India Travel
Important Telephone Numbers : Hyderabad
Cycles Bicycles can be rented for Rs 20 per day at a friendly stall on the right as you approach Hyderabad station from Nampally High Road.
Hospitals : The government-run Gandhi Hospital is in Secunderabad; the private CDR Hospital is in Himayataagari and there’s a Tropical Diseases Hospital in Nallakunta.
Internet access : The most convenient internet access is available from Satyam Online at Modern Xerox (daily 9am-10pm: s 040/460 3894, near the Ek-minar mosque, behind Nampally station, for Rs 35 per hour. Other outlets are to be found in the Abids area.
Library : The British Library at Secretariat Road (Tues-Sat 11 am-7pm; 3 040/323 0774] has a wide selection of books and recent British newspapers. Officially you must be a member or a British citizen to get in.
Pharmacies : Apollo Pharmacy and Health Pharmacy are both open 24hr.
Police : 040/323 0191.
Related Properties from Gurgaon
Addresses at Hyderabad
Hyderabadis appear to have a deep mistrust of logical, consistent road-naming, mapping and addresses. One road merges into another, some addresses refer to nothing more specific than a locality and others identify themselves as being opposite buildings that no longer exist. Just as confusing are those that have very specific addresses consisting of a string of hyphenated numbers referring to house and plot numbers, incomprehensible to anybody other than town surveyors. All this is somewhat ironic in a city that is home to one of the major sections of the Survey of India was the most important focus of Muslim
Geography around Hyderabad
As you head north from Hyderabad towards the borders of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the landscape becomes greener and more hilly, sporadically punctuated by attractive black-granite rock formations.There is little to detain visitors here except the small town of Warangal, conveniently situated on the main railway line as it loops across to the east, which warrants a stop to visit the nearby medieval fort and Shiva temple. South of the capital, vast swathes of flat farmland stretch into the centre of the state, where the Nagarjuna Sagar dam has created a major lake with the important Buddhist site of Nagarjunakonda,
Bookshops in Hyderabad
Higginbothams at 1 Lai Bahadur Stadium. Hyderabad; Gangarams. 62 DSD Rd, near Garden Restaurant in Secunderabad; and Kalaujal, Hill Fort Road, opposite the Public Gardens, which specializes in art books. Both shops offer a wide selection of literature, nonfiction titles and reference books.
Andhra Pradesh : Arrival and information
The old city of Hyderabad straddles the River Musi. Most places of interest lie south of the river, while much of the accommodation is to the north. Further north, separated from Hyderabad by the Husain Sagar Lake, is the modern twin city of Secunderabad, where some long-distance trains terminate, and where all through trains deposit passengers. If you do have to get off at Secunderabad, your ticket is valid for any connecting train to Hyderabad; and if none is imminent, many buses including #5, #8 and #20 play between both stations. Hyderabad airport, 8 km north of the city at
Hyderabad / Secunderabad
Hyderabad / Secunderabad A melting-pot of Muslim and Hindu cultures, the capital of Andhra Pradesh comprises the twin cities of HYDERABAD and SECUNDERABAD, with a combined population of around six million. Secunderabad, of little interest to visitors, is the modern administrative city founded by the British, whereas Hyderabad, the old city, with its seething bazaars. Muslim monuments and Salar Jung Museum has heaps of charm. Despite this, Hyderabad went into decline after Independence with tensions often close to the surface due to lack of funding - the old city only received 25 percent of the budget despite having 45 percent of
Buses to and from Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad to; Amaravati (2 daily; 7hr]; Bangalore (hourly; 13hr); Bidar (19 daily; 4hr); Chennai (1 daily; 16hr); Mumbai (8 daily; 17hr); Puttaparthy (3 daily; l0hr); Tirupati (7 daily; 12hr); Vijayapuri (10 daily; 4hr]; Vijayawada (every 15min; 6hr); Warangal (every 15-30min; 3hr). Tirupati to: Chennai (every 30min; 3hr30min-4hn: Kanchipuram (hourly; 3hr30min); Hyderabad (7 daily; 12hr); Mahabalipuram (3 daily; 5hr 30min; Puttaparthy (1 daily; 10hr). Vijayawada to: Amaravati (hourly; 2hr); Guntur (every 15min; 1hr-1hr30min): Hyderabad (every 15min; 6hri).
