Nehru Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad was established in vide G.O.Ms. No.247, dated 26 October 1959. It was opened to the public on 6 October 1963. The Nehru Zoological Park is run by forest department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and is named after the first prime minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru.This 380-acre zoo, located close to the Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad, is managed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. It has over a hundred species of animals, birds and reptiles, including some rare ones like the Asiatic lion, Indian rhino, gaur, panther, crocodiles, orangutan, pythons, etc. Different types of kangaroos, deer, nocturnal birds, owls and antelopes also reside here. Migratory birds are attracted to the artificially created embankments. 

The park also offers boat and ferry rides. The zoo occupies 380 acres (150 ha) and is adjacent to the 600-acre (240 ha) Mir Alam Tank. Nearly 100 species of birds, animals and reptiles are housed at the zoo, including indigenous animals like the Indian rhino, Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger,panther, gaur, Indian elephant, slender loris, python, as well as deer, antelopes and birds. The 600-acre (240 ha) Mir Alam Tank with its unique multiple arched bund (embankment), attracts hundreds of migratory birds, providing yet another attraction for the zoo.

The nocturnal house at the zoo artificially reverses night and day for the animals so that nocturnal animals are active while visitors are at the zoo. This exhibit includes fruit bats, slender loris, slow loris, civets, leopard cats, hedgehogs, barn owls, mottled wood owls, fishing owls, and great horned owls. There is also an aquarium, dino park, butterfly park and tortoise house

The zoo runs multiple safari trips each day through the safari area where animals such as Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, sloth bear etc. are housed.  The zoo also has special educational shows and feeding sessions scheduled each day. Other attractions include a natural history museum and a train.Several animals bred in the Zoo have been rehabilitated in various deer parks and sanctuaries to restock the depleted natural population

 Nehru Zoological Park (also known as Hyderabad Zoo or Zoo Park) is a zoo located near Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the most visited destinations in Hyderabad. Zoo hours vary by season, and the zoo is closed on Mondays.

SALAR JUNG MUSEUM

The Salarjung Museum proudly holds the coveted crown of being one of the 'largest one-man collections of the World'. The prized possessions of the Salarjung Museum was opened to the public with an inaugural addressfrom Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru on December 16, 1951.

The Salarjung Museum in Hyderabad houses over 43000 paintings, 9000 holographs and 47000 books that are all printed.The Salarjung Museum is the aspiration of Mir Yusuf Ali Khan better acquainted as Salar Jung III who was elected to be the Prime Minister of the Nizam 1912 when he was only 23. He later refused the post and consecrated his entire life to the accumulation of one of a kind antiques and paintings which was the sole source of joy in his desolate life.

The year 1961 marked the declaration of the Salarjung Museum of Hyderabad to be an 'Institute of National Importance' imposed by an act passed by the Parliament.

Special Features:-

• The section dealing with Indian Art comprises of sculptures of stone, bronze idols, cuttings of jade, painted textiles, wood carvings, small paintings, modern art , carvings of ivory, textiles, metal utensils, holographs, arms and various other war attires meant for protection.
  
  
  The next section at the Salarjung Museum ofHyderabad deals with art concerned with theMiddle Eastern Region whose prominent possessions include the amalgamation of prized carpets, paper (holographs), lacquer, sorted furniture, etc,that descended from countries like Egypt and Persia.

• Far Eastern Art section displays porcelain, lacquer utensils, exquisite items connected with embroidery and a wide array of inlay products originating from places like Thailand and Japan. Different paintings form an integral appendage of the European aggregation of antiques.
  
  
• Prominent Attractions:- Veiled Rebecca, ammunitions used by Aurangzeb, Noor Jahan, Shah Jahan, Mestophiles, The Lady With The Lamp and others.
  
  
  
• The Clock Room displays a breath-taking collection of about 300 antique clocks which consists of amusical clock that was manufactured by Cook and Levy from England.
• The Salarjung Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world. It is well known throughout India for its prized collections belonging to different civilizations dating back to the 1^st century. Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III (1889–1949), former Prime Minister of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, spent a substantial amount of his income over thirty five years to make this priceless collection, his life's passion. The collections left behind in his ancestral palace, 'Diwan Deodi' were formerly exhibited there as a private museum which was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951. Old timers believe that the present collection constitutes only half of the original art wealth collected by Salar Jung III. His employees siphoned off part of it, since Salar Jung was a bachelor and depended upon his staff to keep a vigil. Some more art pieces were lost or stolen during the shifting of the museum from Dewan Devdi to the present site. Later in 1968, the museum shifted to its present location at Afzalgunj and is administered by a Board of Trustees with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh as ex officio chairperson under the Salar Jung Museum Act of 1961.
• The Indian historical collections includes,
  • The paintings of legendary Raja Ravi Varma
  • Aurangzeb's sword.
  • Jade crafted daggers of, Emperor Jehangir, Noorjahan and Shah Jehan.
  • A wardrobe of Tipu Sultan and
  • A tiffin box made of gold and diamond
  The furniture collection belonging from the time of Louis17^th and Napoleon. Salar Jung III collected about 43,000 artifacts and 50,000 books and manuscripts out of which only few are displayed in today's museum

