Spicy food and Telugu films
Entertainment is never too far from your reach in Hyderabad
Not only is the Charminar an iconic monument, it's also worth a visit if you enjoy shopping. Though congested and untidy, it is right in the middle of the various bazaars - the midnight bazaar, the bangles bazaar, and all sorts of pearls are also sold there. In the 1980s, when I first came to Hyderabad, I was struck by the beauty of place, especially after sunset, when the streets were lit and people were walking through the bazaars, having lovely Irani chai and street food while prayers were being said in the nearby mosques.
This is my favourite restaurant for the quintessential Hyderabadi biryani, along with tea. The branch located in the twin city of Secunderabad is one of the oldest restaurants in the city. I always order the dum biryani - the meat is marinated perfectly and has the right amount of spices. It melts in your mouth, and the taste stays in your mind forever.
If you want to test your cricket skills, head to the Parade Grounds, off the main traffic artery. The place is owned by the army, and it has been the hunting ground for Hyderabad's cricketers. Like the maidans of Mumbai, these grounds were where stalwarts like ML Jaisimha and Kapil Dev displayed their skills on matting wickets in the Moin-u-Dowlah tournaments. It is a huge place and every pitch has a different name. If you are a first-time visitor, don't go there on a Sunday, because the chaos may be too much to take. Unfortunately, flyovers built near the grounds have dented the charm a bit, but it's still worth a visit.
You can jog or walk on this two-kilometre stretch by the Hussain Sagar lake early in the morning. On the far side of the bund is Necklace Road, a popular hangout in the evenings because of the rows of fast-food restaurants that line it.
The Telugu movie industry is probably the second largest in India, after Bollywood. This film city is located about 35km outside the city, on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. It is a well-equipped mini city by itself, with a couple of five-star hotels and a shopping plaza. You could probably stay there and enjoy the making of a movie.
Venkatapathy Raju took 93 wickets in 28 Tests for India
As told to Nagraj Gollapudi