Nehru Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park or Hyderabad Zoo is located in Bahadurpura, Hyderabad, Telangana, India was established October 26, 1959. It was declared open to the public on October 6, 1963. The Park extends over 380 acres, abutting the Miralam Tank on the southern side and National Highway No.:7 on the eastern boundary. It is the premier recreation spot in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Nehru Zoological Park has successfully bred several endangered wild animals both indigenous and exotic, like Asiatic Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger(both normal and White), Gaur, Blackbuck, Thamin Deer, Swamp Deer, Sloth Bear, Malayan Sun Bear, Hippopotamus, Jaguar, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Grey Pelcian, Rosy Pelican, Several Pheasants, Crocodiles, Green Iguana, etc,.

Whild Animals like Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Peafowl, Crocodiles, etc which have been bred in the Zoo have been rehabilitated in the sanctuaries and National Parks of the State.

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad is one of the first zoos in the Country to display the animals in open moated enclosures with no barriers in between the visitors and the animals. The zoo was established with this concept and was opened to public viewing on 06.10.1963. Since then the zoo kept on adding new facilities. The Lion Safari Park which was established in 1974 and Nocturnal Animal House established in the year 1982 were first of its kind in the country.

At Present this zoo is displaying animals belonging to 140 species numbering 1334. During this period this zoo received Common Marmosets, Spoon Bills from Alipore Zoo, Kolkata. Pig Tailed Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard Cats from Sipahijala Zoo, Tripura and Mouse Deers from Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Park, Tirupati, 6 Nos of White backed Vultures from Sakkarbagh Zoo There are other animal exchange programmes belongs this Zoo and Patna & Mysore Zoos in the pipe line.

During this period most of the animal enclosures and visitor facilities were revamped. Efforts were made to make the zoo a plastic free area, A Plastic regulation counter was opened at the entrance gate which provides paper bags in place of polythine bags. Additional booking counters, Visitors Shelters, resting areas were created for the visitors.

This Zoo is spread over an area of 380 acres and a visitor can't see all the enclosures in one day on foot. Therefore bicycles were introduced in the zoo, and the visitors can hire these bicycles and can go around the zoo. This is helping the visitors in visiting the zoo completely.

There is more charm to a visit to the Nehru Zoological Park these days for few more species have been added to the wide and varied collection of animals, birds and reptiles here.

A pair Himalayan Goral which was brought here from Chattbir Zoo of Punjab as part of animal exchange programme last year, has given birth to a fawn a the zoo on Monday.

And there’s more. A pair of Albino Black Buck which was also brought under exchange from Chattbir Zoo too have given birth to a fawn a few weeks ago.

The zoo veterinarians said the new borns were in good health condition and are being cared by a team of animal keepers.

Timings : 8:30AM–4:30PM

Entry Fee
35 per Adult
20 per Child
25 for Amateur Still Camera
110 for Amateur Video Camera
500 for Professional Video Camera
1500 for trucks for film shooting
1000 for Car/Jeep

55 for Battery operated vehicles 

Now, those visiting the Nehru Zoological Park can book their ticket online by a few clicks, and avail WiFi facility within the Nehru Zoological Park premises. Minister for Forests and Environment Jogu Ramanna on Wednesday inaugurated the online portal www.hyderabadzoo.com which one can visit to book the tickets. This is the first time that any zoo in the country has introduced this facility, he said.

Those who book online will get their ticket on their mobile phone, which they can swipe at the special entrance for online bookings to enter the zoo. The online facility will be maintained by an outsourced agency, and handling charges will be levied on the tickets, apart from service tax and Swachh Bharat cess.

Source
http://www.hydzoo.com
https://telanganatoday.news/more-charm-nehru-zoo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehru_Zoological_Park

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Salarjung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Darushifa on the southern bank of the Musi River in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the three National Museums of India.

The present museum building was constructed on the southern bank of River Musi, which is in close proximity to the important monuments of old city of Hyderabad like the historic Charminar, Mecca Masjid etc. The collections of the Museum and the library were transferred from Dewan Deodi to the new building in the year 1968, and two more buildings were added in the year 2000.

Collection of Objects
The Museum has a magnificent global collection of art objects and antiques not only of Indian origin, but mostly from countries Western, a sizable collection hails from Middle Eastern and Far Eastern origins. Apart from these, there is a Children's section, a rich reference library which contains reference books, large collection of rare manuscripts etc. Thus, this Museum has become popular, not only as a place of interest but also as an institution for education.

Out of the several rare objects, one of the important and interesting object collected by Salar Jung I was “Vellied Rebecca” an enchanting marble statue which was acquired by him from Rome in 1876 during his visit to Italy. The western collection are from England, Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Germany. A set of Ivory chairs said to have been presented by Louis XVI of France to Tippu Sultan of Mysore deserve special mention. A jade book-stand “Rehal” having the name of ‘Shamsuddin Altamish’, an archer’s ring inscribed with the legend Sahib-e-Quran-e-Sani, title of the Mughal Emperor, Shahjahan are masterpieces. A dagger and a fruit knife made in jade decorated with precious stones are said to belong to Jehangir and Noorjehan respectively. A good number of Indian Miniature Paintings in early style of Western India of 14th and 15th Centuries representing Krishna Leela themes are also form part of the Museum’s Collection. There are good number of Arabic and Persian Manuscripts dated to 19th century and Shah-nama by Furadausi are also among the valuable collection of the Museum. A rare manuscript entitled ‘Lilawati” on mathematics and an ancient medical encyclopedia transcribed in India is in the collection. Oil and water paintings form an important part of the European collections.

It has a collection of sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, metallic artefacts, carpets, clocks, and furniture from Japan, China, Burma, Nepal, India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, and North America. The museum's collection was sourced from the property of the Salar Jung family. It is one of the largest museums in the world.

The Salar Jung Museum houses the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century.

The Indian historical collections includes
The paintings of legendary Raja Ravi Varma
Aurangzeb's sword
Jade crafted daggers of Emperor Jehangir, Noorjahan and Shah Jahan
A wardrobe of Tipu Sultan
A tiffin box made of gold and diamond

The furniture collection includes pieces from the time of King Louis XIV and Napoleon. Salar Jung III collected about 43,000 artifacts and 50,000 books and manuscripts out of which only few are displayed in today's museum.

 Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889–1949), former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion. The collections left behind in his ancestral palace, 'Diwan Deodi', were formerly exhibited there as a private museum which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. 

Old timers believe that the present collection constitutes only half of the original art wealth collected by Salar Jung III. His employees siphoned off part of it, since Salar Jung was unmarried and depended upon his staff to keep a vigil. Some more art pieces were lost or stolen during the shifting of the museum from Diwan Deodi to the present site

Later in 1968, the museum shifted to its present location at Afzal Gunj and is administered by a Board of Trustees with the Governor of Telangana as ex officio chairperson under the Salar Jung Museum Act of 1961.

The museum building, semicircular in shape with 38 galleries, spread on two floors, displays only a part of the original collection. The ground floor has 20 galleries and the first floor has 18 galleries. The exhibits on different subjects are displayed in separate galleries. Each gallery is huge and has many artifacts on display including ones dating back to the 4th century.

Apart from the galleries, there is a reference Library, reading room, publication and education section, chemical conservation lab, sales counter, cafeteria etc. Guides are available at fixed timings free of charge.

