Hyderabad....Home town.. Sweet memories

Life..Inspiration..Don`t give up.

2011-09-10T11:25:00.000-07:00

If you think you are unhappy, look at them...

Enjoy life how it is and as it comes.

Things are worse for others and are a lot better for us. There are many things in your life that will catch your eye but only a few will catch your heart....pursue those...

HYDERABAD IN 2012 - BY AICG STUDENTS

2011-09-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

This was Inspired by moive 2012..and the students of IACG Done this with four months of day and Night Hardwork..which was promoted to Short Movie Filim Festival..They Had done really Good Job

WATCH THIS VIDEO ITS GREAT!!!!!!

ECHO GANESH - 2 MADE BY Nivi

2011-09-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Vakratunda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha Nirvighnam Kurumeydeva Sarva Karyeshu Sarvada

Ganesh Chaturthi Festival 2011 begins on September 1 and the Lord Ganesha idols are getting ready. This year if you wish to have an eco-sensitive and natural Ganesh Chaturthi Festival sticking to the true Hindu tradition please buy Lord Ganesha idols made of clay and that uses natural paints. There are numerous organizations that are selling natural hand-made clay Ganesh Idols

Please watch this video "A great way to promote green ganesh"

ECHO GANESH MADE BY HARSHA

2011-08-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

ECHO GANESH MADE BY HARSHA...........

CLAY GANESH

HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS

"Shuklam baradharam vishnum sasi varnam chathurbhujam
prasanna vadanam

dhyayeth sarva vighnopa shanthaye"

WISH YOU ALL HAPPY VINAYAKA CHAVITHI 2011

I HAVE USED CLAY, WATER COLOURS, MODELLING CLAY.....

The Salarjung Museum -Third largest museum in INDIA

2011-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

The Salar Jung Museum (Urdu: سالار جنك ميوزيم,Telugu: సాలార్జంగ్ సందర్శనశాల) is an art museum located at Darushifa, on the southern bank of the Musi river in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the three National Museums of India.It has a collection of sculptures, paintings, carvings, textiles, manuscripts, ceramics, metallic artefacts, carpets, clocks, and furniture from Japan, China, Burma, Nepal, India, Persia, Egypt, Europe, and North America. The museum's collection was sourced from the property of theSalar Jung family.
- source- wikipedia

The Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1st century. Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889–1949), former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion. The collections left behind in his ancestral palace, 'Diwan Deodi' were formerly exhibited there as a private museum which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. Old timers believe that the present collection constitutes only half of the original art wealth collected by Salar Jung III. His employees siphoned off part of it, since Salar Jung was a bachelor and depended upon his staff to keep a vigil. Some more art pieces were lost or stolen during the shifting of the museum from Dewan Devdi to the present site. Later in 1968, the museum shifted to its present location at Afzalgunj and is administered by a Board of Trustees with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh as ex-officio chairperson under the Salar Jung Museum Act of 1961

The Indian historical collections includes

The paintings of legendary Raja Ravi Varma
Aurangzebs sword.
Jade crafted daggers of, Emperor Jehangir, Noorjahan and Shah Jehan.
A wardrobe of Tipu Sultan and
A tiffin box made of gold and diamonds.

The furniture collection belonging from the time of Louis 14th-17th and Napolean.

Quran Collections

The Museum has a world famous Quran Collection from around the World in different fonts and designs. The Quran Written with Gold and Silver, There are many more collections of religious books,as well as Arabic Quran.

The museum building in a semicircular shape with 38 galleries, spread on two floors, displays only a part of the original collections. The ground floor has 20 galleries and the first floor has 18 galleries. The exhibits on different subjects are displayed in separate galleries. Each gallery is huge and has many artefacts on display including ones dated back to the 17th century.

Apart from the galleries, there is a reference Library, reading room, publication and education section, chemical conservation lab, sales counter, cafeteria etc. Guides are available at fixed timings free of charge

Important Exhibits

There are Aurangzeb's sword, daggers belonging to empress Noor Jehan, emperors Jehangir and Shah Jehan, the turbans and chair of Tippu Sultan, furniture from Egypt, paintings on display. Among the sculptures stands out the world famous statue of Veiled Rebecca by G.B. Benzoni, an Italian sculptor, in 1876. Her beautiful face hazily is visible through a marble but gossamer veil. Equally captivating is a double-figure wood sculpture. It stands before a mirror and shows the facade of a nonchalant Mephistopheles and the image of a demure Margaretta in the mirror. The eastern section is of equal importance with its wide variety of silk weaving and different art forms, including layer wood cutting paintings, porcelain works and many more, dating back to almost 2nd century.

The Clock

A bewildering variety and array of clocks greets the visitor in the clock room. There are ancient Sandiaers in the form of obelisks to huge and modern clocks of the twentieth century. Others in the range vary from miniature clocks which need a magnifying glass to imbibe their beauty and complexity to stately grandfather clocks from as far away as France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Britain. A visual delight is the musical clock Salar Jung bought from Cook and Kelvy of England. Every hour, a timekeeper emerges from the upper deck of the clock to strike a gong as many times as it is the hours of the day.

The Indian Parliament has declared the museum an Institution of National Importance.

The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00 (except on Fridays).

Floor Plan

Collection of some Nizam photos

2011-08-28T00:26:00.000-07:00

Nizam of Hyderabad: Fifth on the Forbes ‘All Time Wealthiest

Nizam of Hyderabad, is Fifth on Forbes ‘All Time Wealthiest’ list of 2008 with Net Worth: 210.8 Billion USD. Bill Gates is twentieth, Net Worth: 101.0 Billion USD. This is a list of historical figures who lived during the Industrial age, Information Age, Middle Ages, Ancient world and is solely based on net worth accumulated by inheritance or personal earnings. The estimated net worth of these people is calculated into inflation-adjusted 2007 dollars, from when historical figures were at the peak of their net worth

Last Nizam of Princely State of Hyderabad and Berar, Fath Jang Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Asaf Jah VII, was The Richest Man in the 1940s, having a fortune estimated at $2 billion. He ruled Hyderabad between 1911 and 1948 until it was made part of India as a result of Operation Polo launched by the Indian Government.

Nizam of Hyderabad even featured on the cover of TIME magazine. While rulers of other big states like Kashmir, Jodhpur Bikaner, Indore, and Bhopal were given the title of “His Excellency” (H.E.), the Nizam of Hyderabad alone had the title of “His Exalted Highness” (H.E.H.)

During the rule of Aurangzeb’s great grandson Muhammad Shah (1719-1748), the governor of Deccan was one Nizam-ul-Mulk. In 1723 he decided to carve himself a kingdom. Another Mughal functionary, Mubariz Khan had created a near independent state in Hyderabad, which was attacked by the Nizam in 1724. After forsaking his capital in Aurangabad, the Nizam moved to Hyderabad and founded the strongest independent Muslim state of the South.

