Hyderabad 2: A prelude to Rajasthan and Himalayas

This was my second visit to Hyderabad and I had already visited all usual tourist places including Ramoji Film City. So I researched again for places in and around Hyderabad where I could go. Unlike bangalore, there are not many scenic/places of tourist interest around hyderabad. However, I came to know some places in hyderabad itself which could provide completely different kind of experience. And that's why, this trip to hyderabad became a prelude to my trip to Rajasthan(which I have planned for this new year) and Auli.

Dhola ri Dhani is a resort on the outskirts of hyderabad which is sort of microcosm of authentic Rajasthani ambience and food. One can hire an auto for about 200 bucks for to and fro and the driver will wait for you for 2-3 hrs outside the resort.

So, inside the resort, there is a small lake where u can do paddling, a small area demarcated as desert with camps, puppet show, magic show, camel safari, cultural program, some buildings whose exteriors look like palaces. It is something different from usual resort fare and most of the activities are good enough to keep you engaged and entertain.

The weak point was however, the cultural program. The performers knew only one rajasthani dance step i.e. circling around and they did it so repititevely that one can't stand for more than two songs. One special show "Dhola ri Dhani ke Sholay" which we eagerly awaited, was an absolute let down, neither seriously good nor comedy.

The food was very good, though and the staff at the restaurant was very agile and courteous. They serve you really traditional style and take good care that you taste a bit of everything, at least.

Another place is Snow World. It is sort of amusemant park near to Husain Sagar Lake within the city and the complex comprises of go-karting, a rainforest replica and scary house. Though all of them are good enough, Snow World is quite a world apart. Outside the entrance one has to wear head to toe woollen clothes, boots. Then the gate opens and you are into a big hall in freezing temperature with snow that's upto 1 feet at many places. It's not good enough for skiing but then, it's asking too much. However, it has a big enough slide, a disco and enough snow with which you can play with. It's really great value and fun, having to play with snow in otherwise hot Hyderabad.

Poovar Island Resort

While going to kanyakumari, I wanted to experience backwaters and also take my parents to some beach (since they stay in north India and it’s not many a times they come so close to ocean). After lot of research, I zeroed on this resort and it’s also an associate resort of Club Mahindra, thereby making it even more preferable.

As promised and expected, the location of the resort is truly amazing and rarest of all. The resort is just opposite an estuary where Poovar(or Neyyar) river meets the sea through a very narrow opening. From the resort you have a view of river, beach and the sea beyond and it’s lovely when you can see and walk upon just a thin stretch of sandy beach surrounded from all sides by water. The famed kerala backwaters are just at the backside. In fact, the boat to the resort itself goes through narrow canal/lake and palm/coconut/banana trees try to kiss each other from both sides and present a splendid view.

So, whatever you have read till now, you must be thinking it’s gonna be lot of fun. However, it’s a complete disappointment afterwards when you have soaked up the natural beauty and look for what all you can do at such a great location. Obviously you will look for because it’s by no way less than expensive.

It’s very good resort for kind of people who want a great location to just relax, lie down and read something. For all others, it’s really silly if you can only enjoy the waters from a distance and not being able to experience it. If someone books a floating cottage (photo) then probably he/she can feel more blessed because one can at least enjoy the nature from their balcony all times unless some naked and poor children from neighboring fishermen’s village come on a boat upto your balcony asking for alms.

The beach is dirty like anything, and the resort just feels content by mentioning on its pamphlet (provided on reception and room) that beach and the estuary is not a property of the resort. And I guess it was no use asking them if they could just arrange some cleaning for their own benefit. In fact, there are at least two more resorts nearby. Since the river water is muddy so entire stretch of beach is not fit for swimming/bathing. The only thing that resort offers is some backwater cruises, the one sunset cruise I opted for, and it was a complete waste of money and time. The boat that brought us to resort was much better experience than a bamboo driven country boat that was moving so painfully slow. On top of that, the sunset is to be seen only from the resort then why name it sunset cruise!!!

The food is good enough and the best part of the resort is its accomodation. However, again most of the land cottages are too far on the island to have any good view except gardens. The garden is good though and one can see many uniquely shaped flora.

Another annoying part is staff. There are only 2-3 people who can understand/speak english and can communicate with guests. All others seem village people who are not at all trained. Some things that I still remember are serving curry over chapatis, just staring like fool when you try to order something. I don’t think it’s expected to find such ill trained staff at such high end resort.

So, in summary the resort location, accomodation and food is good but it’s completely lacking in offering activities on site. Especially when the location is in backwaters and beach.

Kanyakumari: The Hype Justified

This is one place which was not there in my own ’go to list’ at least in near future but finally decided to go when my parents enquired about it since they were coming to bangalore. I had already visited many a beaches already recently (Bogmallo beach in goa, devbagh beach resort, mahabalipuram) and wasn’t really much interested again on going to a seaside town, especially when it’s sort of pilgrim place and we all know how crowded and dirty they all usually are. But I am glad I did go. No matter how many beaches one has seen, nothing matches the excitement and view in the middle of the ocean from Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

So, I booked for a stay in Poovar Island Resort (you can check my review regarding that resort) for 2 nights using my club mahindra membership and planned to reach kanyakumari by afternoon and stay for one night there also so that we would be able to see sunrise and sunset also. I was thinking the road from Trivandrum to kanyakumari must be along the sea (just like chennai to mahabalipuram). However, there was almost no sight on offer of Indian Ocean till we reached kanyakumari. However, the first sight of Indian Ocean was amazing. The water is so blue and green as far as one can see.

I had planned to stay in Vivekanandapuram but after reaching kanyakumari, I found many hotels just near the ferry point to rock memorial which offered splendid ocean views from the room window itself. So we chose to stay there itself since it was close to all sightseeing points also. kanyakumari is a small touristy town, full of hotels, lodges and all kinds of eateries. Here I would like to mention to all people who may be planning to come to kanyakumari from all parts of india that you won’t feel like you are in extreme south as far as food is concerned. There are all kinds of cuisines available - bengali, rajasthani, gujarati, marwari etc etc. and very cheap too. We chose to eat in one north indian marwari rest, and it was just 40 bucks!! for unlimited good quality food.

We had gone in october, just the start of season and at that time at least, the town was very clean throughout. Now about sightseeing. All the sightseeing points in kanyakumari (rock memorial, kanyakumari temple, sunset point, sangam, thiruvallur statue) are very close to each other, all are along one road itself. From rock memorial and thiruvallur statue, it’s absolutely absorbing to just observe the waves in endless ocean while the cool wind tries to blow you away!! Entire town became very crowded by the evening though. However, we couldn’t see the sunset and sunrise since it was a bit cloudy (didn’t rain though) so I guess one must travel after november only to have a unobstructed sunrise and sunset view.

I would like to recommend kanyakumari to everyone, for its uniqueness.