The museum building in a semicircular shape with 38 galleries, spread on two floors, displays only a part of the original collections. The ground floor has 20 galleries and the first floor has 18 galleries. The exhibits on different subjects are displayed in separate galleries. Each gallery is huge and has many artefacts on display including ones dated back to the 17^th century.

Apart from the galleries, there is a reference Library, reading room, publication and education section, chemical conservation lab, sales counter, cafeteria etc. Guides are available at fixed timings free of charge

GOLCONDA FORT

Golconda Fort is an extraordinary monument of Hyderabad, built in the 13th century by the Kakatiya kings. The present structure of the Golconda Fort was renovated by Qutub Shahi kings into a massive fort The magnificent fort of Golconda in Hyderabadis one of the most magnificent fortress complex in India which lies on the western outskirts and is around 11 kilometers from Hyderabad, the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The construction of Golconda Fort of Hyderabad dates back to the early 13th century when this south eastern part of the country was ruled by the Kakatiyas. Nowadays the ruins of the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad have a desolate majesty in the midst of an arid plain.

Golconda Fort in Hyderabad is located on a hill about 400 feet above the surrounding plain. The Golconda Fort has 10 kilometers long outer wall with the following structures:

• 87 semi circular bastions with with cannons on few bastions
• 80 gateways
• 4 drawbridges
• Royal apartments

The main gate of the Hyderabad Golconda Fort is called Fateh Darwaza or the Gate of Victory. This door of the Golconda Fort is 13 feet wide and 25 feet high and constellated with steel spikes, that used to protect it from the elephant attacks during wars.

The Balahisar Darwaza is one of the eight gate waysand is the most impressive gate way of all. The Golconda Fort of Hyderabad comprises of a palace, a parade ground, a mosque, an armory and other buildings. More than 380 uneven stone steps starts from the Balahisar Darwaza to Hyderabad Golconda Fort.

The Golkonda fort was first built by Kakatiyas as part of their western defenses. The fort Plan was designed after the Kondapalli Fort near Vijayawada, Krishna Dt. It was built in 945 CE-970 CE. The fort was strengthened by Musunuri Nayaks who overthrew the Tughlak army occupying Warangal. In the 16th century, Golkonda was the capital city of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, nearHyderabad. The city was home to one of the most powerful Muslim sultanates of the region and was the flourishing center of diamond trade.

The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters (400 ft) high and is surrounded by massive crenelated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to 1143, when the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiya dynasty were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Islamic Bahmani Sultanat. The fort became the capital of a major province in the Sultanate and after its collapse the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings. The fort finally fell into ruins after a siege and its fall toMughal emperor Aurangazeb.

After the collapse of the Bahmani Sultanat, Golkonda rose to prominence as the seat of the Qutb Shahi dynasty around 1507. Over a period of 62 years the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite, extending around 5 km in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km outer wall enclosed the city. The state became a focal point for Shia Islam in India, for instance, in the 17th century, Bahraini clerics, Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din and Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani both emigrated to Golkonda.

The Qutb Shahi sultanate lasted until its conquest by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. The fortress held out against Aurangzeb for nine months, falling to the Mughals through treachery.The Golkonda Fort used to have a vault where once the famous Kohinoor and Hope diamonds were stored along with other diamonds.^[3]

Golkonda was once renowned for the diamonds found on the south-east at Kollur Mine near Kollur (modern day Guntur district),Paritala (modern day Krishna district) and cut in the city during the Kakatiya reign. At that time, India had the only known diamond mines in the world.

Golkonda's mines yielded few diamonds. Golkonda was the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress city within the walls was famous for diamond trade. However, Europeans believed that diamonds were found only in the fabled Golkonda mines.

Magnificent diamonds were taken from the mines in the region surrounding Golkonda, including Darya-e Nur, meaning sea of light, at 185 carats (37.0 g), the largest and finest diamond of the crown jewels of Iran.

