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Arts & Culture in Hyderabad

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.