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Things to do in Hyderabad – A destination guide

by VishuSaumya August 1, 2018August 2, 2018

Things to do in Hyderabad – A destination guide

Hyderabad, the land of Nizams, has always charmed us with its beauty and grace. Although the city has grown by leaps and bounds with the boom in the IT sector, the demographic diversity of Hyderabad makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. We were there in Hyderabad during the Ramadan festival just before the Eid and thoroughly enjoyed our stay there with the festivity the city offered during the holy season. As we explored the entire city during a period of 1 week, we present to you the Things to do in Hyderabad – A destination guide. We shall be talking about the places to visit in Hyderabad, hotels in Hyderabad, our experiences from our stay at two different properties and also the best food of Hyderabad in this travelogue.

How to reach Hyderabad:
Being the capital of Telangana, Hyderabad is well connected via train, bus and air from all major cities of the country and abroad. There are numerous flights from New Delhi to Hyderabad all throughout the day. However, if you are staying closer to Hyderabad, you may also plan a visit to this city via a train or a bus. An overnight journey from Bangalore to Hyderabad via bus or train can easily be planned.

Best time to visit Hyderabad:
Winters are the best time to visit Hyderabad. Starting from October till the end of February the climate is mostly pleasant in the city with cloudy skies. Hyderabad can be really hot during the summers and it may be difficult to visit the historical monuments in the scorching heat. Monsoons are also a good time to visit Hyderabad as there is almost no humidity during this season. As we were there during Ramadan festival, just before Eid, the city was at a very festive note. The city lives up to the spirit of festivals with eateries and markets opened till wee hours in the morning.

PLACES TO VISIT IN HYDERABAD

Hyderabad is a city which is historically and architecturally rich. Known for its palaces and museums, there is a lot of sightseeing in Hyderabad to be done. Here are a few prominent tourist places in Hyderabad you shouldn’t miss.

CHARMINAR:
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Hyderabad, the Charminar as the name suggests is a historical structure comprising of four minarets. The world famous monument has been in existence over 400 years and hosts a mosque on the top floor. The area around the Charminar is bustling with both locals and tourists as it is famous for the eateries and shops around it. Located in the old Hyderabad area, this can easily be reached by a local transport or a private taxi.

Welcome to HYDERABAD!

Hyderabad Operational Hours: 9:00am-5: 30 pm, if you wish to go on top of the Charminar to get a view of the Laad Bazar, Mecca Mosque and the entire city.
Entry Fee: 5INR for Indians and 100INR for foreign nationals
Travel Tip: Not recommended for claustrophobic people as the stairs that lead to the top are quite narrow and dark.

Mecca Masjid

View from the Charminar

GOLKONDA FORT:
The fort also known as the Golkonda Quilla was once popular for the mines around it which had produced gems like the Kohinoor. The fort comprises of four smaller forts with a number of mosques and temples inside it. The fort is currently in ruins but still is an important monument in the history of the city. This is also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hyderabad and is surrounded by mosques in the vicinity. The light and sound show conducted at the Golkonda Fort is also one of the major attractions of this historical monument.

The Golkonda Fort

Hyderabad Operational Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm
Entry Fee: 80INR (adult) and 60INR (child) for Indians and 200INR for foreign nationals
Camera Fee: 25INR per camera for still photography
Travel Tip: Although Hyderabad is a very safe and peaceful city, solo women travelers are advised to attend the Light and Sound Show with caution as it is quite dark during that period.

SALAR JUNG MUSEUM:
One of the largest museums of our country, the Salar Jung Museum is located on the banks of the river Musi in Hyderabad. This museum is famous for its rarest collection of art, paintings, war artifacts and glass paintings amongst others. This is definitely one of the best and well-kept museums we have been to. This museum houses the world-famous Veiled Rebecca, a statue by an Italian sculptor G.B. Benzoni and the double-figure wooden statue of a man and woman. The museum is a must visit if you are in Hyderabad as you will love the rare collection of art displayed in the various galleries. The museum is also known as the world’s largest collection of antiques by one-man. There are also audio guides available in various languages for a better understanding of the collection and artifacts.

Welcome to Salarjung Museum

Operational Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm (Friday closed)
Entry Fee: 20INR for Indians and 500INR for foreign nationals
Camera Fee: 50INR per camera for still photography

Veiled Rebecca

The Double Statue of Mephistopheles

HUSSAIN SAGAR:
The lake which separates Hyderabad from its twin-city Secunderabad has been one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Hyderabad. This lake provides a very soothing effect to the hustle of the city and is flocked by both tourists and locals especially during the evenings. The lake is surrounded by shopping malls, multiplexes and eateries and thus proves to be a good hangout spot. The lake also has a large statue of Lord Buddha in the center which gives it a very serene outlook. The lake has the Lumbini Park at one end which also serves as the jetty point to take you to the center of the lake near the statue. The boats stop there for 3-5 mins to have a closer look at the statue. The heart shape structure of this lake makes it a Heart of the World!
Hyderabad Operational Hours: 8:00am-10:00pm
Entry Fee for Lumbini Park: 10INR for Indians
Travel Tip: Advisable to visit either early morning or late in the evening for the laser show.