There are Aurangzeb's daggers belonging to empress Noor Jahan, emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the turbans and chair of Tipu Sultan, furniture from Egypt, paintings on display. Among the sculptures stands out the world famous statue of Veiled Rebecca by G.B. Benzoni, an Italian sculptor, in 1876. Her beautiful face hazily is visible through a marble but gossamer veil. Equally captivating is a double-figure wood sculpture. It stands before a mirror and shows the facade of a nonchalant Mephistopheles and the image of a demure Margaretta in the mirror. The eastern section is of equal importance with its wide variety of silk weaving and different art forms, including layer wood cutting paintings, porcelain works and many more, dating back to almost 2nd century.

The museum has a famous Quran collection, from around the world in different fonts and designs, called the Quran Written with Gold and Silver. There are many more collections of religious books,as well as Arabic Quran.

A variety and array of clocks greet the visitor in the clock room. There are ancient sundials in the form of obelisks to huge and modern clocks of the twentieth century. Others in the range vary from miniature clocks which need a magnifying glass to imbibe their beauty and complexity to stately grandfather clocks from as far away as France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Britain including the musical clock Salar Jung bought from Cook and Kelvey of England. Every hour, a timekeeper emerges from the upper deck of the clock to strike a gong as many times as it is the hours of the day. The clock is an antique.

The Salar Jung Museum possesses a good number of clocks collected from different European countries such as France, England, Switzerland, Germany, Holland etc. The variety includes the Bird cage clocks, Bracket clocks, Grandfather clocks, Skeleton clocks, etc. The museum is also having some good examples of the clocks of the contemporary period of Louis XV, Louis XVI, and Napoleon 1st of France. The most important clock which attracts the greatest number of visitors everyday is however, a British Bracket clock. It has got a mechanical device by which a miniature toy figure comes out of an enclosure and strikes the gong and then returns to the enclosure at each hour.

The Indian Parliament has declared the museum an Institution of National Importance.

Activities of the Museum:
The Museum is regularly organizing special exhibitions and workshops in collaboration with International Museums and organizations. The museum publishes guide-Books, brochures, research Journals, and books on selected subjects in English, Hindi and Urdu languages. Seminars and workshops are being organized on special occasions such as – Birthday celebrations of Salar Jung III, Museum Week, Children’s Week etc., as part of its educational activities. As one of the museums of “National importance” in India, the Salar Jung Museum is meant to function as a cultural centre through its exhibits, research projects and planned activities as a cultural centre both in educational and as a centre of national integration.

Address: Salar Jung Road, Darulshifa, Hyderabad, Telangana 500002, India

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salar_Jung_Museum

http://salarjungmuseum.in/

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Hyderabad District

Head Quarters        : Hyderabad

Revenue divisions    : 2 (Hyderabad and Secunderabad )

Mandals              : 16 
Population           : 3,943,323
Area (km2)           : 217 square kilometres (84 sq mi)
Literacy             : 83.25%
Highways             : NH-44‎, ‎NH-65‎, ‎NH-163‎, ‎NH-765
Rivers               : Musi

Vehicle Registration : TS 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
Collector            : Rahul Bojja

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Hyderabad City Museum

City Museum is a museum located in Purani Haveli, Hyderabad, Telangana, India situated in the palace.

The museum was inaugurated on 11 March 2012 by Nizam`s Jubilee Pavilion Trust chairman, Prince Muffakham Jah, the grandson of the last ruler of Hyderabad state Mir Osman Ali Khan.

City Museum is the first of its kind in India, which focuses on the history of the city of Hyderabad, from times beyond its inception to the present day.

It presents glimpses of the historical, commercial, cultural and social fabric of the beautiful city that is Hyderabad from its foundation up to the present times.

A touch screen multimedia kiosk provides quick information about the origin, popular legends, places worth visiting and landmarks of 50 Mohall’s (localities) and other trivia of Hyderabad in Hindi, Urdu, Telugu and English.

The area that constitutes Hyderabad today was inhabited four thousand years ago. The city Museum retraces some of those steps back to Megalithic times, to the Kakatiya’s of Warangal , to when Golconda one of the world’s leading diamond trading centres attracted tradesmen and travellers from the world over and was evocative of incredible glamour , unparalled riches and romantic splendour.

The documented history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of a civilian population in the fortress of Golconda in the times of the Kakatiya rulers. The civilian population grew in the Bahmani period. Under the Qutub Shahis, Golconda became a capital city of prosperous, cultured Sultanate. Then a new garden suburb outside the fortress was designed and built in 1591 and the name of Hyderabad Tirot appeared. The Mughals conquered Golconda and the city suffered a period of decline. Then the Asaf Jahs ruled for over two hundred and fifty years. The city of Hyderabad again became a capital and flourished. Under Mir Osman Ali Khan , the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, the city made rapid strides and perhaps the biggest transformation occurred during his reign . Post – Independence Hyderabad continued to prosper as the capital city of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh. In the past two decades there has been tremendous growth and the city has witnessed modern and exciting developments contributing to Indian Revitalisation.

The growth of the city is traced through seven specially designed maps that use Golconda as a Reference. These maps depict important periods in the development of the city and indicate the city progression in each of these phases the maps traces the progression from 13th century to 21st Century.

The Museum unfolds brief glimpses into various aspects of the city serves, early evidence ,Trade and Commerce, Arms and Weapons, the fabrics of Golconda, Post and Communication, Coins and Currency, Transport, Medicine, Education, arts and crafts, architecture, culture and the cuisine of Hyderabad through original objects, charity, Photographers and explanatory notes.

The display area sheds light on Trade and Commerce, Weights and Measures, Textiles, Post and Communication, Transport, Education, Calligraphy, Architecture, Art and Craft, Hyderabadi cuisine, and people. The artefacts on display include qahwa cups encrusted with Golconda diamonds, perfume bottles studded with pearls, ivory walking sticks, crafted swords and draggers, rare and old stamps and coins, silver and filigree objects and more.

The museum houses neolithic pots, megalithic sites, European styled terracotta figurines, coins of Satvahana period among others.

Former prince Muffakham Jah, chairman of the Nizam's Jubilee Pavilion Trustwhich established the museum said, "This is an extension of the Nizam Museum on the same premises which was opened in 2000. 

The research and groundwork for this venture took two years to complete and involved contributions from many historians. The museum showcases evidence that humans inhabited the city nearly 4000 years ago and also displays various achievements of the people over the years." He further added, "One can find the answers to many intriguing questions about the city in this museum. I hope it will generate the interest of both residents and tourists."

Among the exhibits at the museum are Neolithic pots discovered at Patancheru.

The purchase of one ticket will permit entry to the Nizam Museum, the City Museum as well as a glimpse into the gigantic wardrobe of the sixth Nizam.

Source

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Unveiling-the-past/articleshow/12226728.cms?referral=PM

http://www.hehnmh.com/city-museum

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Nizam Museum

Nizam Museum or H.E.H Nizam's Museum is a museum located in Purani Haveli, Hyderabad, Telangana, India is a  palace of the erstwhile Nizams.

In the heart of old Hyderabad, a few lanes away from the iconic Charminar, lies a fascinating collection of articles belonging to the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. 

This museum showcases the gifts that the last Nizam of Hyderabad state, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII received on his silver jubilee celebrations.

The museum is a repository mainly of souvenirs, gifts and mementos presented by dignitaries to the
last Nizam gifts and mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1936. Models made of silver of all the landmark buildings in Hyderabad, and citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan.

A golden, wooden throne used for the silver jubilee celebrations of the Last Nizam, a gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, miniature repilica of the Jubilee Hall, glass inlay painting of Mir Osman Ali Khan. Also, a wooden writing box studded with mother-of-pearl, diamond and gold-studded daggers, caskets, and silver ittardans (perfume containers) presented by the raja of palvancha. silver coffee cups studded with diamonds and silver filigree elephant with mahout are on display.

