revisit now. Rio Samosa Point: Samosa is a snack that is close to every Indian’s heart. Well, Rio Onion samosa is the best one you will find in the entire Hyderabad and if you ask me even South India. The point opens at around 4 every day in the evening, the place sells more than 2500 samosas in just 4 hours. The point is located extremely close to the Secunderabad central and the RTC central bus depot. And almost every bus touches Secunderabad central, resulting in a huge number of employees walking down the lane and forgetting about their stressful routines for a few moments before catching their connecting bus. The point is so famous that there was a bus stop named after it a few years ago. How To Reach: Rio Samosa is situated near the clock tower at the Patny center crossroads. You can take a cab or else walk from the Secunderabad central station as it is in very close proximity. Mujtaba Grills: The new USPs of Hyderabad are ‘Shawarma and Mandi’. ‘Mujtaba grills’ are known for its Shawarma. It gives you the best shawarma in the entire city at the most reasonable price of 120 Rs. The Shawarma is not too spicy, not bland yet it hits you hard. The taste of a Shawarma lies in the recipe of the tomato masala, and this place nails it. It gives you one of the juiciest shawarmas in possible with minimum Mayonnaise. The place gained popularity for the Paneer shawarma. I know Paneer Shawarma is to waste of an effort to eat, but this place nails it too. Though Paneer isn’t as good as the Chicken Shawarma, it still hits you right in your gut. I can tell you that this place will provide you with arguably the best ‘Shawarma’ in the entirety of South India. How To Reach: Take a cab to Picket road or else you can take a bus on 218 or 219 routes. Alpha Café: One of the most prominent and most visited Cafés of Hyderabad. Established way back, the Alpha hotel gained popularity throughout the city for the chai it served. For a fact, it still serves the best Irani chai in the city. It opens at 4 in the morning and runs till 11 in the night. The café is located exactly beside Secunderabad central, making it a public hotspot for an evening snack. People rush into the place for a cup of tea, continuously worried whether they are going to miss their connecting bus is the ‘malai’ over your chai. If you ever board a train at the Secunderabad central, do not forget to taste the Alpha special Irani chai. It is a symbol of hope that not everything is going south, somethings will stay intact. How To Reach: Situated exactly beside the Central Railway station. All you should do is cross the road. Ram Ki Bandi: What started as a regular tiffin spot in the residential neighborhood of Afzal Gunj has now transformed into the early morning hangout spot of the city. Ram ki Bandi was the first place to experiment with South Indian food in the city. The Dosa along Coconut-Pudina chutney of the place is the perfect way to start your day. The restaurant opens as early as 4 Am and closes at around 9 Am. On average it sells 54 dosas in every 5 minutes. Ram Ki Bandi is one of the few things in Hyderabad worth waking at 3 in the morning. Crowds start gathering as early as 3:30 in the morning including the winter and the rainy seasons. Though a lot of places have duplicated this idea of opening early with similar menus, Ram Ki Bandi remains always ahead in the race. How To Reach: Book a cab in advance if your going in the earliest of the morning. The location is Begum Bazar, Ram Ki Bandi. You can go after sunrise as well but it won’t be fun. Charminar: If you’ve visited Charminar during the day, and you’re still in Hyderabad go back at night. The nightlife culture was first introduced at Charminar. Charminar enlightens the entire neighborhood during the night. The old city of Hyderabad is always alive throughout the day, but its heartbeat can be heard at night. The beauty of the monument comes out at night. The local food stalls remain open all night, as the inflow of customers keeps increasing by the hour. Though, Hyderabad is famous for its chicken Biryani it’s actually the Mutton Biryani at Charminar that steals the show. The local stalls provide you with crisp and juicy mutton pieces in the biryani. Cooked at low flame for over an hour, the biryani could easily win you the title of MasterChef. How To Reach: If you are visiting during the night, book a cab. That’s the only way, if you want to enjoy
Weekend Getaway to Mussoorie