BIRLA TEMPLE:
Birla Temple Hyderabad is one of the many temples built by the Birla family throughout our country. Based on the similar lines of White Marble architecture, this temple is famous for its architectural marvel and grandeur. The temple has the main idol of Lord Venkateshwara and has other idols of all Hindu Gods and Goddesses along with Sai Baba. The beauty of this temple is that it is open to all as they believe that all human beings are equal. The temple is located at a distance of approximately 15kms from the HiTec city and can be easily reached by local or private transport.
Operational Hours: 7:00am-12:00noon and 3:00pm-9:00pm
Entry Fee: None
Travel Tip: You are not allowed to carry phone, wallets or handbags inside the temple so it is advisable to plan the visit accordingly or leave them in your car.

TARAMATI BARADARI:
One of the most Instrgrammable places in Hyderabad, the Taramati Baradari is a court used mostly for shooting purposes. The grand architecture of this Baradari and the view of the city from this place make it a definite stopover during the city tour. The Baradari is located close to the Golkonda Fort.

Taramati Baradari

Operational Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm
Entry Fee: 80 INR for Indians and 200 for Foreign Nationals
Camera Fee: 100INR for video cameras and 50INR for still cameras
Travel Tip: DSLRs are strictly prohibited, only phones and point and shoot cameras allowed

CHOWMALLAH PALACE:
Located near the Charminar area, the Chowmahalla Palace means four palaces used during the Nizam era. These were the palaces of the Nizams and also served as their official residence during their reign. The palace consists of courtyards, fountains and gardens and is known for its architectural excellence. This can definitely be on the list of places to visit in Hyderabad during your day city tour.
Operational Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm
Entry Fee: None
Travel Tip: Videography is strictly prohibited. The security guards will not allow you to take many pictures.

QUTUB SHAHI TOMBS:
The Qutub Shahi Tombs are located very close to the Golconda Fort and were built during the Qutub dynasty to mark seven tombs each for one member of the family. The tomb varies in size and are built beautifully with grey granite and has been promoted by the Hyderabad Tourism for its splendid architecture.

Qutub Shahi Tombs

Operational Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm (Friday closed)
Entry Fee: 10 INR for Indians
Camera Fee: 20INR for still photography
Travel Tip: Qutub Shahi, Taramati Baradari and Golkonda Fort can be clubbed and visited together as they are in the close proximity of each other.

PLACES TO EAT IN HYDERABAD

Hyderabad is considered to be a foodie’s paradise and if you are a non-vegetarian lover then you have come just to the right place. Apart from the world famous Hyderabadi Biryani, the city treats you to various other delicacies like the Haleem, Nalli-Nihari, some flavorsome juices and the famous Irani Chai. While we were in Hyderabad during the Ramadan festival, we happened to explore a few food joints during a food-walk conducted by us at midnight. Here are some of the favorite eating options in the city.

Charminar area during Ramadan

NIMRAH CAFE:
One of the most famous cafes in Hyderabad, the Nimrah Café is located right next to the Charminar. The place is famous for its Irani Tea and Osmania Biscuits. We tried both and were really happy the way the biscuits were served to us. It was actually the crunchiest biscuit we ever had as it was prepared right then. The Irani Tea here actually stands by the name and has a distinctive flavor. A must visit for everyone visiting the Charminar.
Hyderabad
MILAN JUICE CENTRE:
This is also located in the Charminar area and helps you with a lot of relishing options in fresh juices and shakes. Not much to do with the ambiance, this place is famous for its mango malai and berries.

PISTA HOUSE:
Ever heard of Haleem in Hyderabad? A well-cooked veg and non-veg dish prepared with wheat, barley, lentils and spices is a craze in this city. Haleem is served the best at the Pista House which has numerous outlets throughout the city. Pista house is also known for its biryani and sweets but one should definitely not miss the Haleem here.
Hyderabad
Al-Akbar Fast Food Corner:
During the Ramadan food walk, we also visited the Al-Akbar fast food corner. Located in the Charminar area, this joint is famous for its Chicken65 and Ulte tave ka paratha. This place is heavily crowded during the Ramadan season but the service here makes it worth it.

Chicken65 and Ulte tave ka paratha

Matwale Doodh Ghar:
This place is known for the Lassi and Falooda served here. The lassi here is rightly balanced with the good amount of sweetness and can be tried if you feel like having something heavy and liquid when in the Charminar area.
Hyderabad
Biryani:
Last but not the least, one should not leave Hyderabad before trying the world famous Hyderabadi Biryani. Although you may find biryani at almost every nook and corner of this city, the famous ones are the Hotel Shadab and Shah Ghouse Café and restaurant. You can read more about Saumya’s biryani trail through Hyderabad here.

The city conquered me!

PLACES TO STAY IN HYDERABAD

Hyderabad begin one of the most promising IT city of our country has a plethora of stay options when it comes to hotels, resorts or guesthouses. While most of the hotels are located in the HiTec City and Somajiguda area, like the Park, others close to the airport make it an easier choice for a transit hotel. During our visit to cover the Ramadan in Hyderabad, we stayed with two properties and explored the city

1) The Trident, Hyderabad: Coming from the family of Oberois, the Trident, Hyderabad can be your best luxury stay option. This hotel has the best of everything from the food to the location as it is right in the center of the HiTec City. The in-house restaurants at the Trident namely Amara, Tuscany and Kanak specialize in different cuisines and make your stay blissful. Read the complete review about the Trident here.

2) Novotel Hyderabad Airport: Novotel Hyderabad Airport is undoubtedly the most preferred hotel in Hyderabad when it comes to convenience. Located right next to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Novotel Hyderabad Airport offers luxury services at very competitive tariffs. During the two days of our stay here, we enjoyed the best of hospitality, food and luxury along with some relaxing spa session. More in detail about our experiences here.

