The Girl from Kohinoor

What does "Sunday" mean to you ? Does it mean some extra extra sleep or curling up on your couch with some coffee to binge on your favourite shows or meeting your friends or just warm fuzzy feeling of no anxiety ? I just want to ask you folks that. However you frame your answer, I think it's going to define home. Just a cozy, happy, safe space to kick back and relax before Monday comes back to overwhelm you for sure. That safe, happy space is the feeling I get when am in Hyderabad. My home town, my city <3. I always wondered how they could have named it better, for a more dramatic feel. Name it Kohinoor ! If there is a lustrous beauty in diamonds, the queen bee of all shiny pieces, the most famous and resting in the crowns of the rich, it's the Kohinoor. Like women love chasing emotionally unavailable men, Indians can't stop talking about this legendary piece of glitter. Even I do feel a glimmer of pride thinking of how this originally 793 carat diamond was mined from the Golconda sultanate of India. The Sultanate that was famous for its rich Nizam heritage, a heritage that is still alive in the city of Hyderabad.

Not a Cosmopolitan yet, but Hyderabad always offered so much to its visitors and far more to its residents. It's nice to live in a city that is geographically well situated and allows the best experience of every season. Summer's aren't breezy, winters aren't rainy - the most predictable weather you can find. Imagine not having to check the weather before you dress up or take a cab! Big win ;) You can walk on the street and if a stray dog runs after you, the natives are either extremely helpful or dangerously aloof, something you would find amusing when running for your life. It's a city made for people who are easy going and casual.

Linguistically, there is no official "Hyderabadi" language that exists, but the locals just blended a few Urdu words into Hindi and created a laid back language with stretched out syllables. The cool slang of "Mereku", "Tereku" originated here. If you are cruising in your new Lamborghini on the streets of Hyderabad, no one shrugs you off like "slow down rockstar", you would rather get a serving of "Zara Hallu Chalao Miya". Have you ever watched the movies "Angrez" or "Hyderabadi Nawabs" that relied on the native Hyderabadi linguistics of its protagonists and went on to score a permanent place in the most entertaining movies list (try them this Sunday, maybe :D)

If you are a big fan of night drives like I am or a morning person and watching the Sun rise is your thing, head over to the downtown because the Hyderabadi Skyline doesn't disappoint. I discovered my favourite view point when driving home after work. It was already dark and I got on to the Mindspace Junction Flyover, and just glanced around - what unfolded infront of me was a breathtaking view of one of the most loved tech-hub's of India. Be it the beautiful t-hub2.0 with its asymmetric assembly or the majestic MyHome Bhooja lit up to the nine's, you will be spellbound by the picture painted for you. For a second, you admire how small you or your problems feel in comparison, but then please snap back to reality - we all have bills to pay !

Whenever I travel, I find that having a mode of transport is a little tricky, especially when I didn't know the place. I once had a cabbie drop me from the back gate to the front gate of The Venetian for $20. But then if there's a Metro connection to all the major points of a city, it's a welcome luxury because - 1. It comes at the cost of a notebook 2. It can't drop me off at the front gate :| I mean how cool is it to travel across the city without cramping the next day ! I totally believe establishing the Metro connection was one of the best things that happened to Hyderabad !

For a sublime city that's slowly garnering the reputation of an IT giant, Hyderabad has never let loose its native charm. The high-spirited street parties during festivals with BHUTTO playing hard and loud, define how much Hyderabadi's love partying ++ the vibrant cafe's and happening nightlife (keeps happening till 1 AM *wink* *wink*) - a new pub pops up every month in this city. While there is no shortage of serotonin triggering street food, my favourite has always been the mint flavoured Paneer Biryani. Also, I hardly ever found a Kaftan donning social elite asking where they can find "the most delectable 'Pain au Chocolat' " because this Metropolitan crowd is addicted to the city's flavourful "Mandi".

While all this is just enticing, the vision of moonlight gently teasing the ripples at the Gandipet lake, just after dark, on a full moon day, is the one of the most stunning views that made me fall in love with this city. Unquestionably, there's a lot more to this beautiful town that simply cannot be described in a few words, but if and when you do visit here, I am positively certain you will agree to calling this town - A Kohinoor !