Majestic & Enchanting Palace of The Nizam of Hyderabad

Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad

Nizam Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1763

Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan with his sons

Nizam VII of Hyderabad poses in a car, one of the large fleet owned by him

Princess Nilofuer wife of Prince Moazzam Jah Bahadur the Second Son of Nizam Seventh.

Royal Cars of Nizam of Hyderabad

Royal Cars of Nizam of Hyderabad Rolls Royce

Royal Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan

The Nizam VI of Hyderabad Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan

These days, you can pay a cool US$3m (£2m) for a pair of gem-encrusted heels, or go jogging in a pair of diamond-flecked trainers. But extravagant footwear fads are not a new phenomenon. You need only visit the wonderful Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto to see just how obsessed past cultures have been with prettifying their feet. The most exquisite slip-ons in the Canadian collection are the golden mojari of a 19th-century Nizam of Hyderabad. The curly-toed treasures are embroidered with gold metal thread and dotted with rubies, diamonds and emeralds set in more gold. They are also arguably the world's most valuable shoes for men.

Golconda....1512

2011-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

Golkonda (Telugu: గోల్కొండ), a ruined city of south-central India and capital of ancient Kingdom of Golkonda (c. 1364–1512), is situated 11 km west of Hyderabad.

The most important builder of Golkonda was a Hindu Kakatiya King. Ibrahim was following in the spirit of his ancestors, the Qutub Shahi kings, a great family of builders who had ruled the kingdom of Golkonda from 1512. Their first capital, the fortress citadel of Golkonda, was rebuilt for defense from invading Mughals from the north. They laid out Golkonda's splendid monuments, now in ruins, and designed a perfect acoustical system by which a hand clap sounded at the fort's main gates, the grand portico, was heard at the top of the citadel, situated on a 300-foot (91 m)-high granite hill. This is one of the fascinating features of the fort. They ruled over the Telangana region and some parts of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The 13th century Golkonda Fort was built by the Hindu Kakatiya kings.The Kakatiya’s ascent to power can be traced to the reign of the Western Chalukyas. Kakartya Gundyana, a subordinate of the Eastern Chalukyan monarch, Amma II (945 CE-970 CE), established the Kakatiya dynasty. The dynasty's name comes either from its association with a town known as Kakatipura (since the kings bore the title “Kakatipuravallabha”) or from their worship of a goddess called Kakati. A temple dedicated to goddess Kakatamma exists in Warangal so Kakatipura could be another name for Warangal itself. Kakatiyas' ancestors belonged to the Durjaya family

In the 16th century, Golkonda was the capital and fortress city of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, near Hyderabad. The city was home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates in the region and was the center of a flourishing diamond trade.

Golkonda was located 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India (location 17°23′00″N 78°24′15″E). According to a legend, the fort derives its name from Golla conda, which is a Telugu word for Shepherd's Hill. It is believed that a shepherd boy came across an idol on the hill. This led to the construction of a mud fort by the then Kakatiya dynasty ruler of the kingdom around the site.

The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiya dynasty were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Islamic Bahmani Sultanat. The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall to Mughal emperor Aurangazeb.

After the collapse of the Bahmani Sultanat, Golkonda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km outer wall enclosed the city. The state became a focal point for Shia Islam in India, for instance in the 17th century Bahraini clerics, Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din and Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani both emigrated to Golkonda.

The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. The fortress held out against Aurangzeb for nine months, falling to the Mughals through treachery.

Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhaktha Ramadaasu, a devout Hindu who constructed Bhadrachalm temple without informing the sultan at that time Tana Shah, was kept in a jail located inside the fort. Bhadrachala Ramadas

The golconda fort use to have a Vault chamber where once the famous Kohinoor and Hope diamonds were stored along with other diamonds.

Golkonda was once renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east at Kollur Mine near Kollur (modern day Guntur district), Paritala (modern day Krishna district) and cut in the city during the Kakatiya reign. India Diamond History, at that time, had the only known diamond mines in the world.

The Mines of Golkonda themselves yielded diamonds of trifling quantity. Europeans knew that diamonds were found only in these fabled mines. Golkonda was, in fact, the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.

Magnificent diamonds were taken from the mines in the region surrounding Golkonda, including Darya-e Nur, meaning sea of light, at 185 carats (37 g), the largest and finest diamond of the crown jewels of Iran.

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. Gemologists use this classification to denote a diamond with a complete (or almost-complete) lack of nitrogen; "Golkonda" material is also referred to as "2A".

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golkonda, such as:

§ Darya-e Nur

§ Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond

§ The Koh-i-noor

§ The Hope Diamond

§ The Regent Diamond

§ Wittelsbach Diamond

Darya-e Nur diamond:

The Hope Diamond

By the 1880s, Golkonda was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golkonda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the ruling Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled Golkonda up to 1687, then to ruling Asaf Jah of Hyderabad State, who ruled after the independence from the Mughals in 1724, until 1948,, when Hyderabad was annexed, to become an India

source- wikipedia.....

Charminar.....symbol of Hyderabad

2011-08-25T12:02:00.000-07:00

Charminar (Telugu: చార్ మినార్, Hindi: चार मीनार, Urdu: چار مینار) (English: Four Towers) is an iconic structure located in Hyderabad, India. Built in 1591 AD, with four ornate minarets supported by four grand arches, it has become the global icon of Hyderabad and is listed among the most recognized structures of India. The Charminar, is located on the east bank of Musi river,in the North East lies the Laad Bazaar and in the west end lies the granite made richly ornamented Mecca Masjid.

Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty built Charminar in 1591 AD,shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golkonda to what is now known as Hyderabad. He built this famous structure to commemorate the elimination of a plague epidemic from this city. He is said to have prayed for the end of a plague that was ravaging his city and vowed to build a masjid(Islamic mosque) at the very place where he was praying. In 1591 while laying the foundation of Charminar, Quli Qutb shah prayed: "OhAllah, bestow unto this city peace and prosperity. Let millions of men of all castes, creeds and religions make it their abode, like fish in the water." Charminar was given to a contractor in the 16th century named Sanamvenkata Balaya to construct/renovate it and today one can see the Mosque has continued to represent the city with its uniqueness.The Mosque became popularly known as Charminar because of its four (Persian/Hindi char = four) minarets (Minar (Arabic manara) = spire/tower).

The structure is made of granite, limestone, mortar and pulverised marble. Initially the monument with its four arches was so proportionately planned that when the fort was opened one could catch a glimpse of the bustling Hyderabad city as these Charminar arches were facing the most active royal ancestral streets. There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the exact location of the tunnel is unknown.

