Nehru Zoological Park – A Fun Filled Nature and Animal Park of Hyderabad

The visit to the Falaknuma Palace was mind blowing. The rooms and halls of the Palace were lavish and awe inspiring. After the visit to this Palace we went to visit the Nehru Zoological Park in the city. This was the place which we visited on the request of my kids. The Park is one of the most visited destinations in the city and houses more than 100 species of animals.

The zoo is located near the Mir Alam Tank in the city. We reached the Park after having our lunch. The first section which we visited inside the Park was the animal section. There are nearly 100 species of different birds and animals which include endangered species like Indian rhino, Asiatic Lions and Bengal Tigers. Apart from these animals we also witnessed the Panthers, elephants, Deer, Antelopes and many different species of Birds from all over the world.

Nehru Zoological Park |Image Resource : indiantravels.com

We took a safari trip inside the Park. This is a fun ride which goes through the sections where Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, sloth bear and other animals are housed. The natural history museum of the zoo is also a fun learning way to get educated about the different animals and species. The zoo also arranges a feeding session and other educational shows.

Tigers At Zoo | Image Resource : visithyd.com

One good thing which I admired about the zoo was its nocturnal house which artificially reserves night and days for the different animals so that all nocturnal animals are fresh and active while the visitors are there in the park. This exhibit houses bats, loris, civets, hedgehogs, barn owls, and other species of owls. Apart from this there is also an exhibit which houses an aquarium and a dinosaur park, Butterfly Park and a house exclusively for different species of tortoises.

The kids were thrilled to visit the Nehru Zoological Park and so were we. We clicked many pictures inside the zoo to keep them as memories forever. After this visit, it got a little dark so we decided to visit the biggest attraction of the city of Hyderabad, Charminar, the iconic structure which defines the very essence of the city.

Travel Photo Of The Week : Birla Science Museum Hyderabad

Birla Science Museum Hyderabad | Image Resource : bp.blogspot.com

Birla Science Museum Hyderabad : Museums and science parks are always a priority in all my trips. Especially my little one loves exploring the science parks. We went to the Birla Museum at Hyderabad and not only my kids, even I was thrilled to see the Dinosuarium. The exhibits of the terrific T-Rex and the display of dinosaur fossils was amazing.

Falaknuma Palace – A Lavish Palace Showcasing the Royalty of Nizams

It was a wonderful visit to the Ramoji Film City. This was the first time we witnessed such massive film sets and got an idea how much work goes on into making the movies and television series. After the trip to Ramoji Film city, we went to visit the next destination in our list which was the Falaknuma Palace, one of the biggest attractions in the city of Hyderabad.

Falaknuma Palace | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

The palace was built by Vikar-ul-Ulmara and its construction started in the year 1884. After 9 years of construction the Palace was complete. It is one of the finest palaces located in the city which is made up of Italian marbles. The palace was later on bought by the Nizam IV of Hyderabad and since functioned as the Royal guest house. The biggest attraction of the palace is its reception which is lavishly adorned with imported frescoes from Europe.

Falaknuma Palace Dining Table | Image Resource : wikimedia.org

The Palace is spread across an area of 9 lakh square metres and has 220 rooms and more than 20 halls all of which are lavishly decorated. The dining table of the Palace can accommodate 100 guests at one time. The table ware is made of gold and silver. The Palace truly represents the wealth and class of the Nizams of Hyderabad.

The walls of the halls showcase some of the finest oil paintings of the family of Asafi Jahi and other notable dignitaries from around the world. The staircase serves as a historic picture gallery. The Palace is certainly one of the distinguished landmarks of the city.  A trip to the city is incomplete without a visit to the Falaknuma Palace.

The palace is hardly 5 km from Charminar and there are many modes of transport available from the city to reach there. Those who love to visit palaces and forts, Falaknuma Palace is a must visit for them to see how lavish the Royalty of Hyderabad were. After the visit to the Palace, we decided to try some of the local Hyderabadi food and visit our next place which was the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad. It is one of the biggest zoos in the state.

