21 Things We'd Like To Do After This Lockdown

What's the first thing any real Hyderabadi will do? Go for biryani, of course. And Bawarchi is one of the best biryani places in Hyderabad. Standing tall on the main road of RTC X roads, you can either seat yourself in the AC dining area, rooftop or in an old cafe themed dining area if you're there to grab a quick bite. Small appetite? Eat their Mini Biryani which will set you back at INR 100. Going with a large group? Their Jumbo Biryani at INR 500 can be shared between four peeps.

When we can finally get out, we'll go watch a movie. Popcorn, cold drinks, donuts, and samosa — yup, we'll go all out and about. Perhaps we'll start with a screen with all recliner seats at AMB Cinemas. Tucked inside Sarath City Capital Mall, AMB Cinemas is one of the biggest movie theatres (or superplex, as it calls itself) in Kondapur. Of course, if it's a Telugu movie, we'll find ourselves at Sandhya or Sudarshan or at any of these iconic cinema halls. 

Adventure lovers, you don't have to travel too long to quench your thirst for kayaking. The Kotapally Reservoir in Vikarabad arranges plenty of water activities and you can head out there for your share of a kayak. Raft in the lake all you like and explore the surroundings when you're done. Several food stalls are set up around the lake and you can indulge in some roasted corn after a strenuous water activity. But you can also picnic at the lake by carrying your own snacks and eatables.

Soap Football in Kavuri Hills is all about thrills and giggles. It might be tough to score a goal when you’re tumbling down with your homies down the soap, but hey, all is fair in Soap Football. Yo, you heard that right. This Brazilian take on classic football has forayed into our city, and we cannot keep calm. This giant football arena is attracting football enthusiasts, beginners, etc. but if you haven’t gotten your hand (slimely) at it, now is the time. Picture a large blue (inflatable) turf with plenty of soapy water; while scoring a goal is what you got to aim, good luck doing that while slipping. Dab and dunk yourself in foam if you score a goal!

Our mouth waters as we type this, and we cannot bear this separation anymore. Pani puri — our ultimate favourite dish is obviously the first street food dish we'll hog on. We'll probably hit up Bombay Juice Centre, Sri Radhe, Maheshwari Chaat, or any of these top pani puri places.

Experience European architecture and slow-paced life at Teen Duari Farmhouse. At 30KM away from Hyderabad, this farmhouse truly comes as a surprise. It's named Teen Duari because of its three-arched entrance doors which are massive. These lead you to a plush stay that can make a home for 10 people. Taking inspiration from old school European architecture, this stay allows you to peek into the bygone era. Go here with your fam and unwind properly, please! 

Hidden in the bylanes of Banjara Hills, Kilol is a dainty clothing store that stocks up everything block print from Jaipur. If you're looking for easy-breezy dresses, kurtas, dupattas, and even bottoms, you can get them from Kilol. Check out their straight-cut suits and saree collection. Adorned with lovely floral and traditional prints, you will be spoilt for choice. Also, these folks have home linen made from pure cotton — everything you need for summer

We obviously cannot wait to venture out for some TLC. We'll go get our hair and nails done at Tease Dry Bar in Jubilee Hills. Their specialty service is their Hair Wash and Blow Dry. Want to go beyond styling? Apart from Hair Spa Filler Therapy, Tease pampers your tresses with a Deep Infusion spa. All said and done, if you’re left with a couple of minutes, get your nails done. From gel and matte to nail art and extensions like acrylic, gel, they do it all.

What can we do for some fresh air now? Anything. Which means, staying home so we can run wild sooner or later. Next on our bucket list is to go for a run at KBR Park. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park, known as KBR will make you want to kiss your treadmill goodbye. Spread over a large area, the park houses rare species of flora and the water bodies surrounding it make the running experience all the more beautiful. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a peacock.

Sentido Coffee Brewers has quite hammered the art of making coffee, and we cannot wait to get some of their Mazagran. Touted as one of the best coffee shops in both Kondapur and Gachibowli, where your senses will be engulfed in all things coffee as you stand behind the counter and watch the baristas pull off magic with panache. We love their pour-over and AeroPress but we recommend you check out what's new of their coffee menu and sip away! Discover more coffee shops here. 