The Charminar is a square edifice each side with 20 meters, with four grand arches each facing a cardinal point that open into four streets. At each corner stands an exquisitely shaped minaret, 56 meters high with a double balcony. Each minaret is crowned by a bulbous dome with dainty petal like designs at the base. A beautiful mosque is located at the western end of the open roof and the remaining part of the roof served as a court during the Qutb Shahi times. There are 149 winding steps to reach the upper floor. Once atop, the solitude and serenity of the beautiful interior is refreshing. The space in the upper floor between the minarets was meant for Friday prayers. There are forty-five prayer spaces

It is said that, during the Mughal Governorship between Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi rule, the south western minaret "fell to pieces" after being struck by lightning, but "was forthwith repaired" at a cost of Rs 60,000. In 1824, the monument was replastered at a cost of Rs 100,000.

There is also a legend of an underground tunnel connecting the Golkonda to Charminar, possibly intended as an escape route for the Qutb Shahi rulers in case of a siege, though the exact location of the tunnel is unknown.

The great monument is a synonym for Hyderabad and the pivot around which the glory and history of the city have developed. To imagine this 400-year-old city without Charminar is to imagine New York without the Statue of Liberty or Moscow without the Kremlin.

Gup chup - pani puri

2011-08-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Panipuri is a popular, tasty and mouth watery snack food in the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as Gol Gappa, Phuchka, bataashaa or Gup chup. It comprises of a round, hollow "puri", fried crisp and filled with a watery mixture of tamarind, chili, chaat masala , potato, onion and chickpeas. Its size is small enough to fit in the mouth and eaten at one time, without biting.

Panipuri originated from the Uttar Pradesh region of India. Literary mentions suggest that it may have originated from Banares.

Everyday, just before the sun sets, the city streets unveil tiny hot spots that make mouths water and crowds flock. There are a bunch of great chat stalls around the city that unite people from all walks of life to pop gol gappas and lick their fingers.

Other ways of eating GUP-CHUPS

DAHIPURI

indias popular spicy n crunchy dish panipuri made all to taste atleast once in their life tym.

my God!! am just not able to bare the tempting smell of the spices touching....ppl strain a lot to keep off frm it....myself too.yo:))))) jus watch out that pic mouth watering starts!!!!!!! uuuuuummmmaaaaaaahhh

Hyderabadi Irani Chai....uuuuummmmmaaaaaahhhhh

2011-08-23T14:10:00.000-07:00

What is Coke to America, Irani Chai is to Hyderabad.

Next to Pearls, Hyderabad is synonymous with Hyderbadi Irani Tea, locally called Chai, thanks mainly to the Iranians who have set up Tea Cafes in almost each and every Galli (Bylane) of Hyderabad.

It is not 5 star restaurants, it is not banquet halls, and it is not the posh lunch tables, but it is the Irani Cafes where many business meetings are held over a cup of Tea. Visit any Irani Cafe and you can invariably find groups of people rich or poor discussing everything under the Sun and even about the tasty Tea they are having at that moment.

Maybe in no other city of India would you find so many Irani Cafes like the ones springing up in Hyderabad. Another notable feature is that almost every Irani Cafe has got a small cabin outside just attached to the Cafe which is more famously called as 'Paan Dabba', where people after having tea will buy a Cigarette or a 'Paan' (Betel leaves on which the Paan specialists mix many different eatables substances to get many distinct flavors).

And last but not the least, if you happen to go past an Irani Cafe with your friends for the first time, please don't forget to taste the Hyderabadi Tea and also don't forget to ask for a 1/2 Chai, which is a True Hyderabadi Tradition and Hospitality. So, try our Hyderabadi Chai and with it you will discover the Vigor, the Vitality, and the Friendly faces of Hyderabad.

Best combinations to have with Irani chai are:

Osmania Biscuits

Chota samosa

Aloo Samosa

Dilpasand

Irani Chai by far the best drink - tea in the world

Hyderabadi cuisine

2011-08-23T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hyderabadi cuisine

Hyderabadi cuisine is a princely legacy of the Nizams of Hyderabad. Hyderabad, a city created by the Sultan's of Golconda, has developed its own cuisine over the centuries. It is heavily influenced by Turkish (Biryani), Arabic (Haleem), Mughlai and Tandoori, with considerable influence of the spices and herbs of the native Telugu and Marathwada cuisine.

Hyderabadi Cuisine could be found in the kitchens not just in Hyderabad city, but areas belonging to the former Hyderabad State that includes Telangana region, Marathwada region and Hyderabad Karanataka region. Hyderabadi Cuisine also contains city specific specialities likeAurangabad (Naan Qalia), Gulbarga (Tahari), Bidar(Kalyani Biryani) etc.

The cuisine is special because of the use ingredients that are carefully chosen and cooked to the right degree and time. Utmost attention is given to picking the right kind of spices, meat, rice etc. Therefore, an addition of a certain herb, spice, condiment, or combination of all these add a distinct taste and aroma. The key flavours are of coconut, tamarind, peanuts and sesame seeds which are extensively used in many dishes. The key difference from the North Indian cuisine is the presence of dry coconut and tamarind in its cuisine.

Traditional utensils made of copper, brass, earthen pots are used for cooking. All types of cooking involve the direct use of fire. There is a saying in Hyderabad, cooking patiently or ithmenaan se is the key; slow-cooking is the hallmark of Hyderabadi cuisine. The Slow-cooking method has its influence from the Dum Pukht method used in Awadhi cuisine.

A 400-year history is behind the culinary delights of Hyderabadi food. It evolved in the kitchens of the Nizams, who elevated food to a sublime art form. Hyderabad cuisine is highly influenced by Mughals and partially by Arabic, Turkish and Irani food where rice, wheat and spices are widely used to great effect. It is also influenced by the native Telugu and Marathwada food, bringing in a unique taste to the dishes.

In the past, the food was called Ghizaayat. The cuisine is linked to the nobles, who religiously maintain the authenticity of the past, and the recipes are a closely-guarded secret. The royal cooks are known as Khansamas, highly regarded by the nobles. Shahi Dastarkhan is the dining place, where food is served and eaten. A chowki is a low table, instead of a dining table and cotton mattresses for squatting and bolsters for the back rest. The Dastarkhan is revered in the noble household.

The herbs and spices used in the dish as well as the method of preparation gives the dish its name. For example, Murgh do Pyaaza is named so because Onion ('Pyaaz') is added to the dish twice, in different variations.

On Formal occasions, the food is garnished with warq (a very fine, pure silver leaf created by prolonged hammering and flattening of a small piece of silver).