Ramoji Film City – Indian Film Industry’s Wonder Place

Once we reached Hyderabad we decided not to waste any further time and begin with the excursions from a famous tourist attraction located in Secunderabad known as the Ramoji Film City. It is said to be an ideal place for the diehard fans of Bollywood Cinema. The film city sprawls over an area of 1667 acres and is full of film sets and lush green compounds decorated with flowers and fountain.

Ramoji Film City | Image Resource : travelnewsdigest.in

The film city was established by Ramoji Group for providing the film industry with suitable sets and locations. It has all the required settings for a film to be shot and state of the art facilities for all kinds of tourists and travelers who come here to take a glimpse of this massive wonder. There are many movies which have been shot in this film city.

It was a wonderful feeling to visit the film city. I have always heard of the big banner films whose sets are recreated in these kinds of film cities but this was the first time we visited a real one. There are many top film houses which have used the sets of Ramoji film City to shoot their movies. The film city is also an active centre for other media like newspapers and television channels like ETV.

The film city is also an ideal destination for leisure purposes. The place has many entertainment facilities which include games, shopping destinations and food courts. There is also provision for corporate events at the film city. It was a great place to begin our adventures in the city. It is one of those places where you love to hang out with kids and family.

There are many packages available for tourists to visit the film city. There is a royal Package which includes air conditioned bus tour of the entire film city and lunch at a premium hotel of the city. Once we were done with the visit to this amazing film city, we headed for our next destination which was the Falaknuma Palace of Hyderabad, a famous attraction of the city and a heritage palace barely 5 km from the Charminar.

Travel Photo Of The Week : Nizam Museum Hyderabad

Nizam Museum Hyderabad | Image Resource : astrolika.com

Nizam Museum Hyderabad : I look forward to summer vacations so I can spend valuable time with my little ones. Amongst everything about my recent trip to Hyderabad, it was the visit to Nizam Museum that stays close to my heart. The thrilling expressions on my kids’ faces when they saw the exhibits keep popping up in my mind whenever I think about the trip!

Vaigai Dam- Exploring the Natural Beauty of Madurai

The Vagai River is one of the most beautiful natural features in Madurai flowing in the western part of the city. The Vaigai Dam has been built on the Vaigai River in order to provide water for irrigation purposes around the year and later to generate hydroelectric power for the state of Tamil Nadu.

Dams are lifelines for the nation because they are essential for generating clean energy and also to create a prosperous agricultural economy which is the biggest sector in India. The Vaigai Dam also attracts tourism and hence generates additional revenue; this has encouraged the government to invest in the dam’s beautification.

Vaigai Dam | Image Res : thenihotels.in

On this journey of Madurai I have focused on the historical heritage of the city because I am myself a history enthusiast and I wanted my children to learn by experiencing. I wanted them to get inspired and I hope that I have been partially successful in that regard.

I think that it was more of a fun trip for them than an educational one but one should not blame them, will these carefree childhood days ever return? Children must be let free to enjoy their lives as much as they can because this allows them to follow their passions when they grow and realise their full potential. The natural landscape of Madurai was appallingly beautiful and serene and contrary to what I had expected, the city has a quiet lifestyle.

This is what I had wanted. The Vaigai Dam has a beautiful location. The nearby recreation park is also extremely enjoyable. One can get a panoramic view of both sides of the Vaigai Dam standing on the beautiful arching bridge in the park. A Children’s zone has many rides which kept my children busy while I was enjoying the calming influence of the cool breeze emerging from the Vaigai River.

It was finally time for us to start our journey back home. We were going to miss the magnificent city of Madurai and hence it was going to be a long journey back home. All throughout journey we discussed the various experiences and memories that were created during our exciting trip through the delights of Madurai. We will now return to our daily routines but with a rejuvenated spirit.

Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Madurai – The Seat of the Shakti

The Goddess Parvati came to earth as Meenakshi and was once again wed to lord Shiva under the auspices of Lord Vishnu himself. The Meenakshi Temple in Madurai is one of the oldest temples of medieval era in India and had been built by the prosperous Nayak Dynasty. Music had always been an integral part of Indian culture and in The Nayak Dynasty the music and dance forms of Madurai came to the forefront.

