5 Things To See, Eat And Do When You’re In Hyderabad

For centuries, people have flocked to the famous Laad Bazaar, a kilometre-long strip branching off the Charminar, for their varied shopping needs. Renowned for its lacquer bangles studded with artificial diamonds, the market is a rich repository of traditional wear, like saris, cheap jewellery and, of course, wedding-related items.

Take a stroll through the strip and you’ll be beckoned by a bevy of shopkeepers, each vying for your attention. Every shopkeeper expects you to bargain, though expect a thorough rebuttal with their humorous Hyderabadi wit. It’s a load of fun, especially during the month of Ramzaan, when the whole area is decked with dazzling lights and fragrance.

Plus all the delicious food to gorge on!

Where: Kachiguda, Hyderabad {walking from Charminar}

Older than the city itself, the Golconda Fort is a masterpiece of architecture. Built by the Kakatiya Dynasty on a granite hill, it’s been around for over six centuries, having witnessed the rise and fall of various mighty kingdoms around it {it even housed the Koh-i-noor diamond once}.

Aside from its beautiful architecture and aesthetics, the acoustics inside the fort have an uncommonly special quality, where a clap at the entrance travels to the very top serving as a warning.

It’s a long climb up and Hyderabad is known for its scorching weather, so avoid the trip here until the summers end.

Where: Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad

Price: INR 5 {for Indians}; INR 100 {for foreign nationals}; INR 130 {for Sound & Light show}

Timing: 9 AM - 5:30 PM

Here’s the usual scenario at Dine Hill; you’re sitting around a table with a bunch of friends awaiting your food. The waiter struts by and deposits one humongous plate {for everybody} with a large mound of biryani in front of you, smiles at your bewilderment, and saunters off. Woah!

What you’re experiencing is the coming together of Hyderabadi cuisine and middle eastern etiquette, where the sharing of one plate between many fosters camaraderie and love. The initial shock wears off quickly, because you’ll soon be working your way through the food with gusto. Order some grilled chicken on the side and you’re on your way to food nirvana.

Price: INR 500 {for two}

Timings: 11am – 12am

Follow them on Facebook here.

Think you know ice cream? Think again. At Gafoor Ice Cream, housed in the historic Mozam Jahi Market, you’re not served scoops; you’re served by the litre. The seasonal flavours here are to die for, infused with fresh fruits like watermelon, litchi and mango {depending on, obviously, the season}.

If you’re wondering whether a litre is more than you can handle, you’re in for a surprise; it’s remarkably light, and you’ll be through it in no time. Affordable, fresh, rich and real; we bet you’re going to go in for a second helping, too.

A house-turned-culture-space in the heart of the city, Lamakaan is hallowed grounds for the creatively minded. With regular film screenings, dance recitals, workshops, theatre and acoustic music shows, it draws artistes and intellectuals from all parts of the city and treats them like family. The food here is delicious, hygienic and ridiculously low-priced, too. So go ahead and take a gander at the place, and in the short span of a few hours you’re there, you’re likely to make more friends than you’ll know what to do with.

Check out their website here, or find them on Facebook here.