So this was a complete destination guide to the city of Hyderabad where we tried to cover almost all the important places to visit, food to relish and the best time to visit the city. We hope this shall help you in planning your visit to the city in a better way.

Did you like this detailed destination guide on the city of Hyderabad? Do let us know your feedback in the comments below.

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Hyderabad

India Life-in-Style Place we've been Property Review Telangana

Novotel Hyderabad Airport – Of Luxury Stay, Business Conferences, Weddings and more

by VishuSaumya July 21, 2018July 25, 2018

Novotel Hyderabad Airport – Of Luxury Stay, Business Conferences, Weddings and more

The city of Charminar, Hyderabad, has a charm in itself. Unlike other metro cities life here is a bit simpler. Though you may find all the tech giants like Google and Microsoft here, people of this city still have the warmth from the era of the Nizams. Hyderabad is a city well connected to almost every corner of our country. Be it trains or flights to Hyderabad, you can reach this state capital in a few hours. While we were there to cover the Ramadan in Hyderabad just before Eid, we chose to stay with the Novotel Hyderabad for many reasons. You will find all major hotels in Hyderabad spread across the city but Novotel Hyderabad Airport is one of the closest hotels near Hyderabad Airport. During our two days stay with the Novotel Hyderabad, we explored various sections of this luxury hotel in Hyderabad and experienced bliss. Here is a complete review of Novotel Hyderabad Airport – Of Luxury Stay, Business Conferences, Weddings and more.

Welcome to Novotel Hyderabad Airport

The Location:
Located right next to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in the Shamshabad area, the Novotel Hyderabad Airport is famous as one of the best transit hotel in Hyderabad due to its location. Owing to its location, Novotel Hyderabad is being preferred for business conferences and wedding ceremonies at the hotel serve as a perfect wedding destination, more on that later! The drive time from the airport to the hotel is merely 5 mins and the hotel has a free shuttle service to and from the airport every 20 mins.
Novotel Hyderabad Airport

The Property:

Novotel Hyderabad Airport is an enormous architecture of 305 rooms including 11 suites spread over more than 70000sq, ft. of land. The property also houses a state of art gymnasium along with a spa. The hotel has conference rooms for all the business conference needs along with two different grounds dedicated to wedding functions. While we were there at the hotel we saw two large groups checking in each day for the wedding and each seemed quite happy with the arrangements by the management as they have a separately dedicated area for group check-ins. The swimming pool at the property is well kept and is nicely surrounded by greenery. Novotel Hyderabad has 3 different kinds of restaurants for your savoring. Let’s talk about them in detail later. Along with all this, the hotel also has a high-speed wi-fi connectivity and a 24×7 reception to help you at all times.
Novotel Hyderabad Airport

Basketball court

The Rooms:
Novotel Hyderabad offers Superior and Executive category rooms along with suites. We stayed in the Superior category rooms with a pool view. The room was nicely done with a queen sized bed along with a working desk. The washroom attached to the room was tidy and had all the modern amenities within. The view from the room was that of aircraft landing and taking off along with lush green surroundings. Comfortable bed and controlled room temperature along with the mini-bar added to the experience of staying there.

Our room at Novotel Hyderabad Airport

View from our room!

The Services:

Novotel Hyderabad can surely be your one-stop destination for all your transit, business and personal needs. This luxury 5-star in Hyderabad makes it convenient and easy for its customer to be here and enjoy their various offerings. While the swimming pool and spa can be relaxing, they also have a sports arena with a lawn tennis and basketball court for the sportsman in you. The way they manage the business conferences, press meets, or family functions are just commendable. The hotel has separate sections for different needs and it’s location easily helps the customers to choose it. They also offer day-check ins at very affordable rates for those who just want to transit in Hyderabad before moving forward. Quite exciting, isn’t it?

How about booking a STAYCATION? CLICK HERE
Novotel Hyderabad Airport

The Food:

Novotel Hyderabad Airport has two different kinds of restaurants The Square and Haldi. While The Square serves international cuisine and has the best from around the world, Haldi, on the other hand, is dedicated to Indian cuisine. The Square is a buffet restaurant and serves buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Haldi is an a-la-carte restaurant and has some of the finest dishes from the Indian cuisine.

During our stay at the Novotel Hyderabad Airport Hotel, while we enjoyed the breakfasts at the Square, we had dinner at Haldi one evening and totally loved the experience. The lamb chops served at Haldi is definitely to look for if you love mutton. The Square has a variety of dishes spread across the restaurant. You will find a mix of salads, bread, South Indian, Chinese or even Mughlai items on the platter. The live counters at the Square with freshly prepared pooris and bhaturas or even the cheese masala omelet used to be our favorite. The chai corner in the Square serves freshly prepared tea for all its patrons.

The food served at both the Square and Haldi was mouthwatering. All the food that we tried at both these restaurants left us asking for more. Novotel also hosts their in-house bar known as the Bar. The Bar serves a range of mock-tails and cocktails to be enjoyed whenever you happen to visit it. Don’t miss the Long Island Iced Tea at the bar next.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport

Staff and Services:

The staff at the Novotel Hyderabad is professional, courteous and always willing to help. They try to take care of all your needs once you are there. Special mention to Harshvardhan Dengwekar, the PR and Marketing manager, who spent a lot of time with us explaining the various sections of the property and giving us a guided tour. The way he spoke about the property showed his passion and pride he takes in managing one of the finest hotels in our country.