Some of the delicious and mouth watering dishes I personally love

Hyderabadi Biryani is Hyderabad's most famous meat-and-rice dish. An authentic meal of Hyderabad invariably includes a Mutton Biryani. Hyderabadi Biryani, made of Chicken or Lamb or Vegetables, instead of the Mutton, are also popular. Any person who visits Hyderabad would not leave till they taste the Biryani, in its original form or in its alternate Vegetarian Form.

Haleem is aseasonal delicacy of wheat,meat and cooked for hours to a porridge-like paste. This traditional wheat porridge has its roots in Arabia, known as harees.

Baghara baingan is a popular Indian eggplant curry of

 Hyderabad 

Hyderabadi Kheema

Murghi ka Khorma

Paaya

Double ka meetha

Qubani ka meetha(Khubani-ka-Meetha)

Gulab jammun

Random pics

Hyderabadi Breakfast

Hope you are hungry...so what are you waiting for....book a flight to Hyderabad.....and fly....

Famous Nizams Jewellery

2011-08-23T03:43:00.000-07:00

The Nizam's jewellery, one of the largest collections of jewels in India, is on display at the National Museum in New Delhi.

The collection comprising 173 precious jewels was in the custody of the Nizam Jewellery Trust and Nizam Supplemental Jewellery Trust formed by the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1951 to safeguard the ancestral wealth of the family. The trustees kept this treasure of historical value in the vaults of Hong Kong Bank. When the government of India acquired this collection in 1995 after a prolonged legal battle, it was shifted to the RBI, Mumbai where it remained till 29 June 2001.

The collection comprising 173 jewels covers a period ranging from 18th century to the early 20th century. The collection includes sarpeches, necklaces, belts and buckles, pairs of bracelets and bangles, earrings, armlets, toe rings and watch chains. While the diamonds from the celebrated mines of Golconda and Colombian emeralds predominate the Burmese rubies and spinels and pearls from Basra and Gulf of Manor also form part of the exhibition.

Armband- Deccani workmanship can be seen in these armbands. This pair is made up of three hinged panels with openwork foliate design set with foiled table-cut diamonds.

Paizeb- Pair of anklets (Paizeb) in the form of interlocking vertical repeats hinged with each other set with old-cut Golcunda diamonds, with a crest of pearls along the upper edge. Such ornaments of Mughal design were made for all important women in the royal household.

Belt Buckle- The belt buckle made in three parts hinged together for a better fit has over 55 carats of diamonds, the central weighing approximately 30 carats

Sarpech (turban Ornament)- This is the proud ornament used to adorn turbans in all princely states in India. They appear quite often in the court of the Nizam and Sikh court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

The Jacob diamond- The Jacob diamond, believed to have been found as a rough stone in an African mine was brought over by a syndicate in Amsterdam where it was cut in a style that prevailed around 100 years ago. It was brought to India by a dealer by name Alexander Malcon Jacob. He then sold the diamond to the VI Nizam Mahboob ali Pasha in 1891.

Jacob Diamond is a large diamond, ranked seventh in the world, known earlier as the Imperial or Great White Diamond. It is believed to be the Victoria Diamond, owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad and currently owned by the Government of India.It is cut in a rectangular cushion-cut, with 58 facets, and measures 39.5 mm long, 29.25 mm wide and 22.5 mm deep. The diamond weighs 184.5 carats (36.90 g), It was several years after the death of his father that the last Nizam,Osman Ali Khan, found the Jacob Diamond in the toe of his father’s shoe at Chowmahalla Palace.

The Satlada- Seven stringed Basrah pearl necklace commonly known as the Satlada

Emeralds- This is the collection of 22 unset emeralds weighing around 412 carats, the kind which is not seen anywhere.

Falaknuma Palace, Mirror of the Sky

2011-08-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

FALAKNUMA PALACE - MIRROR OF THE SKY:

Falaknuma Palace is one of the finest palaces in Hyderabad, India belonging to the Paigah (Hyderabad) State but later owned by theNizams. It is located on a 32 acre, 19400 square meters area. It is located in Falaknuma, 5 km. from Charminar was built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad ( He was also Uncle and Brother in law of H.H. The Nizam VI,Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur). Falak-numa literally means "Like the Sky" or "Mirror of the Sky" in Urdu.

An English architect designed this palace and the foundation for the construction was laid by H.E. Sir Vicar Ul Umra Bahadur on 3 March 1884. It took 9 years to complete the construction and furnishing the Palace (Sir Vicar moved into the Gol Bangla and Zanana Mahel of The Falaknuma Palace in December 1889 and closely monitored the finishing work at the Mardana Portion of Falaknuma). It was totally made with Italian marble and it covers a total area of 9,39,712-sq-metre.( covered area needs correction possibly 93971 sq meters)

The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings on the north. The middle part is occupied by the main building and the kitchen Gol Bangla,Zenana mehal and harem quarters stretch to the south. The Nawab being an avid traveller, various influences show on the palace architecture. The Falaknuma palace is a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. Its glass stained windows throw a spectrum of colors into the rooms.

One of the highlight's of the palace is the state reception room, whose ceiling is decorated with frescoes and gilded relief's. The ballroom contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world.

The palace has as many as 220 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. It has some of the finest treasures collections of the Nizam. Falaknuma houses a large collection of rare treasures including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.

The Jade collection of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world.

The famed dining hall of the palace could seat 100 guests on its dining table. The furniture was very aesthetic. The chairs were made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.

The palace has a library with a walnut carved roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections of the Quran in India.

The ground floor of the palace housed the living quarters. A marbled staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades, which supports marble figurines with candelabra at intervals.

On the walls of the landing are excellent oil paintings of (1) H.H The Nizam VI, Nawab Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan Bahadur (2) H.E The Shams ul Umra II, Amir e Kabir I, Amir e Paigah II, Prime Minister of Hyderabad(Grand Father of Sir Vicar ul Umra)(3) Nawab Shams ul Umra IV, Amir e Kabir III, Amir e Paigah,Nawab Rahiduddin Khan Bahadur (Father of Sir Vicar ul Umra)(4) H.E Nawab Mohammed Fazaluddin Khan,Iqbal ud Dowla, Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur (Vikar Ul Oomra,"VO"), Amir e Paigah(1881- 1902) Prime Minister of Hyderanad (1893-1901) (5) Nawab Sultan ul Mulk Bahadur, Amir e Paigah 1902-1949(Eldest son of Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur)(6) H.E Nawab Sir Salar Jung I Prime minister of Hyderabad 1853-1883 (7) Maharaja Narain Pershad Narainder Bahadur Raja e Rajayan, Peshkar and photographs of notable personages forming a very interesting historical picture gallery which adds greatly to the imposing effect of the staircase.

The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It includes the largest collection of Venetian chandeliers. It is said that it took six months to clean a 138-arm and Ostler chandelier and the palace has 40 such chandeliers adorning the halls.

