Hyderabad Heritage Structures

[Babji]

Moazam Jahi Market



All You Need To Know: Famous wholesale market for grain and other businesses. The place was gifted to tradesmen for everyday trade by Humala Begum the first wife of Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur.Thursdays are special days for shoppers of this places as a special market called Jumme Raat Bazaar meaning Thursday bazaar is conducted,the tradition is continued even to this day.A lot of markets have sprung up around this famed wholesale market like,Moazam Jahi Market,Siddi Amber Bazaar etc.

Where abouts: Situated in the Old city area of Hyderabad near Afzalgunj and Gowliguda bus station.A famous landmark of the Old city which no one can ever miss.

What It Offers: Renovated after the 1908 floods,this place is renowned for its brass ware. The place presently offers anything from plastic to brassware,from food grains to dry fruits to electronic gadgets and all this at wholesale prices.Moazamzahi market near Begum bazaar is a well know fruit and vegetable market named after Nawab Mozam Jahi Bahadur the Second son of Mir Osman Ali Khan,Nizam VII.This big market place is an impressive granite structure,thrown open for public since 1935.The front is adorned by high domed huge clock tower.A great centre for retail trade of fruits and vegetables.Fruits of varied variety are available here throughout the year.On the opposite road is located the famous Karachi Bakery almost a century old Bakery,offers a wide range of freshly baked biscuits and also an assortment of imported and domestic chocolates.Not only children but adults can also equally enjoy the mouthwatering items of this famous bakery.

[Babji]

Laad Bazar - A market place so Hyderabad as Charminar!



All you Need To Know: This oldest market place of Hyderabad encompassing the Charminar and neighbourhood is a place which cannot be missed even by an absolute stranger to this place.
A must visit place as famous as Charminar itself.

Whereabouts: Lies to the west of Charminar along with other famous markets selling textiles,Chinaware,furnishing fabrics,jewelry,costume jewelry and what not,within its neighbourhood.

What It Offers: Shopping amidst the posh ultra modern atmosphere of the shopping malls and Hyper markets can be the inthing of the day but shopping in true Hyderabadi Nawabi ambience is a true great experience.Walking in the bylanes of old antique buildings,with wooden windows jutting outside gives one a feeling of taking a heritage walk.On the Southeast of Lad Bazaar are many of the Nizam palaces including the Chowmahalla palace.Lad Bazaar is the famed,multitued shopping centre of the Old city.
The place offers the very famous and well adored stone studded lac bangles,bridalware and gunmetal articles.This place and the neighbourhood are considered as the seat of Silver smiths,Pearl and Semiprecious stone dealers.The place can also be recommended for textiles,ensembles in embroidered and zari zardosi work,heavily brocaded lehengas and punjabi suits are real worth a see to believe. Another significant area of this place and the trade there in is the Silver-Leaf Beaters to the left of Charminar.On either side of the road we can see shops selling Silver leaves beaten,made into paper thin material which is used to decorate a lot many mouth watering Indian Sweets.

Buyers Beware: A piece of advice to the buyers,haggling for a good bargain is no crime. Bargain and be sure to buy something of your choice for your price.A walk down the road a few more steps and you reach the chowk,once a pet's market but with the 'Organization for animals' starting a hue and cry against it,trade in pets has diminished.A lot many shops offer brass antiques and showpeices.Beware of the area around the notorious sheran cafe.If you seem to be looking like a visitor from abroad or an NRI on his yearly visits you will be mobbed by touts wanting to exchange Indian money for Riyaals,Dollars,Dirhams and any foreign currency.Of course for a price can also get some deals on 'Imported stuff'.

Best Time To Visit: Our tour guide suggests that we can do our shopping in and around Charminar after the afternoon prayers of the devout muslims as most of the shopkeepers belong to this community and shopping around the prayer time can be difficult.And anyhow once being in the area,one can shop till evening and then have an enthralling view of the illuminated Charminar and also Mecca Masjid, Chowmahalla Palace

[arijeetb]

[Babji]

Thats an outstanding picture of Salarjung Musium!
Thanks Arijeeth.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/26/s...2621350300.htm
Chowmahalla to stand tall, alone



FREEDOM FROM EYESORES: Encroachments around Chowmohallah Palace being razed on Friday. — PHOTO: K. Ramesh Babu

HYDERABAD: There will be no more structural intrusions rising into the skyline and eclipsing the 200-year-old Chowmahalla Palace.