Aerial View of Meenakshi Temple | Image Resource: flickr.com

The Meenakshi Temple is dedicated to the goddess of Music and Dance and hence has many structures which portray many of the beautiful and intricate forms in South India. Many Carnatic forms of the later eras were inspired by the depictions in Meenakshi temple.

Meenakshi Temple | Image Resource: flickr.com

The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Madurai is a part of the famous Meenakshi Temple and is by far the most popular tourist destination in all of Tamil Nadu. This generates immense revenue for the government and creates job opportunities for the weaker classes.

I witnessed a blooming tourism industry around the temple which is completely centred around and dependent of it. The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam is a unique monument and nothing else in the world is comparable to this beautiful building. The temple is also called the Temple of a Thousand Pillars and was built in the year 1579.

The 500 year rich history of the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam presented a great learning opportunity for my children and I and I could teach them a lot about art, culture and traditions of Madurai when they could see it all with their eyes. This I believe is the best way to learn. The actual thousand pillars are no longer accessible to the general public because years of aging and over use have deteriorated them.

View Of Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Madurai | Image Resource: flickr.com

The pillars could each produce a uniquely different musical note and in fact it is considered that all of the world’s music originated from the notes generated by these thousand pillars at the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Madurai.

Finally we enjoyed a beautiful lunch which was filled with eth traditional flavours of Madurai at a nearby hotel. It was an entirely new experience for us in Madurai. Nowhere else in the city had we tasted such authentic cuisine as we did close to the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam.

Inspirational Thought Of The Week : Brad Henry

Image Resource : rfclipart.com

The teacher is God and exists in all. Brand Henry’s saying states that the teacher is everything and that he is one who can build hope and character in any student. Only a good teacher can imbue a fondness for erudition by lighting that spark within you.

Samanar Hills in Madurai – A Retreat into Tranquillity

The city life we live these days is overpowering and sucks the life energy out of us quite easily. It therefore becomes extremely essential for a city dweller like me to simply get away from the hectic life and leave my soul free to explore the silent expanses that exist in the most unknown corners of the world.

Samanar Hills, Madurai | Image Resource: flickr.com

I am constantly trying to identify secluded historic locations because they are places which have remain untouched and undisturbed for thousands of years and are a pure reflection of human history. The Samanar hills located in the Keelakuyilkudi village 15 km north of Madurai city is one such beautiful historic site which the Archaeological Society of India has preserved with diligence.

It was sad to know that before the Samanar hills were identified as historic sites of immense importance and significance to the discovery of 8th and 9th century evolution of Jain religion, illegal quarrying was prevalent here. A large part of the hills were depreciated due to illegitimate and indiscriminate digging. The ASI tried to undo the damage but was only partially successful. The academic minds then forced the government to take action and today the Samanar Hills have been restored quite well.

Samanar Temple cave | Image Resource: i1.trekearth.com

Jain Hill Samanar | Image Resource: 3monthsinindia.files.wordpress.com

The Samanar Hills are located at a picturesque location and even if for a moment we were to forget its gigantic historic relevance it will still be a great tourism spot. The locals have been coming to the Samanar Hills for centuries as a recluse from the summer heat and fast city life. Even during the British days a few explorers came to know of this beautiful location and became frequent travellers. The ASI became aware of this location due to these early British explorers.

The hills have several caves and were homes to many Tamil Jain monks or Samanar Monks after whom the hills are known. The Tamil monks created many carvings on the walls of these caves. The carved idols on the walls of these caves depict the life and times of the 9th and 10th century in southern India. It also transmits the message of non violence which is at the core of the Jain religion. One major attraction is the idol of Lord Mahavira which is carved in great detail in the Samanar Caves.

Travel Photo Of The Week : Vaigai River In Madurai

Vaigai River In Madurai | Image Resource : wikimapia.org

Summarization : Our weekend trip to the Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu really made our weekend. My friends and had decided to visit it so that we could unwind for the weekend and we got a lodge overlooking the beautiful river. We even went river fishing and it was the best experience ever.