Banks and exchange in Hyderabad
Oddly for a state capital, most banks still don't do foreign exchange, two exceptions being the State Bank of Hyderabad, MG Road, and Federal Bank, 1st floor, Orient Estate. MG Road. Both are open Mon-Fri 10.30 am - 2.30 pm, the latter also Sat 10.30am-12.30pm. It's better to head for an agency such as Thomas Cook at Nasir Arcade, Secretariat Road; or L.K.P. Forex on Public Gardens Road, only ten minutes' walk north of Nampally station. Both are open Mon - Sat 9.30 am - 5.30 pm. In Secunderabad try the Allahabad Bank, next to Park Lane hotel.
Health Museum Hyderabad
Husain Sagar Hyderabad
Husain Sagar, the large expanse of water separating Hyderabad from Secunderabad, lends a welcome air of tranquility to the busy conurbation. People come here to stroll along Tank Bund, the road that runs around the eastern side of the lake, and to relax in the small parks dotted along the water's edge. In the centre of the lake stands an enormous, modern stone statue of the Buddha Purnima or "Full Moon Buddha", which was eventually erected onto its plinth in 1992, after spending a while underwater when it sank at the first attempt to transport it there. Regular boats chug
Flights to and from Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad to: Ahmedabad (4 weekly: 1hr40min): Bangalore (2-3 daily; 1hr); Calcutta (1-2 daily; 2-3hr); Chennai (3-4 daily; 1hr-1hr 45min); Cochin (2 weekly; 2hr 40min); Delhi (3 daily; 2hr-2hr10min|; Mumbai (6-7 daily; 1 hr 15min-3hr); Tirupati (1-2 daily; 55min-1hr 20min); Vishakapatnam (2 daily; 1 hr-1 hr 30min). Puttaparthy to: Mumbai (2 weekly: 1 hr 20min). Vishakapatnam to: Bhubaneswar (4 weekly; 55min); Calcutta (4 weekly; 2hr 20min); Chennai (4 weekly; 1hr 5min); Delhi (4 weekly; 3hr 35min); Hyderabad (2 daily; 1 hr-1 hr 30min); Mumbai (1 daily; 2hr45min).
Hyderabad City
Hyderabad is divided into three: Hyderabad, the old city; Secunderabad, the new (originally called Husain Shah Pura); and Golconda, the old fort. The two cities are basically one big sprawl, separated by a lake. Husain Sagar, which was created in the 1500s and named after Husain Shah Wali, who had helped Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah recover from a serious illness. A huge stone Buddha stands in the centre of the lake. The main hi-tech and film industry centres lie quite some distance to the west and south of this triangle. The most interesting area, south of the River Musi, holds the
Trains to and from Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad/Secunderabad to: Aurangabad (1 daily; 12hr 22min); Bangalore (3-1 daily; 11 hr 45min-15hr50min); Bhubaneswar (3 daily; I9hr 50min-22hr 55min): Calcutta (2 daily; 27ht 40min-33hr 15min|; Chennai (2 daily, 14hr 5min-14hr 15min); Delhi (2-3 daily; 22hr 10min-32hr 50min); Mumbai (3 daily; 15hr 35min-i7hr 40min); Timpati (3-4 daily; 14hr-15hr 30min); Varanasi (2 weekly; 30hr 15min); Vijayawada (12-13 daily: 5hr 10min-7hr 45min); Vishakapatnam (5-6 daily; 11 hr 30min-19hr 10min); Warangal (9-10 daily; 2hr 8min-3hr 18min). Tirupati to: Chennai (3 daily; 3hr 15min); Hyderabad/Secunderabad (3-4 daily; 13hr 20min-17hr 10mm); Tinjchirapalli (1 daily; 14hr 15min|; Vatanasi (1 daily: 36hr); Vijayawada (3-6daily; 6hr 25min-8hr 45min>; Vishakapatnam (2-3
History of Andhra Pradesh
Earliest accounts of the region, dating back to the time of Ashoka (third century BC), refer to a people known as the Andhras. The Satavahana dynasty (second century BC-second century AD), also known as the Andhras, came to control much of central and southern India from their second capital at Amaravati on the Krishna. They enjoyed extensive international trade with both eastern Asia and Europe, and were great patrons of Buddhism. Subsequently, the Pallavas from Tamil Nadu, the Chalukyas from Karnataksj and the Cholas all held sway. By the thirteenth century, the Kakatiyas of Warangal were under constant threat from
