Ramoji Film City

If ever one asks me for suggestions on places to visit in Hyderabad, this would definitely be on the top of my Must-See list. I am willing to bet that Ramoji is on the list of all professional guides (local tourist guides/ websites and the likes) as well. And why not, this is truly the place where imagination meets reality, and I mean, literally! You must not miss it especially if you are a movie buff like I am. And yet, if it weren't for my two friends who made a last minute decision to visit Hyderabad, before I left, I may have actually missed seeing this marvelous ingenuity!

There are buses that would take you from wherever you are in the city till the entrance of the Film City. And these buses were amazingly easy to book, on time and cheap. We started from my place at 7.30 in the morning and reached the Film City entrance by 9.30.  After buying the tickets (the entry fee is around 600Rs/ person--totally worth it!!), we were told that there were three shows, collectively known as Movie Magic, that we may like to watch before the guided tour around the place started. Since there was time before these shows began, we had some breakfast and then hopped on some of the complimentary rides that came along with the tickets. For those who have already visited the Film City, you would know that these rides were meant for kids, but who was to stop us from revisiting childhood that day- after all we were in Fantasy Land!

We then gathered at the Central Court to watch the opening ceremony. Not very grand, but a decent effort by some kids who paid homage to some patriotic songs- both filmy and non filmy. Each of the three shows were experiences on their own, and good ones too, if you don't mind waiting in the never ending queue to get into one, that is! I didn't quite enjoy the first show, screened at the Ramoji Tower- where we were strapped to our seats and made to watch a five minute 3D action flick. The idea was to allow the viewers to experience the movie- to be part of it- they even tried adding slimy vibrations under your feet when snakes and rats were shown on the screen; sprayed water when the movie showed rain and so on....but it didn't quite work. Maybe it could fool some very young kids, but the effects were definitely low-end to adult viewers. The next show, called Filmy Duniya, was way better. It was a train ride- a nine-seater coach that cruised through major world cities, showing visitors a glimpse of how different yet breathtaking different cultures can be. At the end of the ride, there was a small souvenir shop, but the quality and variety of the items sold were not commendable. The third show was named 'Action Theatre' but reminded me of my college's theatre classes. It was a quick peek into the various technical aspects behind film making, including sound mixing, editing and other pre/ post production techniques. For this, the guide made a short film using a volunteer from the audience itself. It was an informative session for people like me, who didn't know that the sound of horses galloping could be made by tapping two cobblestones over a pile of smaller pebbles in a rhythmic fashion, or that the sound of rain can be re-produced by splashing grains of sand over a large sieve! Amazing!

Finally, the buses that were to show us around the various sets had arrived and we got to see the magnitude of this City. Spread across 1666 acres of land, Ramoji has recreated almost all major locations in the world, a filmmaker can dream to shoot at. Be it a village, a market, a railway station or a hospital. Be it Taj Mahal or Hawa Mahal. Be it a scene from the Mahabharata or a cut from the Budhha cave. What more, they had recreated more than a hundred gardens from across the globe- the Japanese garden, the Butterfly garden (found at the Changi Airport, Singapore), the Mughal garden and the Vrindavan, to name a few....As we roamed through these sets, we were able to recognize a few of them from films that we had seen, like the Detective house in Baadshah or the dance sequence in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan..:). We also clicked some filmy poses for our own collection...:)

We did not know how time sped by, but by the time we blinked our eyes (in truly Indie filmy style), evening had set in and it was time for us to leave. We were late to catch the return bus so we had to miss the Stunt Show and the closing ceremony. But no regrets, it was a fun filled and colorful experience. When Mr. Ramoji (in one of his videos, we saw at the Movie Magic show) claimed that 'a director could walk into the Film City with a script and walk out with a film' I didn't quite believe him. But after spending the day, viewing his architectural marvel, I must say he is quite right!

A small video on the Buddha cave....