Thanks to the recent High Court order to stop constructions in the vicinity of the palace and demolish buildings that had come up in violation of heritage conservation norms, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad officials swung into action here on Friday after convincing the owners. Their job became easier with the owners cooperating with them in the joint operation.

Just 12 acres now: Chowmahalla Palace, built in French and Islamic architecture styles and located just 300 metres west of Charminar, showcases the bygone era and fascinating lifestyle of the Asaf Jahis. Once spread over 45 acres with sprawling gardens and open space, the palace is now reduced to 12 acres. The palace that was kept out of bounds for the public was thrown open to visitors last year after the first phase of restoration. Many buildings had sprouted all around the heritage complex over the years without permission. This is the first time the axe had fallen on high-rise constructions close to Chowmahalla Palace.

Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Jaju said that demolitions in the old city were being carried out in the last one-and-a-half years for road widening with public cooperation. With regard to constructions near Chowmahalla Palace too the Corporation had been serving notices. But things got expedited after the High Court order.

Within 30 metres: MCH Additional Commissioner Dhanunjaya Reddy said that as per court order 21 buildings around the palace complex would be demolished. "The order is to remove illegal structures within 30 metres from the palace and the work is in progress," he said. Chowmahalla Palace Creative Director G.Kishan Rao expressed happiness that the demolition work was smooth as owners were cooperative and this would go long way in preserving the sanctity of heritage structure. Mr. Ansari, co-ordinator, Chowmahalla Palace too welcomed the development. Meanwhile heritage lovers expressed hope that the MCH would show the same drive and demolish illegal structures near other heritage structures in the twin cities.

Others feel that MCH authorities should be more vigilant and nip the problem in the bud itself whenever a building anywhere in the city came without permission and in violation of building rules near heritage structures

[Babji]

Originally Posted by magestom

Monolithic Buddha Statue - Hyderabad
One of the most outstanding coverages of Hyderabad.
Excellent pics (and notes) of Hyderabad.
Thank You Magestom!

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/31/s...3122560300.htm

Drive to protect antique articles

GUNTUR: The Archaeological Survey of India has appointed Assistant Surveyor of Archaeology D. Kanna Babu as registering officer for all articles of antique value with individuals in Andhra Pradesh.

This was yet another effort by the Central Government to protect the heritage of the country and make information about antique articles available to people, D. Jithender Das, Director of ASI, Hyderabad circle, told The Hindu .

After last year's programme to enumerate antique palm leaf manuscripts, now the Central Government has come up with the programme asking people to register all antique articles value with Mr. Kanna Babu at his Amaravathi office in Guntur district.

People could send the information from September 1 through `snail mail' at the following address: D. Kanna Babu, ASA, Buddhist Archaeological Museum, Amaravathi, Guntur District, PIN: 522020. He could be contacted on the phone No. 08645-255225. People could bring the articles to the Amaravathi office and register or send photographs for cross verification.

If the articles were too big, the ASI official would visit the place himself and register it. This would provide enough research material for archaeologists and students in their chosen area of study, he said.

Very soon an e-mail ID would also be provided for the ASI officer to help people access him to register the articles.
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URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/07/s...0721310200.htm

Arms museum soon at police academy
HYDERABAD: A rare collection of arms and ammunitions used during the erstwhile Nizam period will be on display at a new museum that is coming up in Andhra Pradesh Police Academy premises.

Aptly titled as Hankin museum, after the first Director-General of Police for the Nizam State, the museum will house some of the rare collections of swords, spears, guns, cannons and other war paraphernalia used by the army of Nizam.

The designing and conservation work of the new museum are already under progress and conservators point out that in another one month they will be able to complete the Hankin museum project in APPA.

"The museum will provide an opportunity to maintain the war relics of yesteryears that were till now left without any care. They will now get a new lease of life," in-charge of the Hankin museum project and conservator for Salarjung Museum Ahmad Ali said.

Oldest sword: The prized collection of Nizam's swords including the oldest sword in the armoury `Shamsheer' will easily be the highlight of the museum. Persian made Shamsheer dates back to 16th Century and is arguably the oldest sword in the personal collection of the Nizam.

Another interesting variety of sword is Abbasi sword. It is a variation of the long sword with extra strips of perforated metals on one side for increasing the intensity of the blow.

