 With
an intention to make AP as the most favourite tourist
destination in India, the government of Andhra Pradesh
has introduced the 'Paying guest accommodation scheme'
in the capital city. For that, the tourism department
has selected 12 houses to make this concept successful.
The houses mostly located in the surrounding areas of
Banjara Hills and Secunderabad are providing
good accommodation facilities along with the home made
food and warm service. Although the scheme was launched
six months back, the guests are just beginning to trickle
into these rooms. Says one paying guest provider Mrs Radhika
"this is a new concept and takes some time to catch
up with the tourists." Interior decorator by profession,
Mrs Radhika's residence located in posh Banjara Hills
area has three beautifully festooned rooms where 12 people
can comfortably stay. Aptly named as 'Dulhan',
the house provides great experience for the guests. Radhika
put her rich experience of interior designing into practice
and transformed this huge building into a little paradise.
The beautiful green lawn, spacious rooms and well arranged
furniture make this place as one of the hot spots for
the tourists to stay.
 The
houses, which are selected on the basis of location and
the facilities available also enables tourists flocking
to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad
to get to know more about the culture and heritage of
Andhra Pradesh. A paying guest provider Mrs K. Pradeepak
feels that this concept provides them an opportunity to
expose the culture and tehzeeb of Andhra Pradesh to the
tourists who come to stay with them. Says Pradeepak, "Andhra
food and Hyderabadi biryani form an important part of
our culture and I would like the guests to taste these
delectable dishes prepared in a traditional way."
 Some
paying guest providers are dishing out food of the guest's
choice where as some others are strictly adhering to the
Andhra dishes. Says Radhika "the guests should try
to taste the local food instead of eating their regular
food". Apart from this, the service rendered by these
paying guest providers is excellent when compared to many
hotels in the city. "There are three helpers in my
home and they are always in service of the guests,"
says Radhika. "We treat the guests very well. We take
care of their needs personally and we see that they return
home with full satisfaction", says Mrs Rai,
a retired government employee, having her residence in
Banjara Hills.
When comes to rules and regulations, many paying guest
providers have framed it on their own. The guests should
adhere to these rules very strictly. In some homes, liquor
and smoking is absolutely not allowed inside the rooms.
If they want to smoke they should do it either in the
balconies or in the lawns. The size of the guests and
their attitude and profession also plays an important
role in getting the accommodation in these homes.
 The
paying guest providers are ecstatic about this concept
as it is expected to benefit both the paying guest providers
as well as the tourists. Apart from giving an opportunity
to the locals to earn extra income, it would also enable
them to show their culture to the guests.
Addresses of the paying guest providers in the city:
1. Dr M Ravinder Reddy. House # 384, Street # 8, East
Marredpally, Secunderabad. Phone:773 0735. Rooms with
attached toilets:2, Expected tariff: Single Rs 150, Double
Rs 250
2. Mrs K Radhika , Dulhan, House No.5, Avenue-II, Street
# 1, Road No. 13, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Phone: 98490-08679m
98480-86630. Rooms with attached toilets:4, Expected Tariff:
Single / Double Rs 2000/-
3. Mrs. & Mr. Rai. B.S. Vanamala. 8-2-686/33, Road
No.12, Banjara Hills. Inside Kaman, Hyderabad-34. Phone:
339 0265. Rooms with attached toilets:1, Expected Tariff:
Single Rs. 150/-; Double Rs. 275/-; Kids Rs. 100/-
4. Col. Khusru Yar Khan, 11-5-450, Red Hills, Hyderabad-4.
Phone: 331 7544. Rooms with attached toilets:5, Expected
Tariff: Single: Rs. 100/-; Double Rs: 200/-.
 5.
Mrs. M.S. Seema, 4-200/181,C, Eswaripuri, Sainikpuri,
Secunderabad 500 062. Phone: 711 6595. Rooms with attached
toilets:3, Expected Tariff: Rs. 650 with A.C.; Rs. 450/-
Non A.C.
6. Mrs. & Mr Zainab and Thaver Aly Husayn, H.No: 543,
Avenue 8, Street No.7, Road No 3, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad-34.
Phone: 3547 867. Rooms with attached toilets:2, Expected
Tariff: Single Rs. 650/-; Double Rs: 750/-
7. Mr. Alluri Ravindranadha Raju, Plot No.26, Navanirman
Nagar, Road No: 71, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad-33. Phone:
3546 492. Rooms with attached toilets:2, Expected Tariff:
Single- Rs. 275/-; Double Rs: 500/-.
8. Mrs. Sobha Raghu Ram Karri, Surya, 4-190/4/1, Bhaskar
Rao Nagar, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad-94. Phone: 711 7803.
Rooms with attached toilets:1, Expected Tariff: Single-
20$; Double Rs: 40$.
9. Mr. C.V. Prasad, Flat No. 205, White House Apartments,
Road No. 13, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad -34. Phone: 330
1494. Rooms with attached toilets:2, Expected Tariff:
Double- Rs. 500/-
10. Prof. C. Ramachandra Rao, Plot No.11, Women Co-operative
Housing Society, Yousufguda, Hyderabad-45. Phone: 354
8812. Rooms with attached toilets:2, Expected Tariff:
Rs. 295/- per head.
11. Mrs. Sushma Grover, B-22, Skylark Apartments, Avanti
Nagar lane, Basheerbagh,Hyderabad-29. Phone: 651 0639
/ 322 6941 / 322 1075. Rooms with attached toilets:2,
Expected Tariff: Single Rs. 275/-; Double Rs. 450/-.
12. Mrs. K. Pradeepak, Anandana, 84-8th Avenue, Banjara
Hills, Hyderabad-34, Phone: 335 5522. Rooms with attached
toilets:1, Expected Tariff: Rs. 25$.
Read an exclusive interview with Director, Tourism,
Mr. G. Kishan Rao. |
Economy