Tennis court

The services offered at the Novotel Hyderabad are worth every penny. We indulged in a lot of activities at the property including a spa session and were completely relaxed after that. Novotel Hyderabad is also one of those hotels which offer an airport kiosk within the premises for easy check-in.

Overall Experience:

Our experiences with Novotel Hyderabad were enriching, exciting and enjoyable to the core. We loved every bit of time staying at the property or even while exploring the city. Our cab for the city tour was arranged by the hotel itself and the drivers were also very professional with good knowledge of the city routes. The way the management took care of us during our stay left us wanting for more and we wish to be there again soon.

Do shoot your questions on Novotel Hyderabad Airport in the comments section below.

P.S.: Our stay was sponsored by Novotel Hyderabad Airport, however, the views expressed in the post are solely of the author and have not been influenced by the brand in any way.

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India Life-in-Style Place we've been Property Review Telangana

Trident Hyderabad – The ‘high’ in the HITEC city of Hyderabad

by VishuSaumya July 11, 2018July 12, 2018

Trident Hyderabad – The ‘high’ in the HITEC city of Hyderabad

The Oberois exudes luxury! Be it any of their property, from Udaivillas in Udaipur to the Oberois in Dubai, all of them are luxury personified. During our visit to Hyderabad in the auspicious month of Ramadan, we stayed with the Trident Hyderabad for three days. Our experience from the short and colorful (reason why we call it colorful later) stay here was nothing less than exceptional. We got to experience so much of love and warmth from the entire crew at the Trident Hyderabad that we want to visit it again as we pen this down.

Welcome to TRIDENT Hyderabad!

Being one of the most prosperous IT cities of our country, Hyderabad is a land of opportunities. The tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Deloitte here give wings to your dreams of a glorious career in Information Technology. The Trident is located close to all these tech-giants in the HITEC city and thus it makes it a perfect choice to choose from the hotels in Hyderabad to attend the business conferences and seminars while staying with the Trident Hyderabad. So here’s a complete review along with our experiences of staying at Trident Hyderabad – The ‘high’ in the HITEC city of Hyderabad.

The Location:

Trident Hotel Hyderabad is located in the HITEC city at a distance of approximately 30kms from the Rajeev Gandhi International Airport. Although the distance may look much but thanks to the well-managed traffic in Hyderabad and the Outer Ring Road, it can be reached comfortably in half an hours time. Once you reach the HITEC city, you are in the middle of all the action. The location of the Trident Hyderabad is prime as it is surrounded by the IT companies, shopping malls, and eateries on all sides. Its location makes it the most preferred place to stay as all the major tourist attractions of the city are also easily accessible from the Trident Hyderabad.

The Property:

The Trident Hyderabad is beautifully designed with 323 rooms including suites to cater to all your needs. Be it a vacation with the family or business conference from the office, all your requirements are fulfilled accordingly in this well-managed property. The property boasts of different categories of rooms including luxury suites to pamper you to the core. The business conference rooms provide an apt setup for any business meetings and are available 24*7 to be utilized. Thus your important discussions don’t need to see the time of the day now!

Every corner of this hotel is photogenic!

The property also hosts a supremely comfortable spa and fitness center so that you can relax post a long day at work or official meetings. The swimming pool at the Trident Hyderabad is just apt for your round the clock need of a dip while enjoying a drink. The Trident Hyderabad also has different in-house restaurants for different taste-buds, more on that in detail will follow soon.

The swimming pool

Trident Hyderabad

When the sun goes down!

The Rooms:
The rooms at Trident Hyderabad are divided into different categories. The categories start from the Deluxe Rooms followed by Executive Rooms and go up to Trident Club Suites. Each room has a complimentary access to high-speed internet. While the rooms cater to all your needs for a comfortable stay the facilities get better as you move upwards in the categories.

Our room at Trident Hyderabad

Trident Hyderabad

View from our room!

The view from our room was that of the skyscrapers in Hyderabad which had different company offices in those tall buildings. The rooms are designed in such a manner that they have a work area along with the other essentials like bed and television, etc. The rooms on the twentieth and twenty-first floor have an amazing view of the city and it becomes a visual treat when the sun goes down and the entire city is lit up.

The ‘high’ in the HITEC city!

Mornings at Trident Hyderabad!

Breakfast in bed!

The Food and Drinks:
Writing about the food and drinks at the Trident Hyderabad can even take a day for us as we have so much to share. The hotel has different restaurants each pertaining to different cuisines. During our three day stay here we tried food from all the three restaurants here. Let’s take you on a gastronomical ride through the Trident where we talk about the cuisines, specialties and the efforts that the team puts in to make it special.

Welcome to AMARA!

Amara-The Buffet restaurant:
A multi-cuisine buffet restaurant at the Trident Hyderabad offers Mediterranean, Asian and European cuisines. The restaurant is functional all through the day from 7 am to 11 pm and also serves ala-carte. One thing that you will notice while you are Amara is their lavish spread.

The different varieties of food offered here make you drool over it. We were happy to find the wide range of juices, desserts and fruits offered here. We especially loved their dosas and idlis offered during the breakfast. For the dinner, the Hyderabadi Mutton Dum Biryani is highly recommended.

Welcome to TUSCANY!