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. Gemologists use this classification to denote a diamond with a complete (or almost-complete) lack of nitrogen; "Golkonda" material is also referred to as "2A".

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golkonda, such as:

• Darya-e Nur
• Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond
• The Koh-i-noor
• The Hope Diamond
• Princie Diamond
• The Regent Diamond
• Wittelsbach Diamond

By the 1880s, Golkonda was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth.

During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golkonda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth. The mines brought riches to the ruling Qutb Shahis of Hyderabad State, who ruled Golkonda up to 1687, then to ruling Asaf Jah of Hyderabad State, who ruled after the independence from the Mughals in 1724, until 1948, when Hyderabad wasannexed, to become an Indian state.

Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall with 87 semicircular bastions (some still mounted with cannons), eight gateways, and four drawbridges, with a number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables, etc. inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the "Fateh Darwaza" (Victory gate, so called afterAurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate) studded with giant iron spikes (to prevent elephants from battering them down) near the south-eastern corner. At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced a fantastic acoustic effect, characteristic of theengineering marvels at Golkonda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This worked as a warning note to the royals in case of an attack.

The whole of the Golkonda Fort complex and its surrounding spreads across 11 km of total area, and discovering its every nook is an arduous task. A visit to the fort reveals the architectural beauty in many of the pavilions, gates, entrances and domes. Divided into four district forts, the architectural valour still gleams in each of the apartments, halls, temples, mosques, and even stables. The graceful gardens of the fort may have lost their fragrance, for which they were known 400 years ago, yet a walk in these former gardens should be in your schedule when exploring the past glories of Golkonda Fort.

Bala Hissar Gate is the main entrance to the fort located on the eastern side. It has a pointed arch bordered by rows of scroll work. The spandrels have yalis and decorated roundels. The area above the door has peacocks with ornate tails flanking an ornamental arched niche. The granite block lintel below has sculpted yalis flanking a disc. The design of peacocks and lions is a blend of Hindu – Muslim architecture.

Toli Masjid, situated at Karwan, about 2 km from the Golkonda fort, was built in 1671 by Mir Musa Khan Mahaldar, royal architect of Abdullah Qutb Shah. The facade consists of five arches, each with lotus medallions in the spandrels. The central arch is slightly wider and more ornate. The mosque inside is divided into two halls, a transverse outer hall and an inner hall entered through triple arches.

Much thought went into building this gate. A few feet in front of the gate is a large wall. This prevented elephants and soldiers (during enemy attacks) from having a proper ramp to run and break the gate.

The fort of Golkonda is known for its magical acoustic system. The highest point of the fort is the "Bala Hissar", which is located a kilometer away. The palaces, factories, water supply system and the famous "Rahban" cannon, within the fort are some of the major attractions.

It is believed that there is a secret underground tunnel that leads from the "Durbar Hall" and ends in one of the palaces at the foot of the hill. The fort also contains the tombs of the Qutub Shahi kings. These tombs have Islamic architecture and are located about 1 km north of the outer wall of Golkonda. They are encircled by beautiful gardens and numerous exquisitely carved stones. It is also believed that there was a secret tunnel to Charminar.

The two individual pavilions on the outer side of Golkonda are also major attractions of the fort. It is built on a point which is quite rocky. The "Kala Mandir" is also located in the fort. It can be seen from the king's durbar (king's court) which was on top of the Golkonda Fort.

The other buildings found inside the fort are :

Habshi Kamans (Abyssian arches), Ashlah Khana,Taramati mosque,Ramadas Bandikhana,Camel stable, private chambers (kilwat), Mortuary bath, Nagina bagh, Ramasasa's kotha, Durbar hall, Ambar khana etc.

This majestic structure has beautiful palaces and an ingenious water supply system. Sadly, the unique architecture of the fort is now losing its charm.

The ventilation of the fort is absolutely fabulous having exotic designs. They were so intricately designed that cool breeze could reach the interiors of the fort, providing a respite from the heat of summer.

The Huge gates of the fort are decorated with large pointed iron spikes. These spikes prevented Elephants from damaging the fort. The fort of Golkonda is encircled by a 11-km-long outer wall. This was built in order to fortify the fort.

HYDERABAD

Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad is situated near Charminar. Mecca Masjid is the earliest as well as the largest of the all the mosques in the city. As many as 10,000 people are able to offer prayers here at the same time. The history of the city tells us that Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah initiated the building of the Masjid in 1617 while the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb finished its construction in 1694. The Mecca Masjid of Hyderabad lies at a distance of only 100 yards from the very well known monument of Charminar.