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Barbeque Nation

So this one evening S began craving to grill some items and prepare dinner- his style. But since we did not have all the ingredients he wanted, we decided to buy them. However, in spite of scanning through various supermarkets, we didn't quite get what we were looking for. So we ended up having dinner at Barbeque Nation instead...:)

I was thrilled to find a live barbeque grill at the center of every table, so that we can baste the dishes with marinades and give it a final touch. In addition, the restaurant was decorated to suit the Sun and Sand Food Festival, it was celebrating that day. The ceiling was covered with fishermen's nets, the waiters were dressed in colorful shirts and the customers were given beach party caps to wear.

They had customised the buffet menu too,  to showcase a mix of beach cuisines from around the world. The  starters were unlimited, as usual, so we ended up eating countless portions of Coastal Barbeque Paneer, Cajun Mushroom, Shallow-fried Fish and Malaysian Shrimp. By the time we were done with the starters, I was almost full. But we could not pass on the opportunity of trying some of the Main Course dishes they had on board. While we were taking our sweet time to let the food we had settle down, before we attacked the next course, the hotel manager announced that the staff were about to dance to a traditional Konkani number. We did not expect such an entertaining and enthusiastic performance from the otherwise quiescent and reserved team. By the time the dance was over, the whole floor was enthralled!

For the main course, the Goan Lamb Vindaloo, Mangalorean Crab Curry were lip smacking. I could not wait to try the desserts- especially the Blue cheesecake and the Strawberry Cheesecake!

                                 

                                                       

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Golconda Fort

This was the first historical monument I visited in Hyderabad. From the city, it took us less than an hour to reach this place, by car. Though the site is partly in ruins, its historical importance, as a former capital and fortress city, was still clearly visible.

We were welcomed by a guide who offered to show us around the place. He warned us that it was easy to get lost on the way without his help.  Though we did not accept his offer (as we wanted to enjoy the pleasure of exploring the massive site ourselves), we listened to the short speech he gave a number of tourists on the history of Golconda.  Derived from the Telegu words Gollu and Konda (which translates as ‘Shepherd’s Hill), it is believed that in the 13^th century, during the Kakatiya rule, a shepherd boy had found an idol on this hill, and the then ruler ordered to build a mud fort around the site. The next rulers of this kingdom, the Qutub Shahis, then converted this fort into a mighty fortress and established Golconda as their capital. The guide then continued to explain with pride, how the fortress protected the city from many attacks and finally gave in to the Mughal attack led by Aurangzeb.

I must also confess that the guide was quite right and we did indeed get lost among the numerous domes and gates. There are four distinct forts, each at a level higher than the previous one. We were told that the entrance of the lowest fort had a special acoustic effect. If a person clapped his hands from this point, it could be heard till the highest point. S wanted to climb all the way till the highest point- called ‘Bala Hissar’.  With great difficulty, thanks to my fit body, I managed to do so but the experience was worth the exercise! The view from the top was magnificent. We could see almost the whole of Hyderabad from there and that totally blew me away. (Just remember to take bottles of water for this climb). We also saw some water tanks, the Rahban cannon and the two pavilions where the legendary sisters Taramathi and Premamathi resided and performed in the King’s court. By the time we climbed down, dusk had settled in and the ‘Sound and Light Show’ had started. It was a display of the heritage and legend of Golconda, with a voice over by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. However, I did not find it very appealing and we left before it got over.

The overall experience was quite fulfilling and I came back, learning a bit about the city’s history and with a pair of tired, aching feet!

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Cinnamon Fusion

Living up to the name, the whiff of cinnamon in the air as soon as you enter the restaurant is very refreshing. They are on the third floor of the building opposite Cyber Gateway. S and I went there on a Friday evening after work not knowing exactly what we were up for. But boy did it turn out to be a good decision! The food was excellent and the ambience was great. I did get a bit confused in the beginning when I got a menu with no prices on it. It turned out to be a five course set menu with a veg or non-veg course option – 1 soup, 1 salad, entrée’s (choice of 4, you can opt for a platter instead), two main dishes to choose from, two desserts to choose from. Since we are such food lovers we wouldn’t wanna miss out on either the veg or the non-veg course. So we went for the obvious choice - one veg for me and a non-veg course for S.

