Hyderabad Blues...definitely not:)

The city of Nizams had always amazed me from a distance but never got a chance to experience its hospitality. Never knew why I was so fascinated by this place could it be the food could it be the monuments or could it be the IT infrastructure that has always been talked about.  During the last days of college which are ideally the no-activity days and that too in a no man’s land you are bound to go crazy. And to make the best of the last days of your student life you start making your own list of things that you want to do before getting out of the place. To my pleasure my long cherished wish of visiting Hyderabad found a place in this list.

The journey started on a high note of expectations and excitement to explore the city to the fullest. But I guess there was something different and far better in store for us (me and my friend who accompanied me to Hyderabad). The heat and the dry climate drained the life out us in just few hours but the soothing effect was the feeling of elation after meeting one of my best and oldest friends after so many years and the amazing food she cooked for me. I have actually certified her as the best cook of our generation after this :) And once the breakfast and lunch got over, started a long series of conversations that had been due since ages. Believe me nothing can be more relaxing than being able to pour out your heart before a friend. We went on and on until the clock struck 6 and I got reminded that I should visit at least a few places. We caught an auto which took us to Hussain Sagar Lake (http://www.attractionsinindia.com/Hyderabad/Romantic_Places/Husain_Sagar_Lake_In_Hyderabad.html) but to our disappointment, the lake had been closed for boating by the time we reached. On our way back we stopped at Karachi bakery (http://www.karachibakery.com/), this bakery sells one of the most delicious cakes and biscuits. The very moment you enter into the bakery the fragrance and the sight will make you feel like you have entered one of those dreamy chocolates and cakes land that are mentioned in children’s storybooks and no matter how much you care for the calories consumed you would want to dig into all the delicacies lying out there in front of you waiting to serve their purpose;)...even thinking about it right now, has made my mouth water.

 Tired to death because of the long bus journey from Chennai to Hyderabad...slept early contrary to the MBA college culture where you actually are awake till the time most normal people sleep.

Next day started again, with a delicious breakfast cooked by my friend and was followed by the most awaited meal of the whole trip...Hyderabadi Dum Biryani at Hotel Paradise (http://paradisefoodcourt.com/). This is one of the things that define Hyderabad; you get the best, exclusively the most delicious Biryani in Hyderabad. I do not know whether it is the preparation or something else that makes it this way. But Hyderabadi Biryani beats all other biryanis in the world hands down. Biryani served with saalan and raita was followed by Khubani ka meetha, a dessert, which again was something that you get only in Hyderabad. Post lunch fatigue forced us to take shelter in a mall and we spent rest of the hours sitting and chit chatting.

Soon the time to say good bye to Hyderabad arrived, I must tell you the trip turned out to be completely different from what I had planned or had wanted it to be . But this was one of my best trips ever till date. And now I know that it is not just the monuments or the hyderabadi food or the biggies like Google, Facebook and Microsoft that make it special. But it is the warmth and friendliness reflected by the people from the city and that is what goes into the preparation that makes the biryani, haleem, Karachi bakery biscuits exclusive and simply the best. And for me there was even more than this, the company of my best friends making me realise that it is never just the place but the company that makes the place special. Though not undermining the special place for Hyderabad in my heart, Hyderabad will continue to fascinate me:):)