Tuscany-The Italian specialty restaurant:

Love Italian food? Then Tuscany transports you directly to Italy! Tuscany at Trident Hyderabad is a restaurant dedicated to Italian cuisine. During our conversation with the Executive Chef Lamba, we got to know the love for the freshness of Italian spices and ingredients that most of it is sourced directly from Italy. Imagine, all the way from Italy to Hyderabad, commendable job and claps for the love and passion for cooking by Chef Lamba and his team.

The beauty of Tuscany is that they keep changing their menu and bring in new innovative dishes for the guests to relish. We were lucky that they had recently introduced a new menu and we tried some of the best delicacies. Chef Lamba explained most of the dishes on the menu and talked about his signature dish Lime and Chilli Sea Bass. Porcini mushroom and ricotta ravioli and green pea and bacon soup are some other highly recommended dishes at Tuscany. Also, if you are fond of desserts then their Ecuador chocolate ganache with salted caramel ice-cream is a must try. Tuscany is a favorite among the locals for the dinner for those who love Italian food. The restaurant is only functional from 7 pm to 11:30 pm.

Chef Lamba, Executive Chef Trident Hyderabad

Kanak-The Indian specialty restaurant:

Hyderabadi hona to Biryani hona! Quite literally, as this is one of the signature dishes at the Indian specialty restaurant at the Trident. The restaurant serves authentic Indian cuisine with an amalgamation of street food and Mughlai dishes. Their specialty Dilli ki chaat is a contemporary approach on famous roadside Delhi snacks which is served with Dahi Wada Ice Cream is a dish so different and popular that we ended up asking for a second serving!

Welcome to KANAK!

Classical music performance at Kanak

Trident Hyderabad

Kanak – Indian speciality restaurant

All thanks to Chef Vijay who took time out to explain the main ingredients of each and every dish. The Dahi ke Kebabs at the Kanak is a treat for the vegetarians as they just melt in the mouth. The experience of a fine dining with some of the most delicious Indian dishes makes Kanak a popular choice amongst the locals too for a family dinner or a friend get together. The restaurant is only functional from 7 pm to 11:30 pm.

Dilli ki Chaat

Ninety-Six:

Talking about a hectic day at work or a business meeting that longed a bit too long, Ninety-Six, the bar at the Trident, is just the place for you post that. The range of single malts, cocktails, beer and wine would make you fall in love with it. The ambiance of the bar is soothing and the bartender even better as he is a specialist in preparing amazing cocktails. Don’t miss the Long Island Iced Tea at the Ninety Six for the perfect balance of 5 spirits in one drink.

Cheers!

Staff and Services:
Staff maketh a brand especially a hospitality brand. The staff at the Trident Hyderabad is nothing less than a team of perfectionists working towards the success of a brand. Be it punctuality or taking care of the small needs of the guests, the team was bang on target.

Trident Club Lounge

Right from arranging the vehicle always on time to make sure I got the medicines (I wasn’t well for a day) or to leave a note behind with the laptop cleaning kit, these small doings made Trident stand out of the league of luxury hotels in Hyderabad. The umpteen services offered here at the Trident from the Spa to Fitness Center to catering to all your staycation needs make it a one-stop destination for all your vacation or official commitments.

Gym at Trident Hyderabad

Our Experiences:

Love doubles love! One thing that we got the most at Trident Hyderabad was love. Right from the marketing manager Ooha who ensured we have a comfortable stay even when she was on leave to Chef Lamba who treated us with love, warmth and patience even while we were shooting during the dinner at Tuscany, everyone at the Trident was very welcoming. The way they took care of us when we weren’t well for a day made us feel at home and we cannot thank them in words for all the love. With a team like this, the sky is the limit for Trident Hyderabad. The Trident is a highly recommended staycation destination to celebrate a special day with your loved ones as you will totally love their hospitality.

Do shoot your questions on Trident Hyderabad in the comments section below.

P.S.: Our stay was sponsored by Trident Hyderabad, however, the views expressed in the post are solely of the author and have not been influenced by the brand in any way.

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Great Indian Food Trip – Finding the best Biryani in South India

by VishuSaumya January 8, 2018March 20, 2018

Great Indian Food Trip – Finding the best Biryani in South India

Road trips in India are turning out to be a blessing these days, all thanks to the superb expressways connecting the the major cities of our country. While we were all set to explore the 4 different states of South India, we were in for a journey full of Biryanis. In continuation to our first article on the Great Indian Food Trip, where we discussed about the route, the team and the experiences from our trip, here we shall be talking about the types of dishes we tried at the different South Indian states. The trip was designed to last for 10 days, visiting 5 different cities to try more than 15 types of Biryani and find out the best from each city. It was very important for us to understand how different was one from the other. While some of them concentrated more on the spices, others ensured that the type of rice, the aroma and the method of preparing it.

Let’s GO!

The journey started from Hyderabad where we all gathered. The day was spent at leisure and we went out in the evening to try some of the best biryanis from the city. The first place on the list was Shadab Hotel. The biryani served here was flavoursome with saffron coloured rice, good mix of spices and a raita and salan to accompany it.

Biryani at Shadab Restaurant, Hyderabad

I actually ate all of it!

The next stop in Hyderabad during our hunt was Shahgouse Hotel. Considered to be one of the best places in Hyderabad for authentic Hyderabadi Biryani, this place serves some lip-smacking biryani along with other non-vegetarian preparations. The biryani here was balanced on spices and thus I liked it personally. The staff at the Shahgouse Hotel was kind enough to demonstrate the entire process of how it was made, the way it half-cooked rice was mixed with the chicken and then was given dum for the taste. Loved watching the preparations totally.

Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani at Shahgouse, Hyderabad

Our search for the best Biryani in Hyderabad continued the next day as we moved on the Meridian Cafe and Restaurant in Hyderabad. The Hyderabadi Dum Biryani served there had a mix of spices with long grains of the Basmati Rice. The taste was appealing and we found the chicken chunks to be well cooked. Next in line for the hunt were Cafe Bahar, Bawarchi and New Astoria.

Biryani in a Milton at Meridian, Hyderabad

Biryani at Cafe BAHAR, Hyderabad

While the Biryanis we had at Cafe Bahar and Bawarchi were good and tasteful, we found the one at New Astoria to be ok. The high point on this food trail in Hyderabad was meeting the foodies from the city who showed us around with lot of love and warmth. A special thanks to Zubair from Hyderabad Food Diaries for taking us to the Ulvacharu for trying the rose milk and the yummy Bamboo Chicken there.

Biriyani at Bawarchi, Hyderabad

Ulavacharu biryani, Hyderabad

After spending a whole day in Hyderabad hogging onto the various types of Biryani it was time to get the best Biryani from the city packed in our Milton Microwow One Touch Casserole and carry it to our next stop, Bangalore. The Chicken Biryani at Shadab was a clear winner from Hyderabad and we got it packed before heading out to meet our foodie friends in Bangalore. The Milton Microwow One Touch Casserole ensured that the freshness of the food was intact by the time we reached Bangalore in the evening. The Biryani was relished after being heated in the microwave for dinner.

BEST BIRYANI IN HYDERABAD – HOTEL SHADAB

Bangalore had a lot of biryani to offer. While it didn’t have any specialized local flavour for the Biryani, the adjoining areas of the city had influenced the Biryanis present there. The first stop for the day was the Ali Baba Cafe which served the famous Bhatkali Biryani. This was chicken pieces in traditional spicy onion masala and dum cooked with Basmati rice. The biryani was mouth-watering and definitely a tough competitor to its predecessor from Hyderabad. Ali Baba cafe also specialized in Kunafa, a dessert made from cheese, dry fruits and semolina. The Moroccan tea served here at Ali Baba Cafe is definitely not to be missed.

Bhatkali Biryani at Ali Baba Cafe, Bangalore

Next up was Frazer Town’s famous outlet, the Chichaba’s Taj. We had heard a lot about this place from our foodie friends at Bangalore and were looking forward to try their Biryani. The Muslim Biryani served here was low on spices, perfect for a non-spicy food lover like me. The chicken was tender and the rice grains were short. Overall it was a good experience to have the chicken biryani at Chichaba’s Taj.

Biryani at Chichaba’s Taj

The hunt for the best Biryani continued as we reached Meghana Foods to try their special Keema Biryani and Lollipop Biryani. While the Keema Biryani had minced mutton perfectly blend in the rice and spices, I liked the lollipop Biryani more as it had some delicious Chicken Lollypop pieces hidden in the mound of rice. Nagarjuna Restaurant in Bangalore served us with their special Tarkari Biryani, a veg biryani prepared with fresh vegetables in Andhra style. As Srikanth was the only vegetarian in our gang, he totally enjoyed the Tarkari Biryani at Nagarjuna. This restaurant was majorly inspired by the Andhra Cuisine and had flavors from Andhra Pradesh in all their preparations. The Mamsam Biryani or Mutton Biryani at the Nagarjuna was delicious as it was seasoned Basmati Rice cooked with lamb and Andhra Spices. The biryani was well complimented with the raita and shorba.

Biryani at Meghna Foods, Bangalore

Each outlet at Bangalore served us with different flavours, tastes and texture of Biryani. To decide the winner amongst them was a tough call. However, Alibaba Cafe emerged as the winner for the best Biryani in Bangalore for their special Bhatkali Biryani. We got it packed the next day in our Milton Microwow Casseroles and carried it on our trip to Chennai.

BEST BIRYANI IN BANGALORE – ALI BABA CAFE

Milton products on the trip were really helpful as we also got the tea packed from our hotel in Bangalore in our Milton Thermosteel flasks. The Milton Thermosteel helped the tea to stay warm for a good two hours and thus we enjoyed Chai on the highways on our way to Chennai.
Biryani
On the way to Chennai from Bangalore we stopped at Ambur to try the Ambur Biryani at Star Restaurant. It was good but couldn’t beat the likes from its counterparts at Bangalore.

Ambur Biryani at Star Ambur Biryani, Ambur

The day in Chennai started with a beautiful sunrise at the Marina beach, we carried some tea to give the day a good start. Good way to spend some time with yourself. Sit, relax and live in the moment. Chennai surprised us with the variety of Biryanis it served.

Hot Tea by the beach!

Some restaurants here offered very spicy ones while the others had a low tone of spices. The common factor amongst the biryani was the raita and eggplant salan which was served with almost every one of them. Before leaving for the Biryani trail, we got it delivered at the hotel by Fill Belly. The biryani was the authentic Shadi Biryani which is a wood-fire cooked. The first eatery we tried our hands on in Chennai was the Charminar Biryani Centre.
Biryani

Chicken Biryani at Charminar Restaurant, Chennai

The Biryani we had there was extremely spicy but was loved by all the spicy food lovers from the group. I decided to skip it after a few bites and looked forward for to the next ones. Next, we headed to Kalyan Bhawan to taste the ones served in marriages in Chennai. The Special Chicken 65 Biryani served here at the Kalyan Bhawan was definitely worth the wait (we actually waited for 20 mins before we got the order).