Let me tell you, I am not a soup person. I just don’t like soup. The waiter insisted I try a small bowl atleast. So I tried. A cream of Mushroom soup, and I totally loved it.  If they could convert a non-soup lover like me then you could imagine it has to be that good. The same verdict for the non-veg Tom Yom soup that S had. It felt really fresh with a lot of fresh herbs. The soups raised our expectations right over the roof. Anything less than this from now on would not be entertainedJ. Next on the course was a Caesar salad. S had the non-veg with chicken and poor I had only leaves to eat. This was ok. It was a regular salad. Nothing out of the ordinary to write about. S felt it was a bit salty, but that depends on personal taste. Although it would have been better to leave the salt- adding part to us. Next, were the appetizer platters. After the soup experience, this was a mixed bag. The stuffed mushroom and papdi paneer stood up to the high expectations. The others were just alright. Next in line was my good’ol pal - Pizza, a thin crust four cheese pizza – a veg and a non-veg (chicken). Both the pizzas were great. The owner of the place, a young chap, came around to have a chat about our experience. He explained they import their cheeses from Europe and they are very particular about the ingredients they use. It was good to see him taking feedback from all the guests. It was a nice touch. The main course had two options for non veg – Grilled chicken or Basa fish. By this time we were so full, we started having doubts if we could go through the whole course. S chose the Basa fish with Hunan sauce, served with rice. My choice for veg – Penne Alfredo pasta. The fish was so soft. A definite YES. The pasta was creamy and good. S skipped the rice since he was already full and kept himself busy with the fish J. We are now entering the final round – Dessert – the round I love the most. Ahh… only two desserts to choose from – a choco lava cake, and a take on tiramisu - Cinnamissue. For both I must say, the verdict was a super Definite YES. I dipped a spoon in the choco lava cake and the chocolate just oozzzzeed out.  The Cinnamissue, although a small portion, had really creamy layers. Super like. We finished the full course on a high.

Overall, I loved the whole experience and I would definitely go back. Although I hope they do keep altering the set menu. Variety is the spice of lifeJ.

By the way, they also have a short eats section. Some of the entrée and a few more starters were on it. The price for the full course was reasonable – Rs 520 excl taxes.

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Chowmahalla Palace

This royal family house is situated at a walking distance from Charminar Fort and is a must-see for people who are interested in knowing how the rulers of Hyderabad once lived. It is an experience in itself! I, for one, surely felt that I was being transported to a totally different era- where richness and abundance was more of a way of life than just a sign of royalty!

The palace grounds span across around 12 acres and as the name suggests (Chowmahalla means Four Palaces), there are four palaces on these spacious grounds Here are some of the highlights of this historical structure, coming from some one who barely passed history in school....:)

- The entry fee was only Rs. 25 (you need to pay extra to tag a camera along).

- There are 2 courtyards- the southern one houses the 4 palaces and the palatial structure in northern courtyard, has an infinite set of doors, that open to a long corridor of rooms, which were mostly administrative offices and servants' quarters during the Nizam reign.

- What I loved the most was the regal Durbar Hall. Although the main hall is open to visitors, the area where the royal seat is placed is enclosed to disallow visitors from stepping onto it.

- The next thing that caught my eye is the array of vintage cars that were lined up for display. The Nizams definitely had an impeccable taste for automobiles- be it the Harley Davidson bikes or the Rolls Royce cars...

- Lastly, there is a room in the palace, where you are allowed to dress up in a Nizam's attire and have photographs taken by professionals. Most kids would love this and I could see a throng of excited kids queuing up in front of that particular hall.

A few snaps to capture the grandeur of this monument, though I couldnt click enough pictures to do due justice.

    

                

 To know more about this palace, here is the official link :- www.chowmahalla.com/

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Hyderabad Travelogue

Taking you to some of the must-visit places in Hyderabad.....


Chowmahalla Palace 

Golconda Fort

                         
Ramoji Film City

                                       

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Hyderabad Eateries

Fridays are fun. Because Fridays, for me usually end with eating out, trying out new restaurants
and having dinner (with my hubby or with friends) over the latest juicy gossip . Every Friday we
try to check out a new restaurant we haven't been to before. Well, with so many in Hyderabad it
will be a while before all of them find a place in this blog. But who’s complaining...:) The more the merrier!