A 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard and a Jaguar Mark V are among the vintage cars on display.

The museum also features the wardrobe of the sixth nizam, a 150-year-old manually operated lift, and 200-year-old proclamation drums.

The museum was opened on 18 February 2000 by the Nizam Trust to the general public.

The collection has been recently housed in the HEH Nizam Museum, located in the stately “Purani Haveli”, which holds a special place for the last ruling dynasty as several Nizams were born and spent parts of their lives there. 

“The HEH Nizam Museum was created by the Nizam trust as a tribute to the development that Hyderabad state saw during Osman Ali Khan and his father’s rule. The Nizam put together a vast collection which he kept adding to, later making a trust to hold and display this collection to the public,” says Bhaskar Rao, chief curator of the museum. 

During India’s partition, the state of Hyderabad was the largest princely state in the country and with a population of roughly 16.34 million people, had its own army, airline, telecommunication system, railway network, postal system and radio broadcasting service. As one enters the rather ordinary-looking museum, there is a plethora of history from perfume bottles and cups studded with pearls, to a model of the Arts College, Osmania University – which was declared open by the Nizam on December 4, 1939. 

The entire museum, which The News Minute visited, is covered with displays and old wooden wardrobes, besides models made of silver of all the landmark buildings in Hyderabad, and citations in Urdu about Mir Osman Ali Khan. 

The real eye-catching piece is however, a golden throne placed at the end of the room. The throne was used for the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Last Nizam. 

The museum also features the infamous wardrobe of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, besides a 150-year-old manually operated lift and 200-year-old proclamation drums. Khan was rumoured to have never worn the same clothes twice which resulted in the 72m-long, two-storey Burmese teak wardrobe at the end of the museum. The cupboard, which is said to have 130 doors, also showcases the clothes worn by his wife and a huge collection of footwear. 

The main building which accommodates the Nizam’s museum is flanked by two long wings running parallel to each other. The Nizam’s collection is just one of the wings. 

The other is the Hyderabad City Museum – “an extension built in 2012,” the aging curator adds with a smile. “While the Nizam Museum offers a glimpse into the 19th and 20th century, the city museum manages to trace the history of the area to more than 4,000 years ago. (No exclamation marks please) 

We don't know what Hyderabad was called before 1591, but pots excavated in a recent dig a few years ago, show that we all go back a long time,” Rao says. The galleries of the City Museum give the visitor a perspective of how Hyderabad evolved over centuries as it traces the growth of civilization in the area. Split up into different subsections - transport, art and culture, crafts, science and technology, jewellery, medicine, cuisine, architecture and so on, it is adorned with breathtaking history. 

The artifacts stored here are priceless and photography is banned in this segment of the museum to avoid any untoward accidents. There is also a chronological timeline which shows the prominent landmarks springing up like the Golconda Fort - which is the oldest followed by the Qutb Shahi Tombs, Purana Pul, Charminar and Mecca Masjid. 

When asked about how many people visit the museum, Rao says, “The museum still gets a considerable amount of visitors daily but as cities grow, children are not able to comprehend the importance of history. People go to shopping malls instead of museums nowadays.” The chief curator also adds that a majority of visitors come from other places rather than Hyderabad. “Only a minority of the visitors are from Hyderabad. Everyone is moving forward at a rapid pace and I agree that development is needed, but should it be at the price of forgetting our own history?” Rao asks

H.E.H. The Nizam’s Museum,
Purani Haveli,

Hyderabad – 500 002. A. P.

Visiting days of the museum: 6 days a week (Friday closed.) Timings: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 040 – 2452 1029

E-mail: heh_njpt@yahoo.com

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizam_Museum

http://www.hehnmh.com

http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/losing-hyderabad-heh-nizam-museum-glimpse-citys-past

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Taramati Baradari

Taramati Baradari is a historical sarai as part of Ibrahim Bagh, a Persian style garden built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, the second Sultan of Golconda

The Baradari was constructed on the banks of the Musi river. Today, the region comes under the city limits of Hyderabad, India. The tourism department attributes the name to the reign of the Seventh Sultan of Golconda, Abdullah Qutb Shah who as an ode to his favorite courtesan, Taramati, is said to have named the sarai Taramati Baradari.

The tourism department promotes the location by romantic stories linking the then-Sultan with a courtesan named Taramati.

One such story goes that during the reign of Abdullah Qutb Shah, he used to hear Taramati’s voice as she sang for travelers at the serai, while he sat two kilometers away at Golconda fort. Her melodious voice was carried by the breeze, reaching the prince’s ear at the fort. There is no recorded report of the same.

Another fable tells of two ravishing dancing sisters, Taramati and Premamati, who danced on ropes tied between their pavilion and the balcony of the king and patron, Abdulla Qutub Shah.

About half a mile north of the fort lies his grave amid a cluster of carved royal tombs. Here lie buried the Qutub Shahi kings and queens in what once their rose gardens.

As a tribute to Taramati and Premamati, they both were buried in the royal cemetery of the Qutub Shahi kings.

Taramati Baradari pavilion has 12 doorways and was constructed to allow cross ventilation and is one of the most indigenous techniques to have been used at that time.

The open pavilion includes other facilities like an air-cooled theatre with capacity of 500 people, open-air auditorium with capacity of 1600 people, Banquet Hall with capacity of 250, and multi-cuisine restaurant.

Taramati Baradari is an attractive destination in Hyderabad. It is also a perfect way to spend an evening or a weekend. Haritha Resort run by Telangana Tourism here has all the amenities, which can give you a fresh lease of energy for a nice sojourn.

The rooms of the resort are spacious and user friendly. The resort has an Open Air Auditorium, which is ideal for corporate gatherings and private events. It also has an Air Cooled Theatre and Banquet Hall that are a perfect fit for special events, conferences and exhibitions. It comes with an attached pantry, a multi – cuisine A/C restaurant and a 50 PAX A/c Bar for spending some quality time.

The resort also has a souvenir shop and swimming pool that comes with a modern health club with best facilities for fitness and leisure. There are A/C suites and A/C rooms that can be an ideal way to enjoy luxury in the vicinity of a prominent monument. Spending time close to a heritage destination with best accommodation and quality food, with all trappings of a resort has never been this wonderful!

Address: Near PBEL City, Ramdev Guda, Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad, 500031, India

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/stay/hyderabad/haritha-taramati-baradari-resort.html

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Sudha Cars Museum

Sudha Cars Museum located in Bahadurpura, Hyderabad, Telangana, India is the first and only handmade Wacky Car museum in the World. It is the brainchild of Mr. K. Sudhakar, a Guinness World Record Holder for making the Largest Tricycle in theWorld.

Mr. Sudhakar, got hooked on to this hobby right from his school days. At the age of 14 he first designed a bicycle and the very next year at the age of 15 he made his first "Easy Rider Motorbike". He tried his hands on a four-wheeler when he was studying in Intermediate II year and created a stunning, rugged looking "Dune Buggy".

Known for designing cars in the shapes of computer, skating shoe, football, brinjal, car designer K Sudhakar of Sudha Cars Museum here has now come out with a car measuring 26-feet tall.

Sudhakar, a Guinness World record-holder for creating a largest tricycle in the world, is now attempting another Guinness World Record with his new creation "The Largest Stationary Art Car Model" in the World.

Pearl White Car, with handmade metal wheels of diameter 9 feet, standing 26-feet tall, 50-feet long and 19-feet wide, is modeled on the 1922 Ford Tourer, and is on display at his museum.