There is quite a fascinating story behind thenaming of this mosque. The people say that some of the bricks with which the mosque has been made were brought from Mecca. Therefore the name, Mecca Masjid has been given to it.

You will find 15 arches giving support to the hall of the Mecca Masjid. Three walls of this huge hall have each got five arches. This massive hall has a height of 75 feet, a width of 220 feet and a length of 180 feet. This dimension clearly shows you how it can house about 10,000 people together during prayers. You will be astonished to know that around 8000 workers wereemployed to build up this beautiful mosque. It took them as long as 77years to construct the mosque.

Thousands and thousands of sermons from the holy Quran were written on the arches of the Mecca Masjid. Whenever you go to the artificial pond over there, you will have a feeling of quietness and serenity. The mosque houses a museum in the courtyard that preserves ancient and holy relics. The hair of Prophet Mohammed has been preserved here.

You can avail the local transport within Hyderabad to go to the Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad.

Makkah Masjid was built during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the 5th Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda (now Hyderabad). The three arched facades have been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah personally laid the foundation stone. The construction was later completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after conquering Hyderabad.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, the French explorer, in his travelogue observed;

"It is about 50 years since they began to build a splendid pagoda in the town which will be the grandest in all India when it is completed. The size of the stone is the subject of special accomplishment, and that of a niche, which is its place for prayer, is an entire rock of such enormous size that they spent five years in quarrying it, and 500 to 600 men were employed continually on its work. It required still more time to roll it up on to conveyance by which they brought it to the pagoda; and they took 1400 oxen to draw it

The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, enough to accommodate 10,000 worshipers at a time. Fifteen arches support the roof of the main hall, five on each of the three sides. A wall rises on the fourth side to provide Mihrab.

At the peak of the minarets flanking the mosque is an arched gallery, and above that a smallish dome and a spire. Inscriptions from the Qur'an adorn many of the arches and doors. The main structure of the mosque is sandwiched between two massive octagonal columns made out of a single piece of granite. The cornices running around the entire mosque structure and the floral motifs and friezes over the arches remind the tourist of the great attention paid to detail in Qutub Shahi architecture. They have a close resemblance to the arches at Charminar and Golkonda Fort.

At both ends of this resting place for the Asaf Jahs and very much a part of it, are two rectangular blocks with four minarets each. These minarets have elegant and circular balconies with low ornamental walls and arches. Above them is an octagonal inverted platter from which the rest of the minaret soars till it is arrested by a dome and a spire.The Makkah Masjid is a listed heritage building, however, lack of maintenance and growing pollution has withered and cracked the structure. It received a chemical wash in 1995. To prevent further damage, the Andhra Pradesh government made Charminar a traffic-free zone in August 2001.On the edge of the pond are two stone and slab benches, whoever sits on them, according to legend, returns to sit on them again.On the four sides of the roof on the main mosque, the ramparts are made of granite planks in the shape of inverted conches perched on pedestals. From the cornice of the mosque, its minarets are not as high as the minarets on the mazaar (Nizams tombs) haven from their cornice. The octagonal columns have arched balconies on level with the roof of the mosque with an awning for a canopy, above which the column continues upwards till it is crowned by a dome and spireThe entrance courtyard of the mosque, a rectangular, arched and canopied building houses the marble graves of Asaf Jahi rulers. This structure came up during the rule of the Asaf Jah rulers. It contains the tombs of the Nizams and their family.
A room in the courtyard is believed to house a hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammed. 

GOA

Vintage Car Museum, Wax World Museum

Vintage Car Museum

Ashvek Vintage World is a Vintage Car Museum situated in Nuvem, Salcete, Goa. It is Goa's first and only vintage car museum that showcases over a dozen vintage cars sourced from Goa or neighboring areas like Kholapur, Belgam and Sawantwadi.

Situated on the Panaji – Madgaon highway, the Ashvek Vintage World museum was set up by Pradeep Naik to spread awareness about vintage cars amongst the youth. It takes up restoration and preservation of vintage cars and some of the cars restored here are in excellent working condition and can be hired out for weddings, movie shoots or simply for joy rides. 

At the Vintage Car museum one can see models such as the Chevrolet Fleet master that was popular in the 1930's America as Mafia staff car, Mercedes Benz 170 of 1939 vintage which was actually used in the movie Sea Wolves Morris Van Essex (1924), Ford V8, Peugeot 301, Austin 1928 and the Morris 8. 