"Bows and arrows made up of cane, bamboo, metals decorated by ivory, gold and silver are also present in large numbers in the collection. Most of the collection will date back to 16th and 17th Century," said Mr. Ali.

Guns, cannons, arrows, battle vests, spears, javelins, daggers of all varieties, sizes and shapes will be a part of the collection in the upcoming Hankin museum.

[Babji]

Laad Bazar (2006) - Hyderabad.

Originally Posted by magestom

Looking around old Hyderabad

[Babji]

The Golconda Fort - Hyderabad

Originally Posted by magestom

Looking straight up and to the side of this one entrance in the fort




The place is kept very nicely by geology society.

The 13th century Golconda Fort was built by the Kakatiya kings and later taken over by the Bahmani dynasty. Still later, the Qutb Shahi dynasty took over, and it is to them- and more specifically Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah- that the Golconda Fort owes much of its present grandeur. During the late 17th century, the fort was besieged by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who finally gained control of it.

The Golconda Fort stands, magnificent and majestic, atop a 120 mt high granite hill. The path up to the fort was once a bustling market that sold everything from carpets to precious stones- especially diamonds and pearls. Make your way up the road and you’ll come to a colossal gate, its outside studded with long iron spikes, to deter invading armies from battering it down.

Once you get past the gate, you’ll come to the remarkable portico known as the Balahisar Gate. The Gate is spectacular not for its decoration or proportions, but for its amazing acoustics- a feature you can check for yourself by clapping your hands; supposedly even this can be heard at the Durbar Hall which stands at the summit of the hill.

Also worth seeing are the royal Nagina Gardens, the Bodyguards’ Barracks, and the three water tanks, all of 12 mt deep, which once formed part of an intricate water system in the fort.

The crowning glory of the Fort is, however, the Durbar Hall, which stands atop a hill overlooking the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It’s approached by a thousand-step stairway, and if you can summon up the energy to accomplish the climb, you will be rewarded with a great view of the cities below- including the famous Charminar itself.

[Babji]

more on Golconda Fort...

Originally Posted by magestom

Now before the one hour climb up here is the map to look at

[Babji]

and some more ...

Originally Posted by magestom

[Babji]

and some more ...

Originally Posted by magestom

[arijeetb]

[arijeetb]

[Babji]

Thanks Arijeet for the nice pics.

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/03/s...0314010200.htm
Workshop on manuscripts for school students

HYDERABAD: The National Mission for Manuscripts will organise a workshop on manuscripts awareness through the medium of theatre and puppetry for school students here on October 6.

The four-hour interactive workshop theatre programme will be conducted by the Children's Educational Academy in association with National Mission for Manuscripts at the State Archaeological Museum, Public Gardens. School students will take part in the interactive session with resource persons from various theatre and puppetry groups.

Production of puppet and theatre shows will be based on manuscripts that have rich heritage or folk stories.

The workshop will also be conducted at Ranga Reddy, Kurnool, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam, Krishna, Medak, Bhongir, Mahabubnagar, and Nizamabad.

[Babji]

Esra to brandish Nizams' swords
Ganesh S Lakshman [ 8 Oct, 2006 0204hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

HYDERABAD: They may not have fought many battles, but weapons they certainly possessed. Rusting in boxes for long, almost 1,000 arms and armoury of the Asaf Jahi dynasty are to be put on permanent display at the Chowmahalla Palace by Princess Esra on Sunday.

Karni Singh Jasol, curator of the 15th century Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur who designed the exhibition, told TOI that the Nizams arms and armoury is one of the finest collection of Deccani weapons.

"The Deccani weapons have unique styles of blades and hilts. On display are weapons from the early Asaf Jahi period to the Moghuls to the last Nizam,"he said.

The collection includes swords, daggers, shields, body armour, axes and lancers. The ceremonial swords are mostly European-made, while the fighting weapons are both Deccani and from the Moghul dynasty.

The highlights of the collection are the personal sword of the sixth Nizam, the personal sword of the Prince of Berar (son of the seventh Nizam) and exquisite watered steel blades.

Except for the first Nizam, the Asaf Jahi rulers did not really fight many battles, thanks to the strategic alliance they struck with the British. But they managed to amass over 7,000 weapons over centuries.