Moving on from Hyderabad
Daily train services from Hyderabad railway station {Nampally) include: the Charminar Express #2760 to Chennai (7pm; 14hr); the Hyderabad-Cochin Express #7030 (noon; 27hr); Andhra Pradesh Express #2723 to Delhi (6.40am; 26hr); Hyderabad-Mumbai Express #7032 (8.40pm; 17hr); East Coast Express #7046 to Calcutta (7am; 33hr) via Vijayawada (6hr), Vishakapatnam (13hr 30min) and Bhubaneswar (23hr); Rayasaleema Express #7429 to Tirupati (5.30pm; 15hr 30min). All northeast-bound services call at Warangal and most at Vijayawada. From Secunderabad, there are some originating services and many through trains in all directions. Useful services include the Konarak Express #1020 to Mumbai (10.50am; 17hr 30min), Secunderabad-Bangalore Express #7085
Kodikkarai (Point Calimere) in Central Tamil Nadu
On a small knob of land jutting out into the sea, 65km south of Nagapattinam and 80km southeast of Thanjavur, Kodikkarai Bird Sanctuary plays host to around 250 species in a 17-square-kilometre area of tidal swampland, known as "the great swamp", and dry evergreen forest. On the way to the sanctuary, you pass through- 50,000 acres of salt marshes around Vedaranyam, the nearest town, 11km north. Vast salt fields, traditionally the mainstay of the local economy, .line the road, the salt drying in thatched mounds. During the Independence struggle this was an important site for demonstrations in sympathy with Gandhi's
Eating and Dining at Hyderabad
In addition to the hotel restaurants, plenty of "meals" places around town specialize in Hyderabadi cuisine, such as authentic biryanis, or the famously chilli-hot Andhra cuisine. Hyderabadi cooking is derived from Moghul court , cuisine, featuring sumptuous meat dishes with northern ingredients such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and garlic, and traditional southern vegetarian dishes with an array of flavourings like cassia buds, peanuts, coconut, tamarind leaves, mustard seeds and red chillies. Akbar, 1-7-190 MG Rd, Secunderabad. Hyderabad cuisine at moderate prices. Amrutha Castle, Secretariat Road, Saifabad- Dineat the ground-floor Hare and Hound, presided over by suits of armour. Great-value evening
Police (100) in Calcutta
The central police station is on Lai Bazaar Street, BBD Bagh. Postal services Calcutta's imposing GPO. on the west side of BBO Bagh, houses the poste restante and has a philatelic department. The Central Telegraph Exchange is nearby at 8 Red Cross Place, close to Telephone Bhavan. the headquarters for Calcutta Telephones. If you're staying in the Sudder Street area, the New Market Post Office, Minza Ghalib Street, is much more convenient. Sending parcels is easiest from the large and friendly post office on Park Street, where enterprising individuals will handle the entire process for you for a negotiable fee.
Andhra Pradesh
Although ANDHRA PRADESH occupies a great swathe of eastern India, stretching for more than 1200 km along the coast from Orissa to Tamil Nadu and reaching far inland from the fertile deltas of the Godavari and Krishna rivers to the semi-arid Deccan Plateau, it's not a place that receives many tourists. Most foreign travelers pass through en route to its more attractive neighbors, which is understandable as places of interest are few and far between. However, the sights that Andhra Pradesh does have to offer are absorbing and well enough connected to warrant at least a few stops on a
Car rental : Hyderabad
Car rental Air Travels in Banjara Hills and Classic Travels in Secunderabad both provide a 24hr service, with or without driver.
AP state museum Hyderabad
the AP state museum (daily except Fri 10.30 am-5 pm; Rs 2) displays a modest but well-labelled collection of bronzes, prehistoric tools, copper inscription plates, weapons, household utensils and even an Egyptian mummy. There's a gallery of modern art in the new extension, too.