"This car has been designed and built over the past three years. It has been specially designed and made for children who are regular visitors to the museum," Sudhakar said, adding that he has applied for Guinness World Record.

The car made of mild steel and Aluminum is fully air-conditioned. It has two floors and a terrace with the carrier serving as a railing. The bonnet houses the Formula 1 car with the backdrop of racing track, the ground floor interior wall has a three dimensional vintage car, and a European House, Sudhakar explained.

"There is a giant chess board with chessmen hanging upside down from the roof and Mini hot Air balloons floating in the air and a staircase leading to the terrace. The chessmen are intricately designed using kitchen utensils," he added.

An innovative designer of cars, Sudhakar's collections include cars in the shape of a cricket bat, a cricket ball, a shoe, a bag, a double bed, a sofa, a cigarette and a high- heeled shoe among others and most of them are made of scrap.

Address

19-5-15/1/D, Bahadurpura X-Road,
Near Zoo Park, Hyderabad - 64,
Andhra Pradhesh, India.

+91-939-190-5413
sudhacarsmuseum@rediffmail.com
Source
http://www.sudhacars.com
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/auto/story/sudhakar-attempts-another-record-by-designing-26-ft-tall-car/1/501117.html

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NTR Gardens

NTR Gardens located in Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India is a small public, urban park of 36 acres (0.15 km2; 0.056 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain

Sagar lake in Hyderabad, India. Constructed in several phases since 1999, the area that is predominantly a park is geographically located in the centre of the city, and is close to other tourist attractions such as Birla Mandir, Necklace Road and Lumbini Park.

It is maintained by the Buddha Purnima Project Authority that functions under the directives of the Government of Telangana.

In 1999, a land of 5 acres (20,000 m2) from a 55-acre (220,000 m2) plot was utilized for erecting a memorial for N. T. Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of unbifurcated Andhra Pradesh. It was inaugurated by Chandrababu Naidu.

It was planned to further expand this area, which has since been referred to as NTR Gardens, by constructing a museum about N. T. Rama Rao. This memorial was a part of the Buddha Purnima Project that was being handled by Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) for the beautification and development of the Hussain Sagar lake and its surroundings as a major tourist attraction.

The Garden offers various kinds of recreational options as well. Some of these are boat ride, Japanese garden, Roaring Cascade, a Fountain, etc. There is a Children's playing area that keeps kids entertained. The massive entrance plaza with Nandi Bulls is also quite captivating.

A mini train on a single track takes the visitors all around the garden making your visit all the more enjoyable. Along with toy train, there is a wide array of recreational facilities at the NTR Garden. One of the latest additions to the NTR garden is the Desert Garden, brian child of Mr. Nitish Roy, who has designed this project. It is consisted of about 150 plant varieties, mainly of those plans which are commonly referred as desert plants such as cacti, succulents, etc. The plants, which also boast of medicinal importance and are used for various herbal remedies, have been brought to Hyderabad from various parts of the country like Kolkata, Shirdi, etc.

The garden has been created in such a way that it offers a breathtaking natural surroundings along with ample of entertaining activities. Excellent facilities for food are also provided at the garden. Various eat out joints, car cafe and fruit restaurant which is a 2000-square-metre restaurant circumvented by three petal-shaped ponds offer not just mouth watering dishes but also beautiful setting to relish the same. The Car Cafes are primarily cafes with seating capacity of six and which are mobile. This offers visitors unique cafe experiences.

Another attraction is the ‘Machan Restaurant’ which is a multi storeyed restaurant that has been built on a tree shape. The trunk has been built by using massive concrete planks while the branches are created with fiberglass and painted with green colour, giving it the look of a real tree. Also try out local food items from the various stalls such as mirchi bajji while relaxing amid the beauty of this garden.

Timings : 12.30 PM to 9 PM

Entry Fee

15 per Adult
10 per Child
30 for Still Camera
65 for Camcorder

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTR_Gardens

http://www.hyderabadtourism.travel/ntr-gardens-hyderabad

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Birla Science Museum

B. M. Birla Science Museum is an Indian science museum located in Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Constructed by civil engineer Mr. P. A. Singaravelu, it comprises a planetarium, museum, science center, art gallery as well as a dinosaurium. The museum itself was the second phase of the science center when it opened in 1990.

The Birla Planetarium is a wing of the Science Center. The planetarium was inaugurated by Mr. N.T. Rama Rao, on 8 September 1985 and is one of three Birla Planetariums in India. The others are the M.P. Birla Planetarium in Kolkata and B.M. Birla Planetarium in Chennai.

The Dinosaurium is the newest addition to the planetarium and science center and opened in 2000.
Its exhibits include a 160-million-year-old mounted Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, excavated at Adilabad district in Telangana and presented to the Science Museum by the Geological Survey of India.

The Dinosaurium also has a collection of smaller fossils of dinosaur eggs, marine shells and fossilised tree trunks.The Dinosaurium was the next phase of the Centre. A unique Natural History Gallery, the Dinosaurium was dedicated to the nation in July 2000. It is a truly breathtaking facility which displays a rare and magnificent fossil of the Dinosaur, Kotasaurus, belonging to the Lower Jurassic age, going back to about 160 million years.

After accumulating the skeletal remains of a dinosaur, fish, eggs and a tree trunk dating back to millions of years, the B.M. Birla Science Centre is now planning to set up a gallery for minerals and rocks.

The Science Centre seeks to gather about 50 to 60 samples of minerals and rocks from different parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and showcase them by setting up a separate gallery.

“Both the States have a rich and varied mineral and rock representation and different regions boast of a different presence. We intend to acquire a representative sample and showcase them,” said B.G. Sidharth, Director, Birla Science Centre.

The Gallery of Minerals from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh would have samples that have been picked up by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) over the decades. “There is very little awareness on mineral and rock diversity of both States and this initiative will create knowledge for the general public on the mineral wealth here,” he said. Meanwhile, the Dinosaurium at Science Centre, which will be completing 15 years in a couple of months, continues to be a major draw. The skeletal remains of a 160-million-year-old mounted dinosaur, over 44 ft in length and 16 ft in height, is the main attraction here.

The Palaeontology wing of the GSI during excavations at Yamanapally site in Adilabad district had gathered more than 840 skeletal parts of the Sauropod dinosaur between 1974 and 1980. The remains were found to belong to 12 individual dinosaurs from a single species and the GSI team named them ‘Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis’. Interestingly, the skull of the mounted dinosaur skeleton came as a gift from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The Dinosaurium also has on display flora and fauna from the early Jurassic Age, including a fish fossil that measures 12 cm, a tree trunk standing over 4 ft and a few leaves. “All these date back to 160 million years and were found during excavations at Yamanapally,” said Dr. Sidharth. And completing a trip down the Jurassic Age here happens to be a nest with four dinosaur eggs!

Address: Ambedkar Colony, Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana 500004, India

Timings: 11.30 AM to 8 PM

Birla Planetarium Hyderabad Show Timings: (11:30 AM - English) | (12:15 PM - Telugu) | (03:00 PM - Telugu) | (04:00 PM - English) | (05:00 PM - Telugu) | (06:00 PM - English) | (06:45 PM - Telugu) | (07:30 PM - Hindi)

Birla Planetarium Entry Fee : Rs.80/-
Combo (Planetarium + Science Museum): Rs.150/-

Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birla_Science_Museum
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/plans-afoot-to-expand-birla-science-centre/article7083545.ece

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KBR National Park

Kasu Brahmanandha reddy National park is located in Jubliee Hills, Banjara Hills and Film Nagar in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

The park has an approximate area of 390-acre (1.6 km2). The entire park was declared as a National park in the year 1998. It is located centrally in Jubilee Hills and is described as a jungle amidst the concrete jungle. It has peacocks and other animals.