The museum also displays the Vidal Tempo of 1936 sourced from the Maharaja of Sawantwadi that is one of the most interesting one built as command car of the Nazi army. It is the car with two engines - the only in the world and is also the world's first four wheel drive Ashvek Vintage World is a Vintage Car Museum situated in Nuvem, Salcete, Goa. It is Goa's first and only vintage car museum that showcases over a dozen vintage cars sourced from Goa or neighboring areas like. 

The Ashvek Vintage World is also a pioneer in organizing vintage car rallies in Goa. The money sourced from restoration and preservation is reinvested in maintaining new and existing cars. The museum is open all days from 9am to 6pm except for Sundays.

Wax World Museum

Old Goa is the home to India's second wax museum. Each figurine is carefully sculpted of paraffin wax; the hair used is natural, although the eyes and teeth are artificial. 

The museum has over 30 life-size, statues of famous personalities of Indian culture, heritage and religion. One of the main attractions is the sculpting of the 'last supper' which is 22 feet in length and weights 500 kilos.

A guide talks you through the statues at the musuem, and explains who the statues are of, what they represent and how long it took to make the sculpture. The guided tour is in English and Hindi. Other main attractions include Mahatma Gandhi, Radha Krishna and Bethlehem.

There is a statue called 'say no to drugs' which shows you the side effects of taking drugs and this really brings the concept to life.

The is a small gift shop where one can purchase candles of various designs and shapes and smells.

Entry costs 30 Rupees and 10 for cameras.

"Wax works" redirects here. For the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short, see Wax Works.

Some wax museums have a special section dubbed the 'chamber of horrors' in which the more grisly exhibits are displayed. Some collections are more specialized, as for example collections of wax medical models once used for training medical professionals. Many museums or displays in historical houses that are not wax museums as such use wax figures as part of their displays. The origin of wax museums goes back to the early 18th century at least, and wax funeral effigies of royalty and some other figures exhibited by their tombs had essentially been tourist attractions well before that.A wax museum or waxworks usually consists of a collection of wax sculptures representing famous people from history and contemporary personalities exhibited in lifelike poses, wearing real clothes.

The making of life-size wax figures wearing real clothes grew out of the funeral practices of European royalty. In the Middle Ages it was the habit to carry the corpse, fully dressed, on top of the coffin at royal funerals, but this sometimes had unfortunate consequences in hot weather, and the custom of making an effigy in wax for this role grew, again wearing actual clothes so that only the head and hands needed wax models. After the funeral these were often displayed by the tomb or elsewhere in the church, and became a popular attraction for visitors, which it was often necessary to pay to view.

The museum of Westminster Abbey in London has a collection of British royal wax effigies going back to that of Edward III of England (died 1377), as well as those of figures such as the naval hero Horatio Nelson, and Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond, who also had her parrot stuffed and displayed. From the funeral of Charles II in 1680 they were no longer placed on the coffin but were still made for later display. The effigy of Charles II, open-eyed and standing, was displayed over his tomb until the early 19th century, when all the Westminster effigies were removed from the abbey itself. Nelson's effigy was a pure tourist attraction, commissioned the year after his death in 1805, and his burial not in the Abbey but in St Paul's Cathedral after a government decision that major public figures should in future be buried there. Concerned for their revenue from visitors, the Abbey decided it needed a rival attraction for admirers of Nelson.

In European courts including that of France the making of posed wax figures became popular. Antoine Benoist (1632–1717) was a French court painter and sculptor in wax to King Louis XIV. He exhibited forty-three wax figures of the French Royal Circle at his residence in Paris. Thereafter, the king authorized the figurines to be shown throughout France. His work became so highly regarded that James II of Englandinvited him to visit England in 1684. There he executed works of the English king and members of his court. A seated figure of Peter the Great of Russia survives, made by an Italian artist, after the Tsar was impressed by the figures he saw at the Chateau of Versailles. The Danish court painter Johann Salomon Wahl executed figures of the Danish king and queen in about 1740

The 'Moving Wax Works of the Royal Court of England', a museum or exhibition of 140 life-size figures, some apparently with clockwork moving parts, opened by Mrs Mary in Fleet Street in London was doing excellent business in 1711. Philippe Curtius, waxwork modeller to the French court, opened his Cabinet de Cire as a tourist attraction in Paris in 1770, which remained open until 1802. In 1783 this added a Caverne des Grandes Voleurs ("Cave of the Great Thieves"), an early "Chamber of Horrors". He bequeathed his collection to his protegé Marie Tussaud, who during the French Revolution made death masks of the executed royals.