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Hyderabad is a healthy place to live, perhaps because of the dry climate and steady temperatures . People from cities like Delhi and Mumbai find their chronic respiratory problems clear up soon by themselves.
So far there is not much air pollution in Hyderabad. In certain parts of the old city, dust pollution is increasing. Inversions and smog rarely occur if at all. In future, say officials, automobile exhausts may cause a problem. But areas under the industrial belt such as Balanagar, Jeedimetla and Patancheru suffer from alarming amounts of industrial pollution. In particular water and air is contaminated.
There are several hospitals and nursing homes. Many hi tech corporate hospitals have come up in Hyderabad for high quality health care, American - style. Hyderabad is said to particularly handle kidney, diabetes, heart and eye problems and often patients from all over India are referred to here. In some areas eating out may cause gastro problems in summer and during the early monsoon.
Some of the well equipped hospitals are Osmania General Hospital, NIMS, Niloufer Hospital: then there are the hi tech Apollo Hospitals, LV Prasad eye institute , and many others.
G.P.'s and specialists are found mostly in "centers" in the suburbs that is where main roads intersect. Usually diagnostic clinics are found closeby.
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 Husain Sagar lake is becoming a tourist-cum outing spot, with a floating restaurant and childrens 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 hyderabad biryani. You might find Husain 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 dhabas have evolved into Family Dhabas 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.
Hyderabad is a safe place. Public awareness is high, so politically sponsored communal riots between Hindus and Muslims are a thing of the past. Political parties take out rallies periodically and cause traffic jams. Women are not generally teased or molested. Petty crimes are few. In remote districts, violent incidents are fairly common including wild west style gunfights and bomb throwing between political groups, between police and determined maoist rebels, and between private citizens who for some reason have taken a strong dislike to one another. But this doesn't affect life in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad is a simple place with NO characteristic 'lifestyle'. It is changing too fast to develop one. It is excellent for candidates wishing to save some money. Spouses (M/F) can get employment without difficulty especially if they are in IT. It is a centre for the Bulk Drug industry and the emerging BioTech industry.
Information Technology is firmly established in Hyderabad, hence with with specialised IT skills like java -ecommerce it is a fertile area. (however it is to be noted most of them seem to move to the USA very soon) . Every little street seems to have two "Computer Institutes" like typing schools are found elsewhere. Teachers are in demand as anywhere.
Womenfolk feel freer than in many other places. People generally mind their own business and are helpful. Elderly people find it relaxing. While open spaces are vanishing , people can still go walking or jogging in the mornings. While it used to be rather cosmopolitan, in recent years it is becoming a telugu- and amorphous-south-indian city. While most people are Telugu speakers, there are sizeable numbers of Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Kerala and Oriya people. Most Muslims are locals, hail from outlying districts and speak Telugu and Urdu. The remnants of the Nizam's bureaucracy is reflected in tamils, kayasthas from UP, a smattering of pathans and shias from North India. Business people from Gujarat and Rajasthan have settled here for centuries. There are many Deccani sikhs in Hyderabad, besides those from Punjab.
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