Ever seen a monument and a chaotic mix of mix of colors, lights, sounds and smells? If not and if you do not mind getting lost for a while in a sea of humanity - Charminar, Hyderabad, India is the place to experience it all!
There is no way I can capture smell and sounds in still photos but I am going to attempt to give you a feel of this chaotic and surrealistic place through photos..
The monument itself is majestic but what gives it character is the plethora of vendors, street food, tourists and the special 'local Hyderabadi' touch....
My experience began with the 'Hearts of Hyderabad'
With the bright heart shaped balloons catching the sun, against the backdrop of centuries old arches and crowd below, it was impossible not to think of the balloons as 'hearts of the people of Hyderabad'
Next, I was awestruck with the symmetric beauty of the centuries old 'Charminar (four towers)' building..
With centuries of neglect (alleviated only a bit through some recent renovations), the Charminar looks Majestic but Forlorn...
Myriad balloon vendors, provide an interesting opportunity for some 'I ❤️ Charminar' pictures.. of this lovable monument
Charminar is not the only structure that fascinated me…. Buildings around are adorned with
majestic arches and wonderfully patterned grills… Neglected over ages but still beautiful…
An arch - two stories tall, looked grand in BW capture...
The real charm of the Charminar area though, is the vibrant street market. This market suddenly appears on weekends around Charminar. Many vendors hawk their colorful wares and vie for attention of tourists as well as locals...
We have already seen the heart shaped balloons but now I will show you the vendor!
Just look at the young hawker- holding his balloons such that they seem to be tied to the Charminar - reminded me of the movie UP' where a house gets lifted in sky with balloons!
As darkness falls, the neighborhood turns into a blaze of neon signs - all advertizing special 'Hyderabadi cusine'
Notice the web of cables? Even high tension cable seem to be hanging around - no one minds and no one gets electrocuted 😀!
As the evening progresses, Charminar market takes on a dreamy, crowded, surreal persona ...
Hawkers, customers, tourists, light and hundreds of varieties of wares compete with each other for space...
Exotic types of food, special 'Hyderabadi street food' and various kinds of artificial jewelry take centerstage in all the chaos...
Colorful fruit Sherbet
Hyderabadi Paan - An herbal mouth freshener that is a visual and tasty delight. Vendor has cleverly set it to display against the backdrop of Charminar...
Colorful bangles - in all colors of rainbow...
Bangles that sparkle with gold plating and stones...
Getting your bling on is Cheap!
The glistening stones are certainly not real but the art is !!
Even more interesting than the wares and buildings are the people. It is fascinating to watch various shades of humanity that throng this lively place in the evening ...
Some wait patiently for their loved ones to finish shopping ...
Some have lost their childhood to the daily grind - this little balloon seller helps her father sell balloons. She is selling balloons at the age when she should be playing with balloons...
I could, perhaps, go on and on,,, There is so much to see and capture here.
However, my senses are overloaded and I decide to call it a day.
So - Saying goodbye to this experience with one more 'I ❤️ Charminar' picture as the night falls...
This, my friends, was my perspective on Charminar, a bit 'non-touristy' I guess but none-the-less, important in my humble opinion
Do visit Charminar and it's exotic street market and try to experience for yourself. I would love to hear about your own perspectives and impressions.
I am a newbie for travel blogs. I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
Have a nice day everyone. Cheers!