Special Chicken 65 at Kalyan Bhavan, Chenai

We also tried the egg and mutton biryani here but we loved the special chicken 65 the most. Next up was the Aasifi Biryani house which was an elegant fine-dine place. The interiors of this place were really eye-catching and the food served here was good to eat. The best biryani in Chennai was awarded to Special Chicken 65 Biryani from Kalyan Bhawan. We got it packed the next day in our Milton Microwow Casseroles and carried it all the way to Coimbatore.

Chicken Biryani at Aasife biriyani, Chennai

Biryani in a Milton

BEST BIRYANI IN CHENNAI – KALYAN BHAWAN

On the way to Coimbatore from Chennai we took a detour to Mahabalipuram. This detour was well planned so that we could reach Coimbatore by the evening and explore it the next day. As we were strolling through Mahabalipuram to explore more, the Milton Thermosteel bottles acted as a saviour to quench our thirst with cold water.

Milton Thermosteel, the saviour from the hot weather!

The next morning, we decided to head directly to Calicut without eating biryanis at Coimbatore. The difference was that stopped over at two of the best outlets in Coimbatore, got our biryanis packed in the Milton Microwow One Touch Casseroles and enjoyed it on the highway on our Milton Melamine Plates.

Dindigul Venu Biriyani, Coimbatore

Rowther Biryani in a Milton at HMR, Coimbatore

The two biryanis we picked from Coimbatore were the Dindigul Mutton from Venu Biryani Center and the Rowther from HMR. The Dindigul was spicy, had short rice grains and a bit tough mutton. The Rowther was good to taste, moderately spicy and was adequately fresh in the Milton One Touch Casseroles. The journey from Coimbatore to Calicut was plateful as we enjoyed the different types of solemnized rice on the highway.

The SETUP!

BEST BIRYANI IN COIMBATORE – HMR ROWTHER BIRYANI

Calicut served us with beaches, views, Biryanis and Sulaimani tea. The Malabar Biryani in Calicut came out very differently to us as it was almost colorless and still good to taste. It had almost negligible spices used for color yet was flavoursome. The Rahmath Hotel in Calicut served both the Malabar and Fish Biryanis to enjoy. Being a fish lover, I really enjoyed the fish variant there after having chicken and mutton for so many days.

Malabar Biryani at Rahmath Hotel, Calicut

Fish Malabar Biryani, Rahmath Hotel, Calicut

Biryani with Sulaimani Tea, Rahmath Hotel, Calicut

The Sulaimani Lemon tea at the Rahmath hotel in Calicut is definitely worth trying after your due course. As we were strolling through the city of Calicut to explore more, the Milton Thermosteel bottles acted as a savior to quench our thirst with cold water. The other restaurant we tried at Calicut was the Paragon. One of the oldest hotels in town, the Paragon has been serving in Calicut since 1939. We tried the chicken one there and found it to be tasty. The winner at Calicut was the Chicken Biryani at the Rahmath Hotel.

Chicken Biryani at Paragon, Calicut

BEST BIRYANI IN CALICUT – RAHMATH HOTEL

After a 10-day long road-trip through South India, the first leg of the Great Indian Food Trip by Scout My Trip came to an end. With Milton acting as the anchor partner for our astonishing journey, exploring the different cities, hunting for the best biryanis, finding some amazing ones and trying some other stuff , the experience was BIRYANISOME. We look forward to the next leg of this trip and hope that you enjoyed traveling through South India with us on this magical journey.

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Great Indian Food Trip – South Indian Biryani Trail

by VishuSaumya January 5, 2018March 20, 2018

Great Indian Food Trip – South Indian Biryani Trail

It’s said you can’t make everyone happy as you are not a Biryani! Biryani, the word itself brings a smile on our faces. In a recent survey it was found that Biryani has been one of the most ordered food in the year 2017. No doubt it is as it’s the easiest on the go meal one can enjoy. So when Scout My Trip, a road trip community platform approached us with the concept of the Great Indian Food Trip which began with a Biryani Trail of South India we were excited to the fullest.

Great Indian Food Trip

Biryani is one dish which can be had at any part of the day. Thus, getting our hands on to try one of the finest Biryanis in South India while being on a road trip was a trip to definitely hop on to. Here is the route we followed on the Great Indian Food Trip South Indian Biryani Trail.

The route we followed

The trip was supposed to commence from Hyderabad and end at Calicut covering Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore enroute. This was a 10 days trip in which we were supposed to find the finest Biryanis in cities visited, enjoy it with the local foodies there and carry the best out of the lot to the next destination.

The Team: Deepak, Nikhita, Saumya, Himanshu and Srikanth (L to R)

Here’s the team which formed the flag bearers of the Great Indian Food Trip:

1) Deepak Ananth: Deepak aka Captain is one of the most sorted guy you will come across in life. The founder of ScoutMyTrip and a fanatic road tripper, he can drive effortlessly throughout any trip. Enjoying Bollywood numbers big time with some meaningful conversations, it’s the journey you cherish with him.