"From these, I selected about 1,000 from which 600 are already being exhibited while the remaining will be put up over the coming week,"Jasol said. DThe weapons have been displayed in two rooms upto a height of 30 feet.

The weapons exhibition will be the latest offering at Chowmahalla palace. Already open to the public are the royal textiles exhibition, the royal photo exhibition, a cafeteria, a gift shop and a photo studio where one can get an instant photo wearing the royal robes of the Nizams.

[Babji]

HUDA List #68: State Central Library to sport a grand look again
URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/06/s...0615910300.htm

LOYALTY PAYS!: Readers browsing books at the library. — Photo: Satish. H

HYDERABAD: Crumbling edifice, creaking staircases and caving roof will be a thing of past at State Central Library at Afzalgunj what with the State Government agreeing to provide funds to restore the heritage structure's glory.

Located on the bank of the river Musi, the sprawling library complex built in 1891 has been decaying for want of attention for the past several decades. The walls have been peeling, the exterior having withstood the vagaries of nature for so long. The interiors of the multi-storied complex too have deteriorated.

Estimate accepted : But scores of students and book lovers who rely on the library for their learning and literary pursuits can take heart in the news that the Government has finally consented to cast a benevolent look at the structure.

According to the Director of Public Libraries, S. Ravi Kumar, the work on restoring the structure will be taken up soon as the Government has agreed to the long-pending proposal. P. Krishnaiah, Secretary School Education, recently visited the library and agreed on the need for a facelift to the building and strengthening it. The estimate for the restoration work prepared by the Roads & Buildings has also been accepted, says Mr. Kumar.

The work on providing air-conditioning at the reading halls of the library will start shortly and necessary budgetary allocation has been made for the purpose. This apart, a separate section for compact discs on wildlife, environment, agriculture, health and such subjects and adequate computers to browse them is coming up here.

Mr. Kumar rejects suggestions that reading habits have taken a beating following the invasion of television channels and Internet. In fact, the membership at different libraries and the number of readers visiting to browse the material here has been on the rise.

"Membership at our libraries has gone up from 9.05 lakhs in 2003-04 to 9.48 lakhs this year," he points out.

[Babji]

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/10/s...1002280500.htm
Rare titles of State Central Library just a click away

Some 19,000 books are already there on the web, Over 40,000 books to be put on the Net
This is part of the Universal Digital Library project of Carnegie Mellon University, U.S.
Salar Jung Museum, IIIT, Osmania and Central varsities are also part of the project
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HYDERABAD: No need to check the index, walk the dusty rows in dark alleys or browse those long racks. The State Central Library's rich and rare collection of reading material is now just a click away.

As part of the Universal Digital Library project of Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, the library is putting more than 40,000 books, including a horde of rare titles, on the Internet. The project initiated up by D. Raj Reddy of the university aims at digitising 10 lakh books by the year 2007.

Digitisation apace : Other city-based institutions, including Osmania University, University of Hyderabad, International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) and Salar Jung Museum, are also part of the project.

Director of Public Libraries S. Ravi Kumar says the digitisation work is progressing at a brisk pace and that a special facility with necessary manpower has been created on the library premises. One of the best equipped in the country, the library has a rich collection of 4.6 lakh books in a host of languages like Hindi, Sanskrit, Telugu, English, Urdu, Arabic, Persian, Tamil and Kannada.

Some 40,000 books, many of them rare publications, have already been scanned and digitised, while 19,000 are already available on the web, says Chief Librarian A. Atchamamba.

"This way, the bank of precious literature compiled by the library is preserved," she says. The State Central Library's books, along with other institutions, can be accessed at `www.dli.ernet.in'.

Documentary : Dr. Ravi Kumar has also lined up measures to popularise libraries, particularly among the younger generation and children.

A television documentary showcasing facilities at different libraries has been approved and the script work is on. Other steps include pamphlets, hoardings and road directions for more than 3,342 library facilities in the State.

[Babji]

Chowmohalla will get heritage status, says AP

Hyderabad, Oct. 9: The State government on Monday informed a division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that the steps were initiated to declare Chowmohalla Palace a heritage monument and all illegal constructions around the palace were being demolished.

The bench passed the orders responding to a letter written by the Vasantah Shoba, an architect, complaining that the State government had failed to protect the heritage monument. Earlier, the bench had directed for removal of illegal constructions around Chowmohalla Palace

[Hindustani]

Babji.............thanks