A dear friend and I were discussing religion a couple of weeks ago - a rare occurrence for me - about how we are more spiritual than religious. It is not that we aren't religious or don't believe in God, we do. But sometimes the organization of religion gets in the way of true faith. In India, many faiths coexist, especially Muslim and Hindu. Whether that is a peaceful condition can be debated. Nevertheless, it seems I am making a pilgrimage in Hyderabad and now Delhi to mosques and temples. I even visited a giant Buddha in a lake.
"And on the 7th day, he rested"
Nearly 20 hours of flying, and advancing 12 time zones can take its toll on your body clock. Past experience has show that it happens on the 2nd or 3rd day. It is Christmas morning, and I have plans of going to a nearby market and museum and to see some sights of Hyderabad. I have the hotel's breakfast buffet, which is really a brunch of assorted Indian dishes, but where you can also get an omelet. But suddenly, I feel a little sleepy and head back to the room. 6 hours later I am awake. So much for sightseeing. It seems I needed some rest. I spend all of Christmas in bed. On the 4th day.
Prayer for the dying
Charminar is Hyderabad's most iconic monument. It is also a mosque. The literal Urdu translation is Four Towers. Legend says it was built on the site where sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end of a plague. Its building and 4 decorative minarets stands at right in the middle of a four-way, very busy street intersection today. Surrounded by markets and beggars and tourists and worshippers. It is quite chaotic. If you have seen my video from the car, you know how adventurous and dangerous it is just to cross the street. Then after you navigate that, you are hounded by beggars. I re-crossed the street, took a few photos, and needed to leave.
"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without"
Birla Mandir is next, a Hindu temple and shrine to three lords as well as to Hindu gods and goddesses. Teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism are engraved in various spots. All in white marble, the temple sits atop a hill with vistas of the city on all sides. Like most temples in India, you are requested to remove shoes before entering. Similarly, no interior photographs allowed. If you are a spiritual person, or Hindu, it might be something to add to your list of places to visit. Say a prayer, cleanse your soul.
"And on the 7th day, he rested"
Nearly 20 hours of flying, and advancing 12 time zones can take its toll on your body clock. Past experience has show that it happens on the 2nd or 3rd day. It is Christmas morning, and I have plans of going to a nearby market and museum and to see some sights of Hyderabad. I have the hotel's breakfast buffet, which is really a brunch of assorted Indian dishes, but where you can also get an omelet. But suddenly, I feel a little sleepy and head back to the room. 6 hours later I am awake. So much for sightseeing. It seems I needed some rest. I spend all of Christmas in bed. On the 4th day.
Prayer for the dying
Charminar is Hyderabad's most iconic monument. It is also a mosque. The literal Urdu translation is Four Towers. Legend says it was built on the site where sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end of a plague. Its building and 4 decorative minarets stands at right in the middle of a four-way, very busy street intersection today. Surrounded by markets and beggars and tourists and worshippers. It is quite chaotic. If you have seen my video from the car, you know how adventurous and dangerous it is just to cross the street. Then after you navigate that, you are hounded by beggars. I re-crossed the street, took a few photos, and needed to leave.
"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without"
Birla Mandir is next, a Hindu temple and shrine to three lords as well as to Hindu gods and goddesses. Teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Hinduism are engraved in various spots. All in white marble, the temple sits atop a hill with vistas of the city on all sides. Like most temples in India, you are requested to remove shoes before entering. Similarly, no interior photographs allowed. If you are a spiritual person, or Hindu, it might be something to add to your list of places to visit. Say a prayer, cleanse your soul.
"It is better to travel well than to arrive"
Tank Bund is a relatively new addition to monuments in Hyderabad, completed in 1992. It is a giant white marble (there is a theme here) Gautama Buddha statue on a man-made island in the middle of Hussain Sagar Lake. It is the world's largest Gautama Buddha. Take a 55 rupee boat ride and dock on the small island for closer views. Look at the size of that thing.
"Hast thou from the caves of Golkonda, a gem pure as the ice-drop that froze on the mountain"
The non-religious site of the tour is Golconda Fort, a historical ruins site of the original city, although ruins might be too harsh because many rooms and structures are well enough intact. I hired a private guide for 1000 rs (about $15), and received a personalized tour and a few bad jokes. Tanks, plumbing, air conditioning, king and queen rooms, harem, harem guards (eunuch), dance hall, prison cell, king traitor carvings, baths,. From the top of the granite hill, you can view the old city, the new city, and the modern city - HiTec City (where my hotel is). Also visible is a portion of the still standing outer wall. Enemies can be seen from afar. Now you can see a golf course.
More food and love
Indian wedding receptions are an entirely separate event from the ceremony itself. Consisting of more food than you can imagine and endless photographs with the couple. I was able to go on two occasions, once alone with them, and another with some India based colleagues who work with National Western Life. I had 2 plates of biryani, curry, paneer, and had some room for sticky date pudding and ice cream. This was only a couple of hours after a "snack" of chicken club sandwich with egg and paneer after my city tour.
Quite stuffed and quite late (11:30 pm anyway), it was time for a ride home with the NWL guys, time to pack, and time for a pre-bedtime shower and asleep by 1 am for my 5 am cab to the airport for my flight to Delhi. What could possibly go wrong?...
Quite stuffed and quite late (11:30 pm anyway), it was time for a ride home with the NWL guys, time to pack, and time for a pre-bedtime shower and asleep by 1 am for my 5 am cab to the airport for my flight to Delhi. What could possibly go wrong?...
Peace
Darryl
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