2) Saumya Rai: That’s me, the better half of RoadtoTaste and a true blue roadtrip lover, I love to be a part of any travel story. While I just love trying various cuisines, Biryani and camera are my only love after Vishu. Great Indian Food Trip

3) Srikanth Bhamidi: One of the most simplest and humble soul living on Mother Earth, Srikanth is a very caring guy just like an elder brother. While he loves to be a part of road trips, his love for food and his wife can almost be at par with each other. He was our scout and the only vegetarian on the trip and thus our guide for finding the best vegetarian Biryani on the trip.

Srikanth, the man behind the wheels of Duster!

4) Himanshu Sehgal: The man behind MY YELLOW PLATE, this guy from Delhi carries his yellow plate on all his expeditions. A man of few words, Himanshu is very focused towards his work and makes all the efforts to capture the best of food and travel on his Yellow Plate.

Me and Himanshu enjoying Hot Filter Coffee from our Milton Thermosteel

5) Nikhita Biswas: The girl from Milton, she was the cool, super approachable and a pleasure to talk to. Although she kept herself busy with work most of the time, she never missed catching a stunning sunrise at the beach.

Nikhita, The Milton Girl!

The power machines used for this splendid trip were a Skoda Superb and a Renault Duster. While Deepak took charge of the powerful Superb, Srikanth was behind the wheels of the AWD Duster.

Meet Lucifer! 1666!

The purpose of the South Indian Biryani Trail was to find the best biryani in a particular city. We were supposed to hunt for Biryanis throughout the day, eat them all and discuss the best of the lot at the end of the day. Whoever won was supposed to be awarded the Certificate of Excellence. The best biryani from that outlet was carried from one city to another in our Milton Microwow Caserroles.

Biryani In a Milton

Aadab Hyderabad

We all gathered at Hyderabad and spent a day together before the trip began. During the initial hours of getting acquainted it felt comfortable and everyone seemed to be extremely excited for the upcoming adventure. The trip began on a high note as we had a foodie meetup in Hyderabad.

Foodies from Hyderabad

Food and travel bloggers from the city joined us to enjoy the Biryanis the city of Nizam offered and also helped us in finding the hidden gems there. Zubair from Hyderabad Food Diaries was kind enough to show us around. He also helped us get an exclusive entry to most of the kitchens where the famous Hyderabadi Dum Biryanis were being prepared. As they say that people of Hyderabad are very sweet both by nature and by language, we totally second that now after the wonderful experience. Special thanks to our foodie friends Sharmistha, Poulami, Dhruva and Indu for being a part of the Great Indian Food Trip in Hyderabad.

Great Indian Food Trip

Namma Bangalore

Next up was Namma Bangalore. The IT capital of our nation has some rare and mouth watering Biryanis to enjoy. While we were hunting the best Biryani in Bangalore, we found two different kinds of Biryanis which were truly stunning. We also discovered two different delicacies, Khunafa and Moroccan Mint Tea while looking for Biryanis at various outlets. The bloggers we met during our visit to Bengaluru treated us with a lot of warmth and helped us diligently in our search. I would personally like to thank ScoutMyTrip for taking me to Bangalore and helping me meet my lovely friend Sakshi Rajat, a travel blogger based in Bangalore. Although we have been knowing each other through social media for almost an year, meeting Sakshi in person added to the charm of visiting Bangalore. Chittra from Masala Box was another friend who met us in Bangalore and helped us explore the city more.

The best thing about travel is you catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Foodies Meetup at Bangalore

Khunafa at Ali Baba Cafe

Vanakkam Chennai

The drive from Bangalore to Chennai was short, sweet and picturesque. On the way to Chennai from Bangalore we tried the famous Ambur Biryani at Ambur. The sunrise at Marina beach in Chennai is definitely worth mentioning apart from the Chettinad biryani we enjoyed there. The true foodie spirit was set to example by Ekta from Food Talk Chennai, a food blogger from Chennai. Though she cannot withstand non-veg food, she still came and joined us on our biryani trail in Chennai. Thanks for the lovely sandwiches Ekta, they were just amazing and a much needed change from the rice bowls of the past few days.

Sunrise at Marina Beach with Milton

Here we come Chennai!

The next stop from Chennai was Coimbatore as per the itinerary. However, we took a detour and stopped at Mahabalipuram for a few hours. The beautiful shore temple at Mahabalipuram was definitely worth the additional kilometers clocked.

Getting clicked!

Vanakkam Coimbatore

Coimbatore had a completely different taste of biryanis to offer and the same goes for Calicut. The biryanis at Coimbatore had a different type of rice used for the preparation. One should not miss the Mysore Pak (local sweet dish) at Coimbatore.
Great Indian Food Trip

Sukhamanno Calicut

Calicut also offered a beach view with the taste of Biryani just like Chennai. The city has a very positive and safe vibe for any solo traveler. We explored the city by local transport and also loved it for the Kerala Parathas offered here. This was also a city to offer Fish Biryani apart from Mutton, Chicken and Veg Biryanis.
Great Indian Food Trip
The competition became tough with each passing city. The newly revamped face of Milton had brought in some exciting new products. More details shall be shared in our next post where we talk about our Biryani experience from each city in detail.

Sunset at Calicut Beach

Each city had a different taste of Biryani. The method of preparation, the type of rice, the spices, the aroma and the appearance made the overall experience a magical one. While the amount of Biryani we had during the entire trip had our Biryani quota full for almost a quarter, the journey enjoyed with a group of amazing folks and the camaraderie built over 10 days is surely gonna last much longer.