So here goes a compilation, along with our ratings, of some of the restaurants who had a
privilege to serve us...:)




Amogh                                 Siaa                                 The Square - Novotel   

                Sweet Nirvana                      Angeethi


Indi Joe’s                         Chutneys                                     Newscafe 


                   Oottupura                         Paradise - Hitec

 

Chili's                           Southern Spice                          Cinnamon Fusion

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Southern Spice

 For a plate of South Indian specialties - well known for their thaali, this joint is situated in the heart of the Banjara Hills, so they are not easy to miss. We did have a nice time eating up whatever we ordered which included many of their (e)special items (with the accent!) - Natu Kodi Iguru, Appam, Thaali and Quail fry. All the dishes were tasty and had that unique south Indian relish but they did not come pretty cheap. However, what I did not enjoy at all was that they charged us twice by mistake and we had to follow up with them for ages before we got the wrong transaction reversed - so much for customer experience…

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Chili’s

Hmmm…well they decided to open one of America’s famous joints in Hyderabad- good thinking, but they also decided to price the food and drinks in USD (converted to Rupees, of course)- bad thinking! I mean one burger for Rs. 300!!. But on the positive side, the food is good and the drinks are refreshing, and oh, this is one place where you can get soft drinks “unlimited” (bottomless drinks- a relief for teetotalers like me when with a bunch of beer guzzling friends….:) ). The portions are large for me and I usually end up overeating :).

I also came to know that they import their plates and beer glasses directly from US - now that’s called living up to your brand image…ha….I have been here a number of times and each time we order some new dish and I must tell you, the food has always been appealing. Some of the must-tries are Mushroom Jack Fajita, Cajun Chicken Salad, Chicken Quesadillas and you could end your meal with a yummy Cheesecake or a Molten Chocolate Cake, just like we did.

They keep introducing new dishes on the menu and it always turns out good!

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Paradise - Hitec

Well, this is more of a take away outlet than a regular dining place, but I though it was worth mentioning here, as its one of the oldest yet best places to taste a traditional Hyderabadi Biryani. True to its name, this place is a paradise for all Non Veg lovers, especially if you crave for kebabs, biryanis or tandooris. My all time favorite is the Mutton Biryani, followed by the Chicken Tandoori Kebab. It would be unfair to place the entire TnT rating table here, as the ambience or service cannot be considered in a takeaway. However, I would give it a 4/5 for taste and value for price and the only people who could be given a better rating on taste are Hyderabad’s mothers and grandmothers!

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Oottupura

Puttu, Kappa meenu curry, Appam and Chicken stew, Beef Olathiyathu, Idiappam…hmmmmmmmm….I am back in God’s own country except that this ‘dining hall’ (that is what Oottupura means in Malayalam) is miles away from Kerala!. Once I set my foot into the restaurant, I felt completely at home. A place that offers you a taste of Kerala in a simple setting, with a wide variety of traditional food served at affordable prices- that is what makes Oottupura my favorite ‘Mallu’ restaurant in town.

 

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Newscafe

It was the only place in Hyderabad (..till Chillis introduced it!), that served the Philly steak which tasted just about alright.  Some of its other specialties include chicken strips in Barbeque sauce, grilled Cajun chicken salad and even a Goan-style prawns and chicken curry coronation. The food is just fine though, nothing extraordinary!

Spacious settings with an outdoor dining arrangement and amazing variety of cocktails to go with your food- these are some of the things you can expect from this place. The food may be expensive but they serve portions enough to fill an ogre’s tummy. That applies to some of their desserts as well. The chocolate ganache cake that I ordered was humongous and tasted quite good.

  

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Chutneys

This may not be one of your three or five star hotels, but if you are craving to eat a sumptuous South Indian meal- varieties of dosa or idli- visit any of the numerous Chutneys outlets, that are spread all over the city. Most commendable for its consistency in taste, irrespective of which outlet you choose to visit. What I liked most (and usually order 2-3 bowls of), are the various types of chutneys they serve, ranging from simple coconut chutney to the groundnut-chickpea combo chutney, some of which I tried to recreate at home, but failed…:(. They also serve Steamed Dosa , which even a South Indian like me hadn't heard of before.