Chiran Palace was built in 1940. The entire palace complex is spread over an area of 400 acre and was given to Prince Mukarram Jah on his coronation by his father Prince Azam Jah in 1967.

The complex has the palace and besides it the other property include Mor (peacock) bungalow on a hillock, Gol Bungalow; stables for elephant, horses and cattle, motor khana that housed a fleet of exquisite vintage cars, a workshop for heavy machinery, petrol pump, several outhouses, two wells and an equal number of water tanks.

The guests coming into the park can solely be allowed to steer on the selected pathways to check the flora and fauna of this park and revel in its wild. No vehicles are going to be allowed to maneuver within the park.

The park provides an excellent lung space and environment from the busy city life and rising pollution levels. The park has over 600 species of plant life, 140 species of birds and 30 different varieties of butterflies and reptiles. Some of the animals making their home in the park include: pangolin, small Indian civet, peacock, jungle cat and porcupines. There are few water bodies present in the park providing the needed moisture for the plants and quenching the thirst of birds and small animals.

One can commute to KBR Park through nearest MMTS station which is at Begumpet. It is located in Jubilee Hills/Banjara Hills near Jubilee Hills Check Post. TDP Party house and LV Prasad Eye Hospital are the closest landmarks.

The park is frequented in the evenings and weekends by young and old alike.

Address: Opp TDP Office, Road No 2, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Telangana 500034, India

Entry fee for KBR Park is Rs20/- for adults and Rs10/- for children 

KBR-National Park Timings
Summer (Morning) 5.00 AM to 9.30 AM
Summer (Evening) 4.00 PM to 6.30 PM
Winter & Rainy (Morning) 5.00 AM to 9.30 AM
Winter & Rainy (Evening) 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kasu_Brahmananda_Reddy_National_Park

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Lumbini Park

Lumbini Park is located in Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India is a small public, urban park of 7.5 acres (0.030 km2; 0.0117 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, India. India named after Lumbini of Nepal dedicated to Lord Buddha.

Since it is located in the center of the city and is in close proximity to other tourist attractions, such as Birla Mandir and Necklace Road, it attracts many visitors throughout the year.

In 1994, Lumbini Park was constructed at a cost of INR 2.35 crores on 5 acres (0.020 km2; 0.0078 sq mi) of land adjacent to Hussain Sagar. In 2000, the Buddha Purnima Project Authority (BPPA) was established to maintain specially designated development areas in Hyderabad. 

 To enhance the inflow of visitors, it constructed additional facilities for laser auditorium, boating facilities among other visually appealing features such as gardens and musical fountains.

In 2006, the park was named as T. Anjaiah Lumbini Park in honour of the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

2007 terrorist attacks

On August 25, 2007, a series of bomb blasts in Hyderabad killed 44 people and injured 60.[1] One of the two blasts occurred during the evening hours in the laser auditorium that housed about 500 people at the time of the incident.[4] After a few days of being cordoned off for crime scene investigation, the park was reopened to public after the installation of metal detectors.

Multimedia Fountain Show
Emotion Media Factory installed India's first spectacular water multimedia show in Lumbini Park. The multimedia fountain show plays daily to a large audience, the installation combines a full spectrum of media elements, from dazzling laser animation, live video, stunning sound quality, rhythmic musical fountains and extraordinary beam effects, all astonishingly portrayed on one of the largest water screens in India. The elements coalesce to re-create stories and historical and cultural aspects of Hyderabad’s past, present and future, enthralling thousands of guests each night.

The park is open to visitors on all days from 9 AM to 9 PM. 

A laser show is held at venue everyday at 7:15 pm except weekends when it happens twice at 7:15 pm and at 8:30 pm. 

Lumbini Park Entry Fee
10 per person
50 per person for Speed Boating (Adults / Children)
40 per person for Boating (Adults / Children)
50 per person for Laser Show

Lumbini Park Address: Opposite Secretariat New Gate, Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500004, India

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumbini_Park

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Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple located in Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana India is built on a 280 feet (85 m) high hillock called Naubath Pahad on a 13 acres (53,000 m2) plot. The construction took 10 years and was opened in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission. The temple was constructed by Birla Foundation, which has also constructed several similar temples across India, all of which are known as Birla Mandir.

The temple manifests a blend of Dravidian, Rajasthani and Utkala architectures. It is constructed of 2000 tons of pure white marble. The granite idol of presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is about 11 ft (3.4 m) tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella on the top. There is a brass flagstaff in the temple premises which rises to a height of 42 ft (13 m). The temple does not have traditional bells, as Swami Ranganathananda wished that the temple atmosphere should be conducive for meditation.

Apart from the main shrine, the consorts of Lord Venkateswara, Padmavati and Andal are housed in separate shrines. The temple also has separate shrines for various Hindu gods and goddess including Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Saibaba. Selected teachings of holy men and Gurbani are engraved on temple walls. Birla temples are open to all, as identified by Mahatma Gandhi and other Hindu leaders.

Address: Hill Fort Rd, Ambedkar Colony, Khairatabad, Hyderabad, Telangana 500004, India

Source

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birla_Mandir,_Hyderabad

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Vikarabad Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the beautiful hilly region of the Ananthagiri hills in Vikarabad district in Telangana dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu.

According to Hindu Mythology, Skanda Purana, it is believed that this Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple was constructed by the rishi Markandeya in the dwapara yuga on Ananthagiri hills. 

The rishi Markandeya came here for yoga sadhana every day because the splendid and pleasant atmosphere of Ananthagiri hills attracted him. After his Yoga and meditation, Rishi Markandeya used to go to Kasi to take a holy bath in the river Ganges through a cave. During the dwadasi season, Markandeya couldn't make it to Kasi in the early hours of the day. He was very upset with this and after seeing the rishi's concerns, Lord Vishnu himself appeared in Markandeya's dreams and arranged water from the river Ganges for the rishi's bath. Markandeya was blessed to take a permanent place in the world as a river by lord Krishna who disguised himself as Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. 

This river which is now popularly known as the river Moosi flows through Hyderabad. Markandeya initially took dharshanam of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy and converted a charka into Swamy. It is said that for the past four hundred years the Nizam Nawabs visited Ananthagiri hills for its peaceful atmosphere and would rest there.

The main temple of Lord Padmanabha Swamy was built by the Hyderabad Nawab as Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a temple for him. This temple is situated in the village of Ananthagiri at a distance of seventy-five kilometers from Hyderabad and five kilometers from Vikarabad. There are regular private transport operators and frequent buses between Vikarabad and Ananthagiri hills.

Located nearly 85 km away from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri hills is well accessible by road transport.

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/rangareddy/ananthagiri-hills-anantha-padmanabha-swamy-temple.html

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Karmanghat Hanuman Temple

The Karmanghat Hanuman Temple is a very popular temple located at Karmanghat, Saroornagar, Rangareddy district, Telangana India on the way to Sagar road. 

This temple, dedicated to the Pawan Putra Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Lord Shri Ram is one of the oldest temples in the state capital, Hyderabad. 

This famous temple in Karmanghat was constructed in the 12th century A.D. according to the legend, when a Kakatiya ruler who was hunting after some time in the forest, felt tired and sat down to take rest under a tree. While resting, the king heard someone chanting the name of Lord Rama, the king got interested and went around trying to find who it was and as he walked further deep into the forest, he discovered an idol of Lord Hanuman. The stone idol was in a sitting posture and the voice was coming from within the vigraham. Having paid his respects, the humble king returned to his capital, and that very night, Lord Hanuman appeared in his dream and asked the king to construct a temple.