The telephone and electrical system was introduced in 1883 by Osler and the palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.

Since the palace was the private property of the Nizam family until recently, visitors weren't allowed. Occasionally, however, the venue is opened for public.

In 2000 Taj Hotels started renovating and restoring it. The new renovated hotel was opened in November, 2010. The rooms and halls were decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France. The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artefacts,including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.

esse.

Purani haveli

2011-08-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Purani Haveli is a palace located in Hyderabad, India. It was the official residence of the Nizam. It was also known as Haveli Khadeem, which means old mansion, was constructed for Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III (1803–1829) by his father Ali Khan Bahadur, Asaf Jah II.

The Haveli is "U" in shape, with two oblong wings running parallel to each other and the residential palace located perpendicularly in the middle. The main building resembles 18th-century European palaces. A unique feature of this palace is the world's longest wardrobe, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift(elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace.

The palace also houses the Nizam's museum, which is dedicated to the last Nizam of Hyderabad state. Currently the palace is being used as a school and as an Industrial Training Institute ITI

Photos which will help you realise the grandeur of purani haveli

LONGEST WARDROBE IN THE WORLD

The Nizam, Mahboob Ali Khan was a vain, narcissistic young man fond of dressing well. He was the first Nizam of Hyderabad to start wearing western clothes. But he never wore the same dress twice. As a result, he came to have the largest wardrobe in the world. One full wing of his residence - the Purani Haveli with a length of 176 feet was full of clothes and shoes and other accessories.

They took 124 almirahs -sixty-four in one row and sixty on the second row atop the first to accommodate them. A hand-operated lift took the Nizam to his wardrobe. It is still there unused. One top hat in a box, two pairs of riding boots, a pair of pumps and one pair of straw slippers was all that I could see of that formidable collection in 1994. The name of the manufacturer was intact on the sole of the pair of shoes. Today only the bare almirahs remain.

The Mighty Nizams

2011-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

THE MIGHTY NIZAMS

The seven rulers of the Asif Jahi Dynastry

In 1724 Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah I founded the Asif Jahi Dynasty and seven generations of the family ruled the Deccan for 224 years up to 1948. During this period several buildings of archaeological and public importance were built. Notable among them are: Purani Haveli, Chow Mahalla Palace, Osmania University, Jubilee Hall, Assembly Building, Asifia Library, Osmania Hospital, High Court, and all the buildings in the Public Garden.

I	Nizam-ul-Mulk	1724 - 1748
II	Nizam Ali Khan	1762 - 1803
III	Sikander Jah	1803 - 1829
IV	Nasir-ud-Dowla	1829 - 1857
V	Afzal-ud-Dowla	1857 - 1869
VI	Mahboob Ali Pahsa	1869 - 1911
VII	Mir Osman Ali Khan	1911 - 1948

The origins of the Asif Jahi dynasty can be traced to Chin Qalich Khan who was the grandfather of the first Nizam and the commander of the Mughal army during Aurangzeb’s reign. Chin Qalich Khan led the attack of the Mughal army into the Deccan under his Emperor’s ambitious plans of expanding the Mughal empire. During Aurangzeb’s last siege of Golconda in 1687,

Chin Qalich Khan was wounded. He died in Atapur village near Himayath Sagar. Chin Qalich Khan’s son, Nawab Ghaziuddin Khan, married the daughter of Sadullah Khan, Prime Minister of Aurangzeb. A son was born, and the Emperor named him Mir Qumaruddin. At the age of six, Mir Qumaruddin accompanied his father to the Mughal court. Aurangzeb awarded him a mansab, and said to his father, "The star of destiny shines on the forehead of your son". Mir Qumaruddin displayed considerable skill as a warrior and at the age of nineteen, the Emperor bestowed on him the title "Chin Fateh Khan". At 26, he was appointed Commander in Chief and Viceroy, first at Bijapur, then Malwa and later of the Deccan.

Subsequently, the Mughal empire declined. There was much confusion after the death of Aurangzeb, and Mir Qumaruddin established his position as Viceroy Farukh Siar who was the Mughal Emperor for a brief tenure conferred on Mir Qumaruddin the title Fateh Jung. He thus became the first Nizam. A subsequent Emperor, Muhammad Shah bestowed on him the title Asif Jah. The dynasty of the Nizam's of Hyderabad thus came to be known as the Asif Jahi Dynasty.

Unrest and claims to the throne continued after the death of Aurangzeb, and amidst the general confusion, Asif Jah had little difficulty in asserting his independence from the weak occupants of the Delhi throne. At that time, Asif Jah was the Sudedar of Malwa. However, his independence was the cause of much jealousy, and the Delhi court secretly instructed Mubrez Khan, the Subedar of the Deccan, to oppose him. A battle was fought at Shakar-Khelda in the district of Berer in 1724, where Mubrez Khan was defeated and killed. This battle established Asif Jah's supremacy in the Deccan. After gaining independence, Asif Jah came to be known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. He first set up his capital at Auragabad but later moved to Hyderabad, which became the capital of the Asif Jahi dynasty.

Nizam-ul-Mulk's greatest achievement was the foundation of the Hyderabad Dominion. He attained his object by waging a struggle against the Marhattas and by the policy of non-involvement in the rivalry for power between the British and the French. His policy has been justified by later events as Hyderabad state survived right through the period of British rule up to the time of Indian independence.

Asif Jah ruled wisely and established an independent state in the Deccan. He was one of the ablest statesmen. However, his death at Burhanpur on 21st May 1748 at the age of 78, was followed by a struggle for the throne. By this time, foreign powers were spreading their tentacles. Asif Jah's second son Nasir Jung was supported by the British whereas Muzafar Jung, grandson of Asif Jah, was supported by the French. Nasir Jung succeeded; but after a brief rule he was slain in 1750 in an encounter with the French troops at Arcot. Thereupon, Muzafar Jung ascended the throne. In the following year he was murdered and his son Salabath Jung was put on the throne. In 1762 Salabeth Jung was dethroned by his brother Nizam Ali Khan, and confined at Bidar where he died in 1793.

Hence, Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung, who were contestants for the sovereignty of the Deccan in the short span of thirteen years between the death of Asif Jah and accession of Nizam Ali Khan, have not been historically recognised as reigning Nizams. If they had been, Nizam Ali Khan would have been known as the fifth Nizam and not the second.

Nizam Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1763 and he ruled Hyderabad for almost forty years. This was one of the eventful periods in the history of India. Foremost among competitors for supremacy in the Deccan were the Marhattas and it was during this period that the famous French adventurer Monsieur Raymond was employed by Nizam Ali Khan.

Nizam Ali Khan died in August 1803 at the age of 72 years after a long and strenuous reign.

