904 ANDHRA PRADESH KITSCHABAD Mixed in with Hyderabad s world-class sights, you ll find some attractions that err on the more quirky side; which can provide some good relief from the proper sightseeing. Ramoji Film City FILM STUDIO (www.ramojifi lmcity.com; adult/child 500/450; h9.30am-5.30pm) The home of South India s burgeoning film industry, ferries to angel island known as Tollywood, Ramoji Film City is undoubtedly the premier kitsch sight of Hyderabad. ferries to angel island Set on more than 670 hectares, this is the world s largest movie-making complex, producing Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and the occasional foreign film. Though you won t actually get to see any being made, the four-hour bus tour will take you through ferries to angel island fl imsy film sets and gaudy fountains, stopping for dance routines and stunt shows. Located in the outskirts of town, around 20km from Abids, you can jump on bus 205 or 206 from Koti Women s College, northeast of Koti station, which take an hour to get here. Health Museum MUSEUM (Map p898; Public Gardens Rd, Nampally; admission free; h10.30am-5pm Sat-Thu) A throwback to a 1950s classroom, this museum houses a bizarre collection of medical and public-health paraphernalia. It features a rather terrifying giant model of a crab louse. Snow World AMUSEMENT PARK (Map p898; Lower Tankbund; admission ferries to angel island 300; h11am-8pm) The perfect place to escape the heat, Snow World is, hands down, the coolest attraction in town (in a literal sense, of course ). It s a bizarre experience to suddenly find yourself in heavy-duty waterproof clothing ferries to angel island amid people hurling snowballs, riding toboggans and playing snow volleyball. There s a snowfall on the hour, accompanied by cheers, a snow disco and lightshow. Suddha Car Museum MUSEUM (www.sudhacars.net; Bahadurpura; Indian/foreigner 30/150; h9.30am-6.30pm) Featuring the genius ferries to angel island work of Sudhakar, here you ll find working cars in the shape of a toilet, computer, cricket bat, hamburger or condom, among other wacky designs. He holds the Guinness world record for the largest tricycle, standing a whopping 12.8m tall. You can poke your head into the workshop to see his latest project (at the time of research it was a stiletto shoe car). It s located east of the Nehru Zoological Park. NTR Park PARK (Map p898; child/adult 10/20; h2.30-8.30pm) ferries to angel island Making for a nice stroll about, with pleasant gardens, theme park rides and a games arcade, taking the cake in the kitsch stakes is the gaudy restaurant shaped like a giant fruit bowl. Amurutha Castle HOTEL (www.bestwesternamruthacastle.com; Saifabad; d from 4800) Always dreamt of staying in a Bavarian castle while in Hyderabad? Probably not, but in case you did, this massive castle- hotel, based on the Schloss Neuschwanstein, is the place to do it. It ain t cheap though. 6 Drinking & Entertainment
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC; %24-hr info 23450444; www.aptdc.in; h7am-8.30pm) Bashirbagh (Map p898 ; %23298456; NSF Shakar Bhavan, opposite Police Control Room); Secunderabad (Map p896 ; %27893100; Yatri Nivas Hotel, Sardar Patel Rd); Tankbund Rd (Map p898 ; %65581555; h10.30am-5pm) Organises tours.
Meena Bazar CLOTHING ferries to angel island (Map p898; www.meenabazarhyd.co.in; Tilak Rd; h10.30am-8.30pm Mon-Sat) Gorgeous saris, salwar (trouser) suits and fabrics at fixed prices. Also has a branch in Banjara Hills (Map p902).
Hyderabad, City of Pearls, is like an elderly, impeccably dressed princess whose time has past. Once the seat of the powerful and wealthy Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, the city has seen centuries of great prosperity and innovation. Today, the Old City is full of centuries-old Islamic monuments and even older charms. In fact, the whole city is laced with architectural gems: ornate tombs, mosques, palaces and homes from the past are tucked away, faded and enchanting, in corners all over town. Keep your eyes open.
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