Day-2| 05-June-2011 | In Hyderabad | 61.4 kms | 671.4 kms

Woke up by 6.45 AM & after a quick bath, straight to sis’s place to grab a yummy breakfast. As it was Sunday, even sis & her hubby had agreed to come along for a day’s Hyderabad sightseeing. It was nearly 10:15 AM when we three set off for the sightseeing.

First in the list was Golkonda Fort. After zig-zag riding for around 30 mins, we landed our machines at parking place & got in with entry tickets. The fort has many sightseeing spots with slight inclination with steps. Kishore did explain few history of the fort which he had remembered during his previous visits. The fort was built by  Kaktiya Kings & later, it was capital of Qutub Shahi kingdom. On top of the fort there is ‘Do-Minar’. From the top of the fort, one can get arial view of Hyderabad city. The fort also consists many places like Mosques, Queens bath room, Durbar hall, Tombs of Qutub Shahi kings & so on. There are 3 huge water tanks in the fort & water was being pumped up the fort in those days. Man! What engineering technology they would have used??? Kishore said, there is an undergound tunnel which connects Fort & Char Minar which is kms away!

“What???” I asked myself.

First sight of the fort!

Well maintained ruins!

Do-Minar!!!

More ruins of the fort as seen from top...

Massive Hyderabad city

Fort clicked from another angle!

But the bad part of the fort is its cleanliness & people writing some stupid things on fort wall. Donno when will people be matured enough to preserve our national heritage! After around one & half hour of expedition inside the fort, we were out & reached Nandini Veg Restaurant for lunch riding in some of the narrow city streets.

Post lunch, it was Salar jung Museum in the list. While we were close to it,

“Buddy! Where are you from??” A young guy with lady in pillion asked curiously.

“Bangalore…”

“And next where???”

“Actually plan is to ride to Ladakh!”

“Wow! I have been to ladakh” he said happily.

After a couple of chit chat while on the move, we bid byes & I got into the parking lot of museum. As Camera was not allowed, I put it to rest in Cloack room & got into the museum. The main attraction in the museum was musical clock. At every hour, a cartoon man comes out of the door & rings the bell for respective number of times as the hours. Meanwhile, a goldsmith on the other side of the clock, will be continuously in action which is in synch with each second. I read the description nearby & is was written that this clock was built by British dude in some where 1950’s. The crowd had gatherd in huge number just to see this majic & trust me, it was worth it J. Apart from this, museum is very huge & has collections of almost everything like, Easter & Western Furnitures, Founders Gallery, Indian Sculpture Gallery, Veiled Rebecca (very beautiful it was), Ivory Carvings Gallery & so on. The museum has 2 floors in each Central, Western & Eastern blocks. After around an hour I got damn bored just by seeing few galleries of central block. As even my city guides were feeling bored too, we decided to head towards Char Minar & bit byes to Salar Jung Museum.

Man! Terrible narrow street nearing Char Minar & jam packed with local crowd, vehicles & tourists. In an effort to move ahead a rick banged my bikes back slightly but nothing serious at all. Parked the bike & went up to inside Char Minar to see how the surroundings look. Felt happy that I am infront of the first thing I used to see/read/hear when it was about Hyderabad. After satisfactory clicks, we got out of Char Minar & rested the bike in Birla Mandir Parking after drinking 2 tender coconuts J.

Char Minar seen for the first time

Ek Minar???

Busy streets as seen from Char Minar...

Inside Char Minar

Clicked it before bidding byes to it

Once again here, the camera & mobiles were not allowed & had to keep it in cloack room. Although the cleanliness was very well showcased in the temple, I dint find it very exciting except for the views of Hussain Sagar lake. After quick darshan, got out & road to Lumbini Park entrance which is very closed from the temple. Kishore said we can cover NTR Gardens, boat ride in Hussain Sagar Lake & Laser show in Lumbini Park.

While my sis had gone to get the tickets for Laser Show & Kishore had left his bike in street for just a min to give her some extra money, a cop jeep arrived & then you know it well. Constable said even I have to pay for my bike since I had kept it asaid. I said I dint even get down from my bike & was sitting through out. After few more arguments between senior cop & kishore about the fine, cop got angry & he lightened my wallet by taking 250 bux. Hell!

“Just for sitting in bike beside the road, do I have to pay 250 bux???” was wondering to the core. At the end, I asked him,

“Sir if you don’t mind can I ask you one question??? Can you please tell me what have you written here in this reciept??” I asked for 2 reasons. First I wanted to confirm what that idiot has written. I feel he should have become an doctor atleast for the sake of this handwriting. Damn! So pathetic. Secondly, just wanted to be sure that I don’t have any issues further. But he politely replied,

“Nothing much! I have just written you went for an argument & later apologized! Nothing to worry ahead & enjoy your trip.”

“Idiot, what to enjoy after taking 250 bux & more over, when did I even argue with you dumbo???” I gave him a punch in my mind.

Birla Mandir!!!

Hussain Sagar lake as seen from Birla Mandir

Since the scene had consumed couple of valuable time, we skipped NTR gardens & got into a boat in Hussain Sagar. Around 15 mins boat ride will take the tourists to Buddha Statue situated in middle of the lake.

“Great, If not Liberty Statue, atleast Budha Statue will do for now!!!” I said to myself happily. The eveing sunset gave me some opportunity for clicks & after a round to Budha Statue, we landed in the main land & next was Laser Show.

Kids enjoying at Lumbini Park

Sunset shot!

Great combination of clouds & colours!

Budha spotted!

“Bag main kya hain??” A security person asked while on entry to the show.

“Yeh camera bag hai!”

“Kholo!”

“Camera on karo!..”  Damn! Will any bomb be in the shape of an SLR I thought while taking the camera out.

After seeing the display, he let me off. The laser show gave a breif history of Hyderabad starting from kingdom era to tollywood era. After utilising the day very beautifully, got back to lodge, took a shower & had dinner prepared by sis. All in all, I should thank Kishore & Sis for accompanying me else I am sure I would have lost somewhere in the confused roads J.

Damn! Why do writing blogs take such a long time??? Its already mid night 12 now & am off for today.

Laser show

Another shot of the same

Can anybody tell me what the cop has written here???