The succession of Sikandar Jah as Nizam was undisputed and he appointed Mir Alam as his Prime Minister. With the accession to the throne by Sikander Jah and end of war with the Marhattas, there commenced an entirely new era for Hyderabad. Unfortunately in 1808 the able Minister Mir Alam died and it was he who was responsible for maintaining good relations wit the British. In 1809, Mir Alam’s son Munir-ul-Mulk was appointed as Minister.

Sikander Jah died in May 1829 at the age of 62 after reigning for almost 26 years. Secunderbad was named after him. Sikander Jah was succeeded by his eldest son Nasir-ud-Dowla. It was during his reign that Salar Jung was appointed as the Minister in 1853. Salar Jung guided the affairs of the Deccan with great wisdom and introduced several reforms to improve the finances of the Dominion.

On 17 May 1857 Nasir-ud-Daula died and his son Afzal-ud-Daula became the fifth Nizam. This was the first time the first war of Indian Independence was fought in the North and there was general disorder in the Deccan.

After a reign of twelve years, Afzal-ud-Daula expired on 26 February 1869 at the young age of forty three years, leaving behind the infant prince Mir Mahboob Ali Khan who was hardly three years old.

Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, who was born on 18 August 1866, was the only son of Afzal-ud-Dowla. He was installed on the masnad by the British Resident and Sir Salar Jung, who also acted as the co-regent. Salar Jung died in 1883 and a provisional council, consisting of five members, with Mahboob Ali Khan as president and Mir Laiq Ali Khan, son of Salar Jung, as secretary was appointed for administrative purposes.

Special attention was paid to the education of Mahboob Ali Khan. With the concurrence of Salar Jung, Capt. John Clerk was appointed as his tutor. However, the personality of Salar Jung had a great influence on his life. Brought up under the guidance of this great statesman, Mahboob Ali Khan grew in his later years to be one of the greatest rulers of his time. He was a respected and dignified personality and was popularly know as ‘Mahboob Ali Pasha’. He died on Tuesday 31 August 1911.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad ruled for 37 years (1911 - 1948). His dominion was lager than England and Scotland put together, with an area of 86,000 Sq. miles.

The seventh Nizam led a very simple life, yet he was one of the richest men in the world. He donated generously to every cause in India as well as abroad irrespective of caste and religion. If it was the Muslim theological school at Deoband which received financial help, it was also the privilege of the Benaras Hindu University. His list of donations included Rabindranth Tagore’s Shantiniketan and several other institutions including hospitals, schools, for famine relief, etc. The golden temple in Amritsar also enjoyed an annual donation.

The Nizam’s rule saw the growth of Hyderabad economically and culturally. Electricity, railways, roads and airways developed. Huge reservoirs and irrigation projects such as the Tungabhadra, and Nizamsagar were completed. The early work on Nagarjunasagar was undertaken. The Osmania University, Colleges and Schools were founded throughout the state. Nearly all the public buildings currently in such as the Osmania General Hospital, High Court, Central State Library, Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall and other buildings in the Public Garden were built during Osman Ali Khan’s reign.

Soon after India gained independence in 1947, all princely states were invited to join the Republic. Nizam VII was reluctant to do so; but in 1948, after the Police Action, his state was merged into the Indian Union. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. It was the end of the princely era.

NIZAM-UL-MULK 1724-1748

NIZAM ALI KHAN - 1762-1803

SIKHANDER JAH - 1803-1829

NASIR UL DOWLA 1829-1857

AFZAL-UL-DOWLA 1857-1869

MAHBUB ALI PASHA 1869-1911

MIR USMAN ALI KHAN 1911-1948

A Tribute to Lord Venkateshwara - Tirumala

2011-08-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Tirupati

Tirupati is in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is most famous for its Sri Venkateswara Temple dedicated to Vishnu, also known as Balaji in North Indian and Govinda in South Indian. The temple is located on top of Tirumala hills, while the town is located on the foothills. The Tirumala hill has seven peaks ("Sapthagiri"), said to represent the seven hoods of Adisesha, the serpent under whose hoods Vishnu resides in Vaikuntha.

History

In the Dvapara Yuga, the hill was known by the name of Sheshachala or Sheshadri. The place was known as Venkatachala for centuries; it is believed that this name was given by Lord Brahma.Ancient Tamil literature works Silappatikaram and Manimekalai refer to this place as Thiruvengadam. "Ven" means "sin" and "Kata" means "destroyed or burnt". Therefore the name means that a person who worships there will get cleansed of all his sins.

A Thondaiman ruler of ancient Tondai Nadu is believed to have first built the temple after visualizing Lord Vishnu in a dream. He built the Gopuram and the Prakhara, and arranged for regular prayers to be conducted in the temple. Later on, the Chola Dynasty (300 BC–1279) vastly improved the temple and gave rich endowments.

Lord Venkateswara is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. This temple has acquired a special sanctity in the Hindu religion. The benefits that accrue by a pilgrimage to this holy town is mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas. Hindus all over the world believe that in Kali Yuga its possible to attain mukti by worshiping Lord Venkateswara. Around 50,000 pilgrims visit the temple every day.

The Pallava, Chola, Pandaya and Vijayanagar rulers were known to give funds and jewels as temple offerings

VIDEOS

Seven Hills:

50 YEAR OLD FOOTAGE OF LORD BALAJI

Pedda shesha vahanam

Chinna sesha vahanam

Hamsa vahanam

Simha vahanam

Mutyala pandiri vahanam

Kalpa vriksha vahanam

Sarva bhoopala vahanam

Garuda seva

Hanumantha vahanam

Swarnarathotsawam

Rathotsawam

A Tribute to Lord Vinayaka

2011-08-20T04:34:00.000-07:00

SLOKAS ON LORD GANESH

Shuklaambara Dharam Vishnum
Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet
Sarva Vighna Upashaanthaye

Meaning: We meditate on Lord Ganesha - who is clad in white (representing purity), who is all pervading (present everywhere), whose complexion is gray like that of ash (glowing with spiritual splendor), who has four arms, who has bright countenance (depicting inner calm and happiness) and who can destroy all obstacles (in our spiritual and worldly path).

Vakratunda Mahakaaya
Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Mey Deva
Sarva Kaaryeshu Sarvada

Meaning:The Lord with the curved trunk and a mighty body, who has the luster of a million suns, I pray to thee Oh Lord, to remove the obstacles from all the actions I intend to perform.

Agajaanana Padmaarkam
Gajaananam Aharnisham
Anekadantham Bhaktaanaam
Ekadantam Upaasmahey

Meaning:I worship day and night that elephant faced Lord Ganesha who is like sun to the lotus face of Mother Parvati. Giver of many boons, the single tusked Ganesh, I salute Thee to give e a boon.

