Hyderabad
LEISURE
There
are several clubs with inexpensive membership and good facilities
including tennis, badminton, swimming pools, pool, and other
games. Usually there are special areas for children too. Ladies
groups also are active in clubs. Some of the clubs are The Secunderabad
Club, originally meant for military people, old and established.
(Churchill was a member in 1903). The Nizam Club in Hyderabad
, New Club Maredpally, The Fateh Maidan Club with a cricketing
orientation; the Riding Club, etc.
Eating
out/Night life is not such an adventure for the simple reason,
there are few places, really. The few local gigs/shows don't
really take themselves too seriously (and are actually figuring
out how to make mp3's for the web). Most of the larger star
hotels have excellent restaurants. Local traditional cuisine
like Hyderabadi Chowki dinners, Nellore spicy cuisine and kakinada
prawns and seafood are very popular. In recent times the periphery
of the Hussain Sagar lake is becoming a tourist-cum outing spot,
with a floating restaurant and children's park and pleasant
promenade.
Quick
lunches: Places like Paradise Restaurant: At Paradise corner
in Secunderabad. Well known for its filling and clean food;
Garden Restaurant , Clock Tower Secunderabad--Most unlikely
place but excellent Hyderabadi biryani. You might find Hussain
the artist at a nearby table. Journos from closeby Deccan Chronicle
frequent the place, too.
Shalimar
Restaurant( Hotel Sri Brindavan on Station Road ) is a popular
spot for serious eaters.
Kamat Hotel Several such restaurants, good vegetarian fare especially
"thalis' -about Rs. 20. Two restaurants in Secunderabad and
one near RBI, Hyderabad.
Shanbag's
at Punjagutta also is popular.
Truck
driver's 'dhaabas' on the highways serve excellent food. (they
had better, otherwise the cooks get beaten up). Some of these
dhabaas have evolved into Family Dhabaas and provide an ambience
for families to eat out in fresh air.
Night
spots/Pubs :
Atrium
Pub- Holiday Inn Krishna
Escape- Green Park, Greenlands, Begumpet
One Flight Down-The Residency, Public Garden Road
Hai-King Restaurant- 3-6-276, Himayatnagar,
Nanking- 105 Parklane, Secunderabad
Reshmi Dhaba- 108/A, Parklane, Secunderabad
Rajdhani Dhaba- 4-1-356, Hanuman Tekdi, Hyderabad
Palace Heights- Triveni Complex, Abid road
The Blue Flower- Holiday Inn Krishna,
Touch of Class Hotel- Central Court, Lakdi ka pul
Copper Pot- Ramada Hotel Manohar, Airport Exit Road, Begumpet
Over the past few years, entertainment parks have been very
successful, prominent ones are Treasure Island and Ocean Park.
All
around the city is pristine countryside; the land is picturesque
with tourist spots close by : the little villages are interesting,
particularly the ones where traditional crafts are still made,
like weaving silk sarees. There are many picnic spots around
Hyderabad are usually one has it to oneself. Fine arts in Hyderabad
are mostly hindi and telugu cinema-oriented. Carnatic and Hindustani
music circles are active though not very conspicuous. There
are VERY few good libraries in Hyderabad, unfortunately. The
British Library is the most popular. Alliance Francaise also
is active. Pool parlours were a fad for a while but seem to
be dwindling.
•
Top
