Must-see Places in Hyderabad

 

1. Golconda Fort:

 

Golconda Fort, one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India, is located at Ibrahim Bagh, Hyderabad, Telangana. The history of the Golkonda Fort dates back to the early 13th century, when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. It is built on a granite hill 120 metres high, surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts. The bulk of the ruins of this fort, date from the time of the Qutub Shahi kings, who had ruled this part of the land in the 16th and 17th century.

Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10km long outer wall having 87 semi-circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the ‘Fateh Darwaza’ (Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes ( to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustical effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golkonda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the ‘Bala Hisar’ pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger though now it is a mere amusing diversion to visitors.

There is also supposed to be secret underground tunnel leading from the ‘Durbar Hall’ to one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings, built with Islamic architecture lie about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golkonda. These graceful structures are surrounded by landscaped gardens and beautifully carved stonework. The fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade and many famed diamonds including the Koh-i-noor, Hope, Regent and Beu Sancy diamonds have come from here.

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Must-see Places in Pondicherry

 

 1. Ousteri Lake:

 

 Ousteri is a large water-body in Ossudu village, north of Kaveri River, around 10 kms from Pondicherry town. The tank was constructed during the Vijayanagara dynasty around 500 years ago. It is connected through the Suthukanni channel to Gingee and Varaha Rivers. Ousteri Lake has been recognized as one of the important wetlands of Asia by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). In 1995, the lake recorded some 20,000 birds and in 1998 it went up to 25,000 birds of 44 species. If you love watching rare and colourful birds in their natural habitat, this is a place not to be missed.

2. Mahatma Gandhi Statue:

 

Gandhi Statue is a four-meter statue of Mahatma Gandhi surrounded by eight carved monolithic pillars. The statue, standing on the beach front of Pondicherry was built by the famous sculptor Roy Choudhary from Madras School of Art and Crafts. Statue of Dupleix, which is 2.88 meter tall, stands at the southern end of the park. Almost every city with a beach in India has a Gandhi statue, but this is the biggest of all. You can visit in the evening to enjoy the cool breeze and the yummy street foods of India like Chaat, Sev Poori, Masala Corns, Bhajia, Gol Guppa, Pani Puri or Puchka, which is a favorite of all women in India.

3. Auroville:

 

Auroville is an experimental township located 8 km north-west of Pondicherry in East Coast Road. Founded in 1968 by Mirra Richard, Auroville was designed by the French architect Roger Anger. It is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The inauguration ceremony of Auroville was held on 28 February 1968 when soil from 124 countries was placed in a lotus-shaped urn and mixed to symbolize universal oneness. The Matrimandir in the middle of the town has been acclaimed as an outstanding and original architectural achievement.

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Must-see Places in Madurai

If you are in Madurai for the first time, here are some places that are worth your time.

 

 

1. Meenakshi Amman Temple:

 

Meenakshi Amman Temple, a great example of Dravidian Architecture, is the geographic and ritual center of the ancient city of Madurai and one of the largest temple complexes in Tamil Nadu. The temple complex is divided into a number of concentric quadrangular enclosures contained by high masonry walls. The four streets surrounding the temple are pedestrian-only. First, have a look around the Pudhu Mandapa , the 100m-long, 16th-century pillared hall facing the gopuram. It’s filled with colourful textile and craft stalls and tailors at sewing machines, partly hiding some of the lovely pillar sculptures. A light-blue Nandi bull sits outside the mandapa’s eastern entrance. Once inside the eastern gopuram , you’ll find the Nayak-period Thousand Pillar Hall on your right. This is now an Art Museum where you can admire at your leisure a Shiva shrine with a large bronze Nataraja at the end of a corridor of superbly carved pillars, plus many other fine bronzes and colourful painted panels.


2. Thirumalai Nayak Palace:

 

What the Meenakshi Temple is to Nayak religious architecture, Thirumalai Nayak’s palace is to the secular. This palace, built in 1636, is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Islamic styles. Although it’s said to be only a quarter of its original size, its massive scale and hybrid Dravidian-Islamic style still make quite an impression and testify to the lofty aspirations of its creator. The palace is known for its giant pillars. You enter from the east. A large courtyard surrounded by tall, massive columns topped with fancy stucco work leads through to the grand throne chamber with its 25m-high dome. Off this is a museum with stone carvings and archaeological exhibits.

3. Gandhi Memorial Museum:

 

Gandhi Memorial Museum was established in 1959. It is now one of the five Gandhi Sanghralayas (Gandhi Museums) in the country. Housed in a 17th-century Nayak queen’s palace, this excellent museum contains an impressively moving and detailed account of India’s struggle for independence from 1757 to 1947. Included in the exhibition is the blood-stained dhoti (long loincloth) that Gandhi was wearing when he was assassinated in Delhi in 1948; it’s here because it was in Madurai, in 1921, that he first took up wearing the dhoti as a sign of native pride. It also has the original letter written personally by Gandhi to Narayanan Sathsangi of Devakottai, a congratulatory message sent by Gandhi to freedom fighter and poet Subramania Bharati, and a letter written by Gandhi to Adolf Hitler addressing him as Dear Friend. The small Madurai Government Museum is next door, and the Gandhian Literary Society Bookshop behind.

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Travel Tips: A Beginner's Guide to Traveling

5 Tips that can make your trip a pleasant and memorable experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Wake Up Early:

Rise up early to have the best attractions all to yourself while avoiding crowds. It’s also a great time for photos, and usually easier to interact with locals. Remote areas are less dangerous too in the morning hours. Honest hardworking people wake up early; touts, scammers, and criminals sleep in.

2. Gather local travel info before you go:

It is always a good idea to gather local information before you travel to avoid pricey last-minute trips or ending up stranded in the hotel. Also, if you plan to explore beyond the hotspots of your destination, then pick and plan your must-sees and transport before you go. iCityZoom has a comprehensive list of must-sees, along with ideas for accommodation and dining. It's map based services can guide you around the city.

3. Travel Light:

The importance of packing light cannot be overemphasized, but, for your own good, I'll try. You'll never meet a traveler who, after five trips, brags: "Every year I pack heavier." The measure of a good traveler is how light he or she travels. You can't travel heavy, happy, and cheap.

4. Buy Stuff at your Destination:

Take only a couple of pairs of pants, shirts, shorts, underwear and basic toiletries to last a couple of days in your carryon. A good idea would be to check iCityZoom's shopping gallery which provides you with a plethora of information on places to shop.

5. Consider car hire alternatives:

Before you book car hire for your holidays, don't forget to consider the alternatives. Unnecessary car hire can be an expensive, unused hindrance. Public transport or even taking your own car may work out cheaper for some destinations. Go through this checklist first: Look into public transport. Check taxi prices. If you plan to spend most of your time topping up your tan rather than traveling, a few taxi rides may be cheaper.

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Welcome to Icityzoom - Travel Guide 

        

 Our website covers the best of the city, with extensive directory of places to visit, accommodation, dining and all the information you need on what to do including all the latest events and offers. Our map based services guide you around the city. Get weather info, news, important visitor info and even some useful expression with our talking dictionary. This is great way to connect with the local culture!