Times (NYT) has featured the city of pearls in its list of `41 places
to go in 2011.' In fact, Hyderabad is the only Indian city to have
made it to this year's NYT list, released earlier this month, which in
its earlier listings has featured Mumbai, Mysore and even the holy
city of Varanasi along with the happening beaches of Goa.
"Dynastic grandeur in the heart of modern India", is how the western
daily describes the Nizam's land, which shares the must-visit tag with
other fascinating holiday destinations such as Koh Samui ( Thailand),
Loreto (Mexico), Dresden (Germany), Budapest ( Hungary) and so on.
"The new Taj Falaknuma Palace (in Hyderabad) is a window into the
past" and "completes the Indian palace tour for the south," the daily
reads further claiming that a trip to the over 120-year-old
palace-turned-star hotel can "make a trip to Hyderabad worth while
just on its own." While applauding the city's rich heritage, the list
even makes a mention of the recently opened Park Hotel,Somajiguda as
it describes it as "a futuristic structure with an aluminium and glass
facade inspired by the settings and metalwork found in the Nizam's
jewellery collection."
daily describes the Nizam's land, which shares the must-visit tag with
other fascinating holiday destinations such as Koh Samui ( Thailand),
Loreto (Mexico), Dresden (Germany), Budapest ( Hungary) and so on.
"The new Taj Falaknuma Palace (in Hyderabad) is a window into the
past" and "completes the Indian palace tour for the south," the daily
reads further claiming that a trip to the over 120-year-old
palace-turned-star hotel can "make a trip to Hyderabad worth while
just on its own." While applauding the city's rich heritage, the list
even makes a mention of the recently opened Park Hotel,Somajiguda as
it describes it as "a futuristic structure with an aluminium and glass
facade inspired by the settings and metalwork found in the Nizam's
jewellery collection."
So, hoping to cash in on this new-found recognition for the city, the
state tourism department has rushed in to use the NYT list as the
`selling' point for its tableau that would be part of the Republic Day
parade in the city on Wednesday. "We will showcase Hyderabad as a
favoured tourist destination across the world and also use the
opportunity to create awareness among people about how it is now a
joint responsibility for us to work towards making it the most
hospitable city in India," said Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary,
tourism, adding how it was a matter of huge pride for Hyderabad to
have made it to the international list. "It is a very prestigious list
and I am glad our city has been chosen over other Indian destinations
to be featured on it," he said.
state tourism department has rushed in to use the NYT list as the
`selling' point for its tableau that would be part of the Republic Day
parade in the city on Wednesday. "We will showcase Hyderabad as a
favoured tourist destination across the world and also use the
opportunity to create awareness among people about how it is now a
joint responsibility for us to work towards making it the most
hospitable city in India," said Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary,
tourism, adding how it was a matter of huge pride for Hyderabad to
have made it to the international list. "It is a very prestigious list
and I am glad our city has been chosen over other Indian destinations
to be featured on it," he said.
And apart from the city's rich history, the NYT list also portrays the
`hi-tech' achievements of Hyderabad as it mentions how in the last one
decade "a new sort of wealth has arrived" here through the outsourcing
of international companies, which in turn has "inspired a boom of
sleek cafes and restaurants" in the city.
`hi-tech' achievements of Hyderabad as it mentions how in the last one
decade "a new sort of wealth has arrived" here through the outsourcing
of international companies, which in turn has "inspired a boom of
sleek cafes and restaurants" in the city.
However, such an honour has failed to impress heritage experts here
who feel that the description of Hyderabad on the list comes across as
a "rich-man's" view of the city and does not justify its qualification
as one of the 41 must-see places in the world. "The two hotels (listed
in the article) are not places any regular tourist can visit. You have
to pay a heavy price to be there," said city-historian Narendra Luther
pointing out how given a choice he would have showcased the Golconda
Fort, the bazars of Old City and Chowmahalla Palace, among others, to
pull crowds to Hyderabad.
who feel that the description of Hyderabad on the list comes across as
a "rich-man's" view of the city and does not justify its qualification
as one of the 41 must-see places in the world. "The two hotels (listed
in the article) are not places any regular tourist can visit. You have
to pay a heavy price to be there," said city-historian Narendra Luther
pointing out how given a choice he would have showcased the Golconda
Fort, the bazars of Old City and Chowmahalla Palace, among others, to
pull crowds to Hyderabad.
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