The Karmanghat Temple was constructed immediately and the succeeding kings of the Kakatiya dynasty ruled it well. Some 400 years later, Aurangzeb had ordered his armies to each and every corner of the country to destroy all Hindus temples. At this temple, Aurangazeb's mighty armies could not even enter near the compound wall. After learning this, Aurangzeb, himself went there to wipe out the temple with a with a crow bar in his hand. When he reached the temple premises, he heard a deafening roar rumbling and the instrument slipped from his hands as fear overwhelmed him. Then he heard a thundering voice from the heavens saying Mandir todna hai raja, to kar maan ghat" which means, oh king, if you want to destroy this temple, then make your heart strong. The place got its name kar-man-ghat, after the voice from the heavens. And to this day, the main deity Lord Anjaneya sits in the temple peacefully meditating and bestows his blessing to his devotees, as Dhyana Anjaneya Swamy.

It is located at a distance of nearly 12 kms from Mahatma Gandhi bus terminal of Hyderabad and well accessible by road.

All Days of the Week
Monday-Sunday 6:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 04:30 PM - 08:30 PM
Tuesday 05:30 AM - 01:00PM, 04:30 PM - 09:00PM

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/rangareddy/karmanghat-hanuman-temple.html#parentHorizontalTab2

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Sanghi Temple

This enchanting temple is located in Sanghi Nagar, approximately 25 kilometers from Hyderabad. It takes its position on a hillock known as the Paramananda Giri. The Raja Gopuram is 15 feet tall, and can be seen from several kilometers away.

The Sanghi temple is one of the most famous temples in Hyderabad. It is a very beautiful temple done in marble and the management has given a lot of importance to the environment. You can see this first hand as there are many trees and vegetation in and around the temple. Many Telugu films have been shot in this temple.

The stretch of the road to reach the temple is quiet good with a neatly laid two lane black tar road along the way with trees paving the path. The road to Sanghi gives an impression of a ghat road. And when you go further, a Hanuman Temple welcomes you. After the darshan, you can look on to a beautiful view of the city from the hilltop. The main deity here is Venkateshwara Swamy. The temple also houses Padmavati Devi. There are Navagrahas in the temple premises.

This enchanting Temple is located in Sanghi Nagar, some 25 kilometers from Hyderabad. It takes its position on a hillock known as the Paramananda Giri. The Raja Gopuram is 15 feet tall, and can be seen from several kilometers away. A little further in the premises, a long flight of carpet covered steps leads to the entrance of the temple. The first thing that catches your eye is the heavy, beautifully carved door that forms the main entrance. The majestic temple is built in the flawless Chola-Chalukya style of architecture. You can find three Gopurams at the foot of the hillock, which stand tall as if entering into the heavens.

The temple is located 35 km from Hyderabad, near Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway and well accessible by road.

All Days of the Week
08:30 AM - 10:30 AM
04:00 PM - 06:00 PM

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/rangareddy/sanghi-temple.html

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Chilkur Balaji Temple

Chilkur Balaji Temple, is an ancient Hindu temple of Lord Balaji on the banks of Osman Sagar in Rangareddy District in Telangana, Twenty Five kilometers from Hyderabad off the Vikarabad road is the picturesque village of Chikur with its hoary temple dedicated to Sri Balaji Venkateshwara is definitely an epicenter of a great deal of spiritual energy and an abode of Lord Venkateshwara, also called as Visa God. Even the popular Wall Street Journal, amused with the belief, has written a full article on this temple. People from all sects visit this temple in hope of getting their wishes fulfilled. The management believes that the only fee the lord asks the devotees to make pradakshanas around the temple. It is a matter of sheer pride that our nation holds such rich heritage where beliefs and faiths in good are passed on from one generation to the other with or without any scriptures.

This temple has no hundi and neither accepts any money from devotees. VAK Books also known as the Voice of Temples with religious news is available here. This is one of the special Temples in India with no green channel or privileges for VIP’s. The only other such temple is the Jalaram temple in Virpur (Rajkot), Gujarat. This temple fought and won the right to stay out of government control. The only another such temple is “Ramanuj Kot”, a temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

From the style, structure and appearance, it can be inferred that the temple was built half a millennium ago. Set in sylvan surroundings, the temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and is an ideal place for sequestered retreat and meditation. It enjoyed in the past, great days of pomp and glory.

The temple is one of the oldest in Telengana, having been built during the time of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. According to tradition, a devotee who used to visit Tirupati every year could not do so on one occasion owing to serious ill-health. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dream and said, "I am right here in the jungle nearby. You don't have to worry." The devotee at once moved to the place indicated by the Lord in the dream and saw a mole- hill there, which he dug up. Accidentally, the axe struck Lord Balaji's idol covered by the mole-hill below the chin and on the chest, and surprisingly blood started flowing profusely from the "wounds", flooding the ground and turning it scarlet. The devotee could not believe his eyes when he saw this. Suddenly he could not believe his ears also when he heard a voice from the air which said,"Flood the mole-hill with cow's milk. "When the devotee did so, a Swayambhu idol of Lord Balaji accompanied by Sridevi and Bhoodevi(a rare combination) was found, and this idol was installed with the due rites and a temple built for it.

Sri Balaji venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva in kaliyuga, is thus available at Chilkur to shower blessings on His devotees who for any reason are unable to go to Tirupati. Many devout worshippers flock to the temple, to receive the blessings of the Lord and his consorts throughout the year particularly during the Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams

With the earnest desire to revive the former glory and importance of the temple, the idol of Ammavaru was installed in 1963 the year following the Chinese aggression, and when the aggression was unilaterally vacated, Ammavaru was given the name of Rajya Lakshmi, signifying this welcome event. The unique feature of this idol is that lotus flowers are held in three hands and the fourth hand is in such a position towards the lotus feet which signifies the doctrine of Saranagathi. 

The temple has been visited by great Acharyas from time to time. A visit to the temple is a must for the Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt every time he visits the twin cities, and in the temple is installed the idol of the first Jeer. The Tilakayaths of Sri Vallabhacharya Sampradaya have been regularly visiting the shrine. Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri Mutt and his disciple graced the efforts of the trustees in improving the temple.

A 1000-year-old temple built of stone in Rashtrakuta style architecture has been found in a state of neglect near the famous Chilkur Balaji temple in Moinabad mandal of Rangareddy district. Archaeologist and CEO of Pleach India Foundation E Sivanagi Reddy during his explorations conducted in and around Chilkur village, as part of the awareness programme ‘ Preserve Heritage for Posterity ‘ launched by Pleach India Foundation, noticed many sculptures scattered at the entrance of the village and a dilapidated structure inside the tank bund datable to the period between 9th and 10th centuries CE.

According to Sivanagi Reddy, at the entrance of the Chilkur village, there was a two pillared mandapam built along the tank bund which was in deteriorating condition. There were beautiful sculptures of a seated lady devotee with folded hands and Bhairava in standing posture representing the Kalyani Chalukyan style of art (11th century CE), Nagadevathas, and two stones near the Pochamma temple, and an attractive sculpture of Surya broken into two pieces lying at the rear side of the Siva temple located inside the village, he said.

