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My time in Hyderabad would be limited, so I got going early. After breakfast I took a taxi to see Charminar.
India 2002 - Part Three: Hyderabad
Dougburnett2003-11-24 12:06:52
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Hyderabad, Wednesday, February 13
My time in Hyderabad would be limited, so I got going early. After breakfast I took a taxi to see Charminar. The name means four towers and that is exactly what it is: four monumental towers that rise above a huge gateway at the intersection of the main streets in the old city. When I got there I discovered, to my great disappointment, that the building was being renovated and I was unable to either enter the gateway or climb the towers. Still it was a very impressive sight sitting in the middle of a busy traffic circle with all the usual chaotic India traffic swirling around it.
Markets line each of the four streets leading away from Charminar. It was still pretty early and most of the shops were just opening up. First, I decided to head west into Lads Bazaar. This is the place you go to buy supplies for an India wedding: there were decorations, clothing, jewelry and henna used to create patterns on the hands of the bride.
Farther along was the large food market selling everything from live chickens and lambs to produce of every description. Next door was a small pet market where I saw a man hand feeding cooked peas to a baby parrot. The tiny bird was gobbling them up as quickly as they were handed to it. There was a cage with about 20 more tiny birds next to the man, so it looked like he had his morning work cut out for him.
Back at Charminar I headed south for a quick look at the local mosque. Farther down, I saw men pounding packages that contained silver leaf. After much confusion, I managed to get one of the men to sell me a package of silver leaf - it contained 20-30 business-card sized sheets for 20 Rupees.
I passed Charminar again heading north into an area of shops assembling and selling strings of pearls. There were also vendors selling tools, paint and other hardware. I walked around looking in all the shops
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See photographs from:
India Gallery