Gajaananam Bhoota Ganaadhi Sevitam
Kapitta Jamboophaala Saara Bhakshitam
Umaasutam Shoka Vinaasha Kaaranam
Namaami Vighneswara Paada Pankajam

Meaning: The Lord with the elephant face, served by all the Ganas, One who takes as His food, the essence of Kapitta and Jamboophala (these are two favorite fruits of Ganesh), son of Uma (Mother Parvati), destroyer of misery of the devotees, controller of obstacles, we worship Your Lotus Feet.

Ganaanaam Twam Ganapathi Gam Havaamahe
Kavim Kaveenaam Upamasra Vastamam
Jyeshta Raajam Brahmanaam Brahmanaspatha
Aanashrunvanna Oothibhi Seedha Saadanam

Meaning: We invite You, the Lord of spiritual faith (of Lord Shiva). You are the wisest among the wise, the best to be given as a standard of comparison. You are the senior Lord, Lord of the Vedic manthras, listening to our prayers. Please visit our home with prosperous things and be seated here.

Hyderabad - Time Line

2011-08-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

Hyderabad was founded on the banks of River Musi in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. During the 16th century, the city grew rapidly and Golconda became the capital of the Qutb Shahi rulers. The Deccan district later came to centralize Hyderabad. The Governor of the Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asif Jah, announced his independence from Mughal rule in 1724. He thereafter became the first Nizam of Hyderabad and the founder of the Asif Jahi dynasty. The rule of the seven Nizams watched Hyderabad grow both culturally and economically. Huge reservoirs such as the Nizam Sagar, Tungabadra, Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar also commenced during this time.Under the rule of the Nizams, Hyderabad was the largest princely state in India. Geographically, it was the size of the United Kingdom. The State had its own currency, railways and postal system. What's more, there was no income tax.Soon after India gained independence, Hyderabad state made a merger with the Union of India. On November 1, 1956, India was divided into separate linguistic states and Hyderabad became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Historical Timeline

3^rd Century BC Hyderabad is ruled by the Mauryan Empire

512 AD Quli Qutub Shah establishes The Qutb Shahi dynasty

1083 AD to 1321 AD The Kakatiyas rule over a major part of Andhra Pradesh

1321 AD Warangal, the nerve centre of the Kakatiyas, is captured by Muhammad bin Tughluq’s forces

1518 AD Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk establishes the Golconda Sultanate under the title Sultan Quli Qutub Shah. This marks the start of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty

1562 AD Hussain Sagar lake is built

1589 AD The city of Hyderabad is founded by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah

1591 AD Charminar is built

1617 AD Construction of Mecca Masjid begins

1687 AD Aurangzeb captures Golconda

1724 AD Nizam-ul-Mulk Asif Jah I founds Asif Jahi dynasty, and the era of the Nizams begins.

1766 AD The Nizam makes an alliance with the British

1769 AD Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jha shifts capital to Hyderabad

1777 AD Purani Haveli is constructed by Mir Nizam Ali Khan.

1806 AD Construction of Mir Alam tank is completed.

1806 AD Secunderabad is founded.

1858 AD A new coinage "Hali Sicca" is introduced.

1864 AD Hyderabad Medical School is established

1867 AD Government Central Printing Press is established.

1884 AD Foundation of Falaknuma Palace is laid.

1897 AD Sir Ronald Ross discovers the parasite of malaria in Secunderabad.

1908 AD Disastrous floods in river Musi.

1918 Osmania University is founded by the seventh Nizam.

1919 AD Construction of the High Court is completed.

1948 AD Hyderabad merges into the Indian Union.

1956 AD Hyderabad becomes the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

1967 AD Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam dies.

1976 AD Birla Temple is constructed.

1998 AD HITECH City is inaugurated.

2000 AD Explocity Hyderabad is launched.

2008 AD Hyderabad International Airport becomes operational.

Source-
http://hyderabad.explocity.com

Longest Bridges in the WORLD

2011-08-17T17:25:00.001-07:00

Longest bridges in world

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Located in Louisiana, United States, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges that run parallel to each other. The bridges are supported by 9,500 concrete pilings and spans over 38.35 kilometres. The southern terminus of the Causeway is in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The northern terminus is at Mandeville, Louisiana.

Donghai Bridge

Completed on December 10, 2005, the Donghai Bridge has a total length of 32.5 kilometres and connects Shanghai to the Yangshan port in China. The 'Donghai Bridge' is popularly known as 'The stone'.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a four lane bridge that connects the Delmarva Peninsula's Eastern Shore of Virginia with Virginia Beach and the metropolitan area of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The bridge has a total length of 37 kilometres.

Vasco da Gama Bridge

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable bridge with a total length of 17.2 kilometres. The bridge was opened to traffic on 29 March, 1998. The bridge spans across the Tagus River near Lisbon, Portugal.

Penang Bridge

The Penang Bridge opened to traffic on September 14, 1985 and connects Gelugor in Penang island and Seberang Prai to mainland Malaysia. The total length of the bridge is 13.5 kilometres.

Rio-Niteroi Bridge

The Rio-Niteroi Bridge is a box girder bridge that connects the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. The bridge opened on March 4, 1974 and the total length of the bridge is 13 kilometres.

Confederation Bridge

The 12.9 kilometre long bridge opened on 31 May 1997, connecting the Prince Edward Island with New Brunswick, Canada. The Confederation bridge is a two-lane highway toll bridge.

San Mateo-Hayward Bridge

Commonly known as the San Mateo Bridge, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge connects San Francisco Peninsula with the East Bay. The total length of the bridge is 11.265408 kilometres.

Seven Mile Bridge

The Seven Mile Bridge is is located between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Strait. Finished in 1982 at a cost of $45 million, the Seven Mile Bridge connects city of Marathon in the Middle Keys of Florida to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys of Florida.

- source- yahooindia

Amazing INDIA - Proud to be indian

2011-08-16T03:34:00.000-07:00

India : All about Indian National Information

"India Is Cradle Of The Human Race, The Birthplace Of Human Speech, The Mother Of History, The Grand Mother Of Legends And Great Grand Mother Of Tradition." - Mark Twain

National Flag

The National flag is a horizontal tricolour of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion.

The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.

The design of the national flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on 22 July 1947. Its use and display are regulated by the Indian Flag Code.

National Emblem

The State emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. In the original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).

In the State emblem, adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950,only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left and the outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.

National Bird

National Animal

National Flower

Languages of India

There are 22 languages recognized by the Indian Constitution. These languages are :

Hindi is the official and main link language of India. Its homeland is mainly in the north of India, but it is spoken and widely understood in all urban centers of India. It is written in the Devanagri script, which is phonetic and, unlike English, is pronounced as it is written. Hindi is a direct descendant of Sanskrit through Prakrit and Apabhramsha. It has been influenced and enriched by Dravidian, Turkish, Farsi, Arabic, Portugese and English. It is a very expressive language. In poetry and songs, it can convey emotions using simple and gentle words. It can also be used for exact and rational reasoning.