He said the small single storey Siva temple raised on an Adhisthana ( basement) had sunken into the ground, and was in alarming situation with crevices on the walls. The Sikhara ( Vimana ) portion on the roof had collapsed and the frontage covered with an altogether modern structure that had not only camouflaged the temple but also spoiled its antiquarian look resulting in putting the monument of archaeological significance in oblivion, he informed.

Chilkur Balaji Temple is 33 Kms away from Mehedipatnam. Approximately 75,000 to 1,00,000 devotees visit in a week. Generally temple gets heavy rush on Fridays and Sundays.
Monday-Sunday : 05:00am - 8:00pm

Source

http://www.chilkurbalaji.com/history.html

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/rangareddy/chilkur-balaji-temple.html

https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-1000-year-old-temple-found-neglected-near-chilkur

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Mrugavani National Park

The Mrugavani National Park, located at Chilkuru in Moinabad, Rangareddy district is at a distance of about 25 kms from Hyderabad. The National Park is spread over 3.5 sq kms of pure, untamed land. The Indian government announced it a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1994 and since then, the park has been home to some 600 species of plants and animals.

The present day world has created its orbit around technology and modernism. The modern way of living has extensive demands and more and more of our Earth’s space and resources is what is at stake for. One can observe that national parks have eventually become the last sights of refuge for most indigenous species of animals as well as plants around the globe. Even governments of several countries have now become conscious of the importance of preserving these last species in wildlife sanctuaries.

The Mrugavani National Park in the state capital is an example of a beautiful national park turned major tourist attraction. What is most exciting is that in a land layered with exotic and immense natural resources like in India, it sure is a great achievement. The Mrugavani National Park, located at Chilkuru in Moinabad, is at a distance of about 25 kms from Hyderabad. The National Park is spread over 3.5 sq kms of pure, untamed land. The Indian government announced it a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1994 and since then, the park has been home to some 600 species of plants and animals. Like in the case of most national parks, even the Mrugavani national park has had least human intervention and interaction in order to make sure that all the precious creatures remain undisturbed in their cozy natural habitat.

We can see that the park has a topography made up of several rocky exposures that are characteristic of Deccan formation. The fauna of the wildlife sanctuary is as varied as they come. Foxes, black-naped hares, Wild boars, as well as Indian vipers are the most striking species for the curious traveler.

Mrugavani National park is accessible by road and located at a distance of nearly 20 km from Hyderabad enroute Chilkur, close to Nehru Outer Ring Road.

All days of the week : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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Osman Sagar Lake

Osmansagar, also called Gandipet, is an excellent picnic spot located on outskirts of Hyderabad.

Osmansagar is among the two lakes located on the city’s periphery region supplying drinking water to the city. 

Osmansagar is a beautiful lake located 20 km. west of Hyderabad. The lake is a man made reservoir created by constructing a dam across the Isa, a tributary of Musi River.

The lake has an abutting bund with lush gardens, which provide an ideal ambience for an outing. The lake also houses a heritage building, Sagar Mahal, which was built as a resort by the Hyderabad Nizam and has been transformed into a lake resort by the department of Tourism.

Irrespective of whether it is summer or winter, the place is always crowded with streaming visitors. Mir Osman Ali Khan created this water body as part of the damming project of the river Musi in the year 1920. The idea was to supply drinking water for Hyderabad city. The lake spreads over an area of 46 sq.km and is the chief drinking water source for the twin cities.

Gandipet is a much sought after picnic spot for the people of Hyderabad and has been developed as a public recreation spot with landscaped gardens and swimming pool. Gandipet Lake beckons holidaymakers all over the year from all corners of twin cities. Tourists visiting Gandipet feel pleasant to see a vast stretch of placid water shimmering golden under the morning sun. The cool breeze and soothing ambience adds to the serene environment. Sprawling gardens with colorful flora, the vegetation and trees towards the dam’s lower sides makes the place truly picturesque. The lake also offers boating facilities to the visitors looking forward to a pleasant ride. People come along with family and friends for spending an entire day for having fun. There are snacks and drinks available at the local cafeteria. After a good monsoon, the reservoir is replenished and fills to the brim, which is again a breathtaking sight

Monday - Friday : 7.00 AM - 7.00 PM
Saturday : 7.00 AM - 7.00 PM
Sunday : 7.00 AM - 7.00 PM
Public Holidays : 7.00 AM - 7.00 PM

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/nature-discovery/rangareddy/osman-sagar-lake.html#parentHorizontalTab2

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Ramoji Film City

The Ramoji Film City located in Anaspur Village, Hayathnagar Mandal, Rangareddy, India. At 1633 acres, it is the largest integrated film city in the world.

It is also a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park. 

The Outer Ring Road Phase 2 has acquired lands at the entrance and is set to intersect the city.

Ramoji Film City is spread at over 2,000 acres of lands and it includes amusement parks, recreation centers, film sets and contains both natural and artificial attractions. 

Ramoji Film City is located just 25 km drive towards South-East of the Hyderabad city, near the under construction outer ring road, it has the entrance of this privately held company. 

The Ramoji Film city has been declared as the world’s largest film studio by Guinness World Records.

Ramoji Rao the film producer is the head of Ramoji Group who is the founder of Ramoji Film City. 

In 1996 RFC opened for people with the collaboration of Indian Cinema through Usha Kiran Movies. Ramoji Film City is one stop solution for film makers which provides then with comprehensive infrastructures and more than 500 different sets locations. With infrastructures including custom-designed locations, mock-ups, set constructions, costumes, shooting stages, locations, cameras, equipments, sound mixing, audio post productions and film processing. Every year over a million of tourists all across the globe and especially from India. The film city also includes 3 star hotel Tara and a 5 star hotel Sitara for film production units and also open for the tourists.

Escape to Ramoji Film City, a magical realm filled with excitement and wonderful surprises at every turn. As the world’s largest integrated film city and India's only thematic holiday destination with magic of cinema, there’s something special for you here. Spread across a sprawling 2000 acres Ramoji Film City, set up by Ramoji Group in 1996, is a dreamy celluloid journey. Certified by the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest Filmstudio complex, at Ramoji Film City, a filmmaker can walk with a script and walk out with film. For the others, Ramoji Film City flung open a wonderland where 1.5 million tourists build memories every year.

Park Timings. 9:00 AM to 5.30

 

Soruce

http://www.ramojifilmcity.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramoji_Film_City

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Sardar Papanna

Name : Sardar Sarvayi Papanna Goud or Sardar Sarvai Papanna or Sardar Sarvay Papanna or Papadu 

Born: August 18, 1650 in Khilashapur of the present Station Ghanpur, Jangoan District, Telangana
Died: April 2, 1710

Parents : Mother is Sarvamma and father is Dharmanna Goud. Dharmana Goud, the elder of the village, was killed by the local nobles for standing on the side of Dharma. 

Papanna, who is locally known as “Papadu” a freedom fighter, was a “bandit” for the Mughal and Qutub Shahi rulers who rose from humble beginnings to become a folklore hero.His deeds have been described by historians Barbara and Thomas Metcalf as "Robin Hood-like", while another historian, Richard Eaton, considers him to be a good example of a social bandit. 

Papadu lived during the period when the Mughal Empire had expanded its interests in South India and when tensions between the Muslim ruler Aurangzeb and his Hindu populace were rising. 

Papanna has a fighting spirit from childhood. When he was in Kallu Mandava, the Mughal soldiers used to mock and taunt him. When a soldier was about to kick his friend with his foot, he couldn’t control his rage and cut the soldier’s neck with a sharp knife. His guerilla war that started there continued till he became the emperor of Golconda fort.