  

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Indi Joe’s

Another one of BJN’s creations, although I must say it does not share or even meet up to Angeethi’s quality. Not that it was bad; it wasn’t just as good as Angeethi. If you want to have a quiet and peaceful meal, perhaps you should go for breakfast or brunch. Lunchtime is highly noisy, usually packed with school kids or birthday parties- oh not becoz it is cheap, but becoz it is strategically located right inside The City Centre.-one of Hyderabad’s happening malls.  We reached the place at 12.30 but got a place to sit only by around 1.30 PM. (Thanks to the various shops around, we girls did not have a problem killing time, while the guys stood around waiting..:)). We had decided to go for a buffet but the spread was not tempting as all it featured was a variety of salads and desserts. Main course was almost over. The food was just average yet pricey. I will go for a 2.5/5

   

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Angeethi

One of the first (and the best so far!) BJN restaurants that we visited till date, its pleasing aroma welcomed us even before we stepped in. The place gives you a feel of visiting a traditional Dhaba in a north Indian village. It is not just the wood-ceilings and walls filled with old hindi movie posters, the food is also served in traditional steel thaalis and copper cups. The buffet was reallllly overflowing with variety- ranging from chappatis, butter naans to biryanis to several authentic Indian curries including Aloo Gobi Kasoori, Methi Muttar Makai,  Chicken Tikka Masala, Dabba Gosht and Malwani Mutton, to name a few.

Well...I could not get up from my seat once the whole eating episode was over, but whew, wasn't my stomach satisfied!!!. Must have been the number of times I refilled my plate, so blame it on the food which could best be described as ‘Ambrosial’.

   

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Sweet Nirvana

This is an ideal place for a wholesome European brunch or evening snack. I have heard that they also have an evening dessert buffet which I am yet to try. However, if you happen to stop by for lunch, you could choose to have a traditional English A la Carte. We had Shepherd’s Pie, Lamb Lasagna and Paella for lunch. I must say my husband and I were truly impressed with the Paella, although I didn’t share his enthusiasm with the Shepherd’s Pie entirely, after taking a dig at it. I liked the Lamb Lasagna better. I found the ambiance to be a bit dull, perhaps owing to its geographical location (in the city, yet away from the busy roads).

Well, here goes my rating on Sweet Nirvana, relying on my taste buds….

  

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The Square - Novotel

The Novotel brand tag does speak for the restaurant, but then so does the food and the ambience. The Square is one of the two restaurants at the Novotel Convention Centre in Kondapur, that is open to all. The other one is a Mexican restaurant named  La Cantina, which we haven't visited yet.

At The Square, you must not miss the buffet they serve, with a full-size spread spanning across Indian, Continental and Western cuisines. And the desserts section……ahh mouth watering…:) .There are live counters where they prepare rotis, Naans and even customize your noodles in front of you. We have been here a number of times, mostly on weekends, when they usually host different themed buffets (Like Chettinad or Caribbean Food Festivals) and not even once were we disappointed with the quality of the spread. I have not tried their A' la Carte, but I hear they are equally relishing.

They also have an outdoor seating facing the lawn and swimming pool, but I didn't quite enjoy that experience, thanks to a few mosquitoes that constantly bugged me! The staff is extremely courteous  and the service is flawless. One of my all time favorite diners in Hyderabad!

 

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Amogh

If you are looking to enjoy a great buffet without emptying your pockets, this is the right place for you. A couple of good starters, followed by a splatter of (mostly north) Indian dishes to choose from, and completed with a small yet delicious range of desserts, this place offers you excellent quality buffet at a moderate price. We found the place to be a little inconspicuous as it is located away from the main road, so you may want to get proper directions before you leave home to reach this restaurant. However, perhaps it was this factor that added to the calmness we felt, while we were at this place. A very serene atmosphere, ideal for both business meetings and quiet family dinners alike!

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Siaa

The place has a great ambience- simple yet refined, but it is best if you book early to get the right spot. They serve excellent food and drinks at a reasonable price. However, they serve only Indian and Continental dishes, so if you are in the mood to eat some Chinese noodles, this is not the place you should be visiting.

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