Mighty INDIA

- source-http://www.wonderfulinfo.com

Ramoji Film City

2011-08-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ramoji Film City (RFC) is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex at over 2,000 acres (8.1 km²) of land, situated in India near Hayathnagar and Peddamberpet on Hyderabad. It is also a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing both natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park. The Outer Ring Road Phase 2 has acquired lands at the entrance and is set to intersect the city.

Every year, the studios attract over a million tourists, and the complex creates revenues in billions of rupees. Located at the entrance of the film city are the 3-star hotel, Tara and a 5-star hotel, Sitara for the film production units as well as for tourists. Once inside, there is Hawa Mahal, an intricate miniature Golconda Fort, which is on a hilltop from which one can have a Bird's-eye view of the whole studio. The Film City provides honeymoon packages and banquet halls for corporate retreats and conventions. The vintage Film City coaches shuttle visitors around the studios on a guided tour. There are several settings in the studios which lead the visitors from streets of the Mauryan Empire or the Mughal Empire or even the American Old West. There's also the famous Hollywood sign displayed on the hills at the studios.

Official website; www.ramojifilmcity.com

Hyderabad International Airport

2011-08-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (IATA: HYD, ICAO: VOHS) also known as Hyderabad International Airport, is an international airport near Shamshabad, about 22 km (14 mi) south of downtown Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The airport is named after former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. It replaced the former international airportof the city, Begumpet Airport. Commercial flight operations began at 12:01 am on 23 March 2008. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the second public-private partnership venture in the Indian airports, the first being the Cochin International Airport. For the financial year 2010-11, it was the sixth busiest airport in the country in terms of international and overall passenger traffic.

In 2010, Hyderabad airport was ranked among the top airports of the world in the airport services quality (ASQ) by the global body, Airports Council International (ACI). It retained the number one position for the second year in a row among 49 airports handling 5-15 million passengers per annum (mppa).

Hyderabad international airport has been named amongst the world's top five in the annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) passenger survey along with the ones at Seoul, Singapore, Hong Kong and Beijing.

It serves as a focus city for Air India, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines.

Official website : www.hyderabad.aero

Video Tour of Old Hyderabad

2011-08-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone.......enjoy the tour of old Hyderabad.....the pictures in this videos are from 1940-1950`s

Amazing Hyderabad........A video tour.....

2011-08-09T03:43:00.000-07:00

Amazing development of Hyderabad City in stunning pictures. Hyderabad, most happening place in South India now!

Beautiful.... isn't it........a vibrant city....proud to be an Hyderabadi......

Telangana.....why Telangana?

2011-08-08T14:21:00.000-07:00

Whenever the topic of Telangana is raised, many of us blindly support Andhra or Telangana based on where we come from. Not sure how many really think of why the demand for separate state has been there for such a long time. The 2 major reasons why the demand has been pending for so many years is WATER AND HYDERBAD. People around the state have earned and invested in and around Hyderabad so there is a concerns about the safety of the investment if the state is separated while both the major rivers in our state flow mostly through Telangana. Below are some facts that are few reasons for the demand. Sentiments can be foolish but not facts.

a. There are 10 districts in Telangana, 9 in Andhra and 4 in Rayalaseema. Out of these 7 districts in Telangana, 3 in Andhra and 1 in Rayalaseema are considered severely backward districts which means 70% of districts in Telangana are backward while in Andhra it is 35% and in Rayalaseema it is 25%. Apart from these there are some areas in all parts of the state which are also backward.

b. 45% of the state income comes from Telangana region. When it comes to utilization of funds, the share of Telangana is only 28%.

c. Normally canals are dug to supply water to the crops from rivers for cultivation. The amount of land cultivated through canals in just Guntur district is more than the land cultivated with canals in entire Telangana region.

d. Nagarjuna sagar dam is built in Nalgonda district which is in Telangana but majority of the water from the dam is used for Krishna and Guntur district. The original dam was supposed to be build much ahead of its present location but the location was changed so that it falls in the Telangana region. Due to the construction of the dam several hectares of Lime stone mines vanished as part of the dam back waters. Everyone know that lime stone is used for producing cement. Even the natural resources were not allowed to remain.

e. Fluorinated water problem is only in Nalgonda district which has not been resolved since decades.

f. Two major rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra enter the state of AP in the district of Mahaboobnagar(the biggest district in Telangana) but the district always remains the worst draught hit areas along with Anantapur because there is no project and process with which the water can be utilized. The plans for utilization has been pending for decades.

g. RDS (Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme) is build in Mahaboobnagar to provide water to 85000 hectares of land in the district. The leaders of Rayalaseems blasted the gates of RDS and water is supplied to KC (Kurnool-Cudapah) canal while only remaining water, if any, is supplied to the lands in Mahaboobnagar.

h. 3 TMC of water from Gandipet is sufficient to supply drinking water to our city. Every year 1700 TMC of water is wasted and is flown into Bay of Bengal from river Godavari. Starting from Nizambad to Bay of Bengal there is no project allowed to build on Godavari. If it is built leaders in Godavari districts fear that the fertile lands in the area may fall short of water. If the Godavari water is utilized properly, there will be no scarcity for food grains in our state.

i. In Telangana regions, only few areas cultivate one crop a year and very rarely two crops a year while most of the land doesn’t even cultivate single crop. In both the Godavari districts, Krishna and Guntur district, two crops a year is common and there are times where even 3 crops a year are cultivated. The only reason is WATER.

j. Government issue G.O.’s for implicating its decisions. G.O number 610 is the longest non implicated G.O in the history of AP. The G.O was issued in 1986 by late NTR who was then the CM of AP, which is not yet implicated. The G.O speaks about the share of Telangana employees in Government jobs in Telangana region.

k. 33% of the population in Mahaboobnagar district have left the district for livelihood to different parts of the state due to draught and majority of them are working as daily labour. No other district has so many people who fled the home place due to lack of livelihood and working as daily labour.

l. There are 25 plus government degree colleges in Krishna, Kadapa and Guntur district while there is not even a single government degree college in Ranga Reddy district.

m. Dairy development corporation of AP purchases milk from farmers across the state for distribution. For the same milk, in Andhra, the government pay Rs. 24 to the farmers and in Telangana they pay Rs. 22 per litre. Partiality is shown even in milk J

n. In between 2005-2008 government sold lands worth Rs. 20000 crores in and around Hyderabad which was utilized to build projects in Rayalaseema and Andhra.

o. Not even a single project was completed in Telangana in the last 5 years while several projects were completed in Andhra and Rayalaseema.