Papanna started a guerilla army with his friends Chakali Sarvanna, Mangali Masanna, Kummari Govindu, Jakkula Perumallu, Dudekula Piru, Kotwal Mir Saheb and 12 others. He used to run trains in the heart of Gadila Dora. Papanna’s name and fame spread and youth joined Papanna’s army in large numbers. The guerrilla army that started with 12 men grew to 12,000. 

First, in 1675, he built a fort in his own village Shapur (now Khilashapur) and laid the foundation for the expansion of his kingdom, then he occupied the fort of Sarvaipet and gradually he captured about 20 forts including Tatikonda, Kolanupaka, Cheryala, Husnabad, Huzurabad, Bonagiri, Warangal and Kota till 1678–80. Finally, he conquered Golconda and ruled for 7 months. If you look at some of the important events of his fighting life, you can understand his military, diplomatic ethics and punctuality.

By Jan 1707, Hyderabad had become an epicenter for Mughal politics. Both kambaksh and Bahadur shah I contested for the Mughal throne. kambaksh was defeated and was killed.

On 31 March 1708 after the death of Aurangzeb (March 3, 1707), he initiated an attack on the heavily fortified former capital city of Warangal with a force of between 2500 and 3500 men. This action was planned to coincide with the eve of the Muslim celebrations of Ashura, when the city walls would be poorly manned and proved his martial ethics.

In 1708, he also besieged and besieged the mighty Bonagiri fort, married the sister of the fort Foujidar and captured the Bonagiri fort. After the capture of Warangal fort, enormous wealth fell into the hands of Papana. 

He defeated Fauzdar of kolanupaka near Bhongir and killed some of the Mughal commanders.

The emperor Bahadur Shah I, recognized Sarvai Papanna as a king and honored him by gifting ‘Robe of Honor’. In return, Papanna offered to the emperor vast wealth. After that, within 6 months, Papanna declared himself as the emperor and stopped Kappam Kattu to Delhi. 

In 1709, seeing Bahadur Shah I rule weakened by the power struggle between Delhi Mughals he invaded and conquered Golconda fort. He ruled  for 7 months whole of Telangana from there until his death in last battle. 

During that 7 month rule he implemented many reforms in his kingdom from Warangal to Golconda. He gave important posts to the Bahujans and encouraged the Bahujan landlords here and there on par with the zamindars. Unable to digest the presence of a low caste as the king, the hereditary landlords and all the foujdars from other regions followed the path of Delhi and put pressure on the Mughal emperor and insisted on eliminating Papanna at any cost. The Muslim emperor Bahadur Shah’s army, the Hindu landlords, nobles, and Nayaka Sena all together besieged Golconda. 

The beginning of the fall of Papanna can be dated to June 1709. Prisoners at Shahpur including his brother-in-law, the faujdar managed to overturn their captors and take possession of the fort while Papanna was besieging another fort elsewhere. Simultaneously, Dilawar Khan was advancing on him and, unaware of the situation at Shahpur, Papanna thought it prudent to defend his position by lifting his siege and retreating to his base. When he reached Shahpur he found that the tables were turned on him: he was fired upon by his former captives, using his own cannon, and with the imminent arrival of Khan he was forced to take refuge in the very compound that he had constructed to imprison them. Finding his position there to be untenable, and facing the desertion of some of his own forces, he decamped to the fort at Thatikonda or Tatikonda or Tarikonda, leaving Khan to take control of the wealth within Shahpur in accordance with instructions of his superior, the governor of Hyderabad.

Bahadur Shah I sent Yusuf Khan, the Hyderabad governor, sent a force of several thousand to besiege Thatikonda and this became a prolonged affair, lasting until March 1710. At that point, Yusuf Khan determined to take personal charge, doubling the number of imperial forces to around 12,000 and being further aided by the provision of at least 30,000 soldiers – cavalry and infantry – supplied by local landowners. This concentration of support from Hindu chieftains, together with the fact that they were the first to oppose him when he was originally based at Thatikonda and evidence that he attacked both Muslims and Hindus, demonstrate that Papadu's motivations and the popular support for them were not based on religious considerations. Claims that he was a "Hindu warrior" are further negated by analysis of the names of his followers noted in the ballads, which appear to demonstrate that those within his group included Muslims and non-Hindu tribal peoples in almost equal proportion to Hindus.

Despite the considerable forces set against him at Thatikonda, it was bribery that caused significant losses for Papadu: his men, by now weary, hungry and demoralised, were tempted to defect by offers of double pay made in May. The final straw was when Papadu ran out of gunpowder and was forced to flee in disguise. Although wounded, he was able to reach the village of Husnabad before being betrayed by a toddy tapper and captured by the brother-in-law who had previously been his prisoner. He was executed a few days later. 

While controlling the fort at Shahpur between 1702 and 1709, Papanna and his soldiers were under siege four times.  The war, which began in late 1709, lasted until April 1710. Sardar Papanna fought the enemy army till the end. But he was captured by his brother-in-law’s conspiracy. Finally, in April 1710, Papana was beheaded and sent to Bahadur Shah in Delhi. A statue of his has been installed at the Bhongir fort in Telangana. 

The traditional accounts say that the method of execution was that of decapitation, and that thereafter his body was cut into pieces and his head sent to Delhi and some say he committed suicide to avoid capture and insult and humiliation.

After almost 30 years of social struggle, the Bahujan empire that was established has collapsed. Papanna during his reign of 30 years ruled Buvanagiri of Nalgonda, Thatikonda of Warangal, Kolanupaka, Cheriyala, Karimnagar, Huzurabad and Husnabad regions. However in his tenure of 30 years Papadu ruled boldly and brought in Socio-Economic Equality in the society!

Much of the information relating to Papadu is of the quasi-historical type. His exploits, and those of other folk heroes of his area and era, are documented primarily in ballads that have passed through the generations and are still sung locally. It is in the context of studying folklore and linguistics that much of the evidence, such as it is, has been collected. However, there is also the work of Khafi Khan, a contemporary chronicler who based his writings on official reports circulating in the Mughal empire.

At the base of the Bhongir fort is a statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna, a chieftain who is believed to have defended the fort against the rulers of Golconda.

There are many living testimonies of Sarvai Papannagoud’s struggle even today. Khilashapur, Tatikonda fort, Vemulakonda forts built by him, Husnabad town, Ellamma temple, check dams built by him are still standing today. The Saka of Renuka Ellamma temple in Golconda fort is also from that time. There the first bonam is offered as a tribute to the Gowda social class Papanna. There are many folk tales and songs that have continued since then. In 1874, an English historian named JA Boyal recorded 7 Burra stories of Payala Raju, the sentence in the inscription of Dulmitta Veeragallu, “Bandipota Gowda Shapur Khila Puli Gowda, Yabadi Roddi, Shabbarayada, Fodaur Papanna Gowda” is a Living proof. Cambridge University conducted a study on Papanna and published a book (The New Cambridge History of India, The Social History of Deccan) with his portrait. There is a stone statue of Sarvai Papanna in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Historians Barbara and Robert Mate Klip describe Papanna as the “Robin Hood of the Deccan”, while Richard Eaton calls him a “social bandit”. This generation owes a debt to Pervaram Jagannath and former DJP Pervaram Ramu who have given the history of sin to the present generation.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that freedom-fighter Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud stood as a symbol of self-respect and courage of Telangana. With his endeavour for political and social equality of all sections of people, he had carved a niche for himself in the history.



Source 

https://india.postsen.com/local/941876.html

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/sarvai-papanna-goud-stood-as-symbol-of-self-respect-and-courage-of-telangana-kcr/article67206095.ece
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papadu

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