While Mussoorie is a great place to visit any time of the year, it shines through during summer. The captivating beauty of the Himalayan Mountains and the peaceful atmosphere, thanks to the monasteries and Tibetan settlements are what make Mussoorie, Queen of the hills. Mussoorie is located in Uttarakhand and is about 300-kilometers north of New Delhi. Mussoorie is also known to attract adventure sports enthusiasts. With options like sky-walking, river rafting, rock climbing, and paragliding, people are literally spoilt for choice. How to Reach: Falls in the Dehradun District and is 30 km from Dehradun. Dehradun has a national airport along with railways and bus transport. A bus is available every half hour between 5 AM and 8 PM. The bus will leave you at the Library point where cab rentals and self-driving rentals are available. Mussoorie does not have a direct rail link to any of the major towns and cities. Dehradun is the only station that serves Mussoorie throughout the day. Weekend Hotspots: Lal Tibba: Lal Tibba is the highest peak in the region. One should never miss out on a chance to visit Gun-Hill, which is the second-highest. There is an interesting story about this place. It is said that every afternoon, The British used to fire cannons from atop the hill at 3 pm so that the locals knew what time of the day it was. Gun Hill is also popular because it is located above the Mall, which has a cable car ropeway for those who are lazy to trek to the top. Anyways, once you get to the top of the hill, you are treated to an astounding view of the Himalayas, and the city. Happy Valley: In the midst of all the hills, forests, and adventure-seeking is a settlement of Tibetans. A few thousand Tibetans migrated two generations ago to areas around Uttarakhand along with the Dalai Lama. It was in Mussoorie that Dalai Lama had established the Tibetan ‘government in exile’ after fleeing from Chinese authorities in 1959. The government in exile later moved to Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. Most of the Tibetan community stayed in the Happy Valley. It is located on the western side of the Library Point, which leads to the ‘Cloud’s end’. Serene gardens, beautiful Tibetan temples, and the famous IAS academy call Happy Valley their home. The Valley seems like a mini-Tibet. The houses, temples, and monasteries are a sneak peek into the Tibet-Chinese culture. The immense beauty is sure to leave everybody spellbound. From the wooded estates to the gardens, and the beautiful temples, these endless sights are always a treat to watch. It is impossible to not mention the snow-covered mountain caps and mountain streams. For Photographers, Happy Valley is the paradise of their dreams and is an absolute must-visit, any time of the year. It is ideal to explore the valley around the summer months(During the winter half the valley is covered in snow, xD). Another place to add to the ‘never miss out’ list is the Char Khamba ridge point. This point falls at about 250 meters from the Dalai Hill. Though not the tallest peak in the area, Char Khamba has is known for the view which it provides, a complete 360 of the Valley. Lake Mist and Kempty Falls: This quaint lake gives one an unforgettably rejuvenating experience. The peaceful, unpolluted environment around the lake is complemented by the several waterfalls fed by the waters of the Kempty river. A number of multi-cuisine restaurants and accommodation options make this an ideal place to unwind with your family and friends. Do not forget to get your camera to capture the beauty of the cascading Kempty waterfalls. Landour: Landour is a cantonment town around 4 kilometers away from Mussoorie and it is among the calm places around the Himalayan region. It sits among the forest-covered terrains and is perched atop the slope of a hill. It is a quaint place and is a perfect getaway to wind down and chill. Travelers who spend some time here come out refreshed, and relaxed. The homemade peanut butter around here is a treat to the taste buds, one you will take home with you. And for those unaware, Landour is home to Ruskin Bond. He is an established children’s writer and comes down to Cambridge Book Depot every weekend. The depot is at the Mussoorie Mall Road, yet another crowd magnet. The road has everything from restaurants and cafes to souvenirs and video game parlors. It is a typical market that is always bustling and is referred to as the Library and Picture Palace side by the locals. No doubt that it gives life to the streets of Mussoorie and is a throbbing artery of the district. In addition to this, the Shivalik range nearby gives breathtaking views of the Doon Valley and is surrounded by a range of shrubs, creepers, and wildlife. Benog Wildlife Sanctuary: If you are a wildlife enthusiast then you have a lot to get excited about Mussoorie, from the Benog Wildlife Sanctuary to the Vinog Mountain Quail Sanctuary. These sanctuaries are known for the lush vegetation amid snow-covered mountains. They were established around 1993 and are expansive, spreading over 340 hectares (That’s 340 hectares of heaven for you folks) including space for the Mountain quails and the Pahari Bater. Sadly, Mountain quails are very low in number and are on the verge of extinction. The sanctuaries are open all round the year and are a heavenly treat for birdwatchers all over the world. From the lush-green sanctuaries to the snow-capped mountains, and from the sky ride adventure parks to the quaint Tibetan settlements, Mussoorie has something for everybody. It is a great set up for family and especially for solo excursions, making it a perfect weekend getaway destination.