We now love and appreciate our home and family more than ever, now. As a tiny contribution to a favourite corner of our home, we're going to get a home decor accent for Autumn Leaf Home Studio. From distressed furniture to beauties made from cast iron, carved wood recycled wood, you can find some rare and classic curated stuff along with the items the studio produces. Perhaps your mum might like their printed coasters or wine holders. 

Tabula Rasa in Jubilee Hills is inarguably our favourite venue when it comes to gigs. Whether it's bringing down international artists or encouraging homegrown brands like Merakee, Capricio, or indie artists, Tabula Rasa basically is the boss of cool! This bar is also great for quiet lunch dates. You can also check out other venues for gigs here.

Sure you can score great views and take long walks near Hussain Sagar but here's something more exciting. There's a new go-karting arena — Pitstop Go Karting and we recommend hitting it up with your squad. Since it's a new place, you can expect smooth tracks and powerful go-karts. As it falls under an affordable price bracket, you can host your birthday party here without breaking the bank. It costs around INR 300 for seven laps.

The Sunday Book Bazaar at Abids is worth getting up early for. No really! With second-hand books starting at prices as low as INR 10, you never know what you are going to find. With National Geographic‘s hardbound magazines dating back to the 70s and the 80s sold at INR 50 per copy, magazine collectors can go as much nostalgic as they want. Some of these books are gems – Christian Dior’s biography, Still, Life by Praneet Soi, Modern German Painting and Sculpture, Who’s Who In The Theatre, Treasury of Stamps, etc. are sold from INR 99.

Just a couple of kilometres away from the urban concrete jungle lies Qutb Shahi Tombs which are the seven successive generations of the Qutb Shahi dynasty that ruled Hyderabad for about 170 years. Forming a large cluster, these tombs are known for their architectural design and are often frequented by photographers. These tombs are often said to form a golden triangle with Golconda Fort and Taramati Baradari in the same proximity. You've got to be here during the sunset is amazing, and we recommend getting here by 5 pm.

Fond of literature and plays? Then, make your way to Lamakaan — one of the city’s favourite cultural spaces. Unwind after a long day at their poetry recitals or plays. But be sure to check their Facebook page here because you’ll find several events that will catch your eye. While you're there, don't miss out on their iconic samosa and chai.

Walk to Kondapur Dog Park and spend some lovely time in the company of doggos. The park is shaped like a bone and has a splash pool, a walking track, dog training and exercise equipment, an amphitheater and a loo cafe as well. There are separate enclosures for big doggos and small ones to ensure the comfort of both humans and dogs. Sit at the amphitheatre or on a bone-shaped bench & enjoy dog shows and training sessions that take place here. There's a gazebo for days when it's too sunny, or simply to sit back and read a book.

Known for its delightful waffle cone ice creams and the Mighty Midas Touch 24Karat Gold ice cream, Huber & Holly is home to rich desserts. While the 24Karat Gold ice-cream (the Mighty Midas) isn’t terrific to eat, it needs to be tried just one time for the experience of it.  A cone is slathered with chocolate and dotted with mini gold balls. In goes the ice cream scoops, brownies chunks, nuts, chocolate sauce, more chocolate sauce and loads of whipped cream. And then the final touch, a delicate edible gold foil is put as a topping, and you are ready to eat your 24K gold dessert. Also, it’s super Instagrammable!

You, Me & Bonsai — a garden store in Secunderabad is a one-year-old store that sells all things bonsai. Plus, they also train interested individuals in curating a bonsai from scratch. The store is passionate about the art of bonsai, and they craft different forms of it that include Chinese lucky plants, fruit, and flower-bearing along with desert rose and rare ficus varieties. With end-to-end bonsai solutions like pre-bonsai material, mesh, pots, readymade bonsai soil, tools for beginners, nutrition, pesticides, and the like, let's just say all the needs are sorted.

The joy of walking the streets of the Old City during the nights is breathtaking. The stores and the stalls are all festive and lit up, and we cannot tell you how amazing the aroma of kebabs and street food is! So we totally plan to visit Laad Bazaar to buy fabric, earrings, and just to take in the spirit!