The charming city, wonderful palaces and pearls also serve as major attractions
The charming city, wonderful palaces and pearls also serve as major attractions
Ohmigod,u00a0you chose a 7am flight?" shrieked my roommate, fully aware that any effort to wake me up anytime before 10am meant risking life and limb. 
The Chow Mahala Palace where the Nizams come and stay
u00a0pics/promita mukherjee
I nodded gravely, totally woebegone now that I realised how foolish I had been to opt for a midnight (for me) flight. Little wonder then that the alarm rang and I missed, and had it not been for the cabbie (bless him!), I would have totally missed the flight.
The landing
But all's well that ends well, and here I was, in the Nizam's city, cruising along an 11km (yes, you read that right) long flyover, that connects the snazzy city centre to the faraway (about 42km, to be precise) airport, surrounded by hillocks with pretty houses perched on them.
And now, sitting under a canopy, sipping a damn good guava mocktail (which I had initially refused 'coz I hate all kinds of guava drinks) and taking in the beauty of the infinity pool at Aqua that overlooks the Hussein Sagar Lake, is when I slowly fell in love with Nizam's city.
Of great therapies
It had been a perfect day -- nice and lazy. I had checked into The Park, bang in front of the very serene and very beautiful Hussain Sagar Lake, which was to be my pad for the weekend. The morning was spent lazing in my room and admiring the calmness of the Hussein Sagar which I could see from my bed. But while the bed has its attractions, I was also hungry. So off I went for the lazy Sunday brunch, watching Hyderabad's top industrialists drop in with their family for good food. Some great Continental fare later (the cold cuts deserve special mention), I headed for the spa.
There is an admission to be made here, I detest spas and massages of any kind. But there was a surprise awaiting me at The Aura where I was booked for crystal therapy. I actually relaxed and fell asleep during the treatment, something that has never happened to me so far.u00a0
A whirwind tour
The next day was busy as busy can be. I tried to pack in a full-fledged city tour and some shopping. Little wonder then that I only managed to visit the Charminar area (bustling and colourful) and the Chow Mahala palace, where the Nizams come and stay when they visit India. It is beautiful, and opulent (but obviously). And yes, I didn't miss my pearl shopping and biryani.
About my abode
The Park, Hyderabad is India's first LEED GOLD certified green hotel. Even though it is still adding rooms (it has 270 now), nightclubs and restaurants, it has already become the hotspot for the new nizams of Hyderabad.
While Aqua will take care of your evenings nice and proper, don't miss dinner at Aish, a restaurant designed by Tarun Tahiliani if you want to feel (and be served) like a royal. The rooms are plush and very very comfortable, thereby adding warmth to your stay.
Where to stay: The Park, Hyderabad, 22, Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda
For reservations, call: 914023456789/44990000 or email: resv.hyd@theparkhotels.com
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