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TIPS
FOR VISITORS |
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In the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad
you can meet the past and the present, today's fly-overs
and yester years' nawabi culture. Whatever be the
purpose of your visit and its duration, your stay in Hyderabad
is sure to be enjoyable. Here are some tips to make your
stay and moving around more comfortable.
On
arrival
It is advisable to engage a pre-paid auto or taxi service
at the airport to take you to your destination. At railway
stations, take the help of a policeman and wait in the
queue for the autos. The auto drivers in Hyderabad have
a tendency not to ply as per the meter. You may engage
only those autos that charge according to the meter.
Between 10.30 pm to 6.00 a.m. you will have to pay one
and a half times the meter.
Climate
Hyderabad has an agreeable climate. Mid-March to early
June during the hot and dry summer months, the temperature
peaks to around 44 degrees centigrade. But the late
evenings become cool and even pleasant. From early June,
the rains take over. The rains are never so heavy and
prolonged as to disrupt city's life. You may find water-clogged
streets here and there. But they soon get drained to
give the streets a clean new look. After a brief spell
of heat in October, winter sets in. A temperature of
19 degrees centigrade at nights, a rise of just a couple
of degrees during the day and no chill winds blowing,
makes the Hyderabadi winter the best time for visiting.
Health
& Safety
Normally a healthy place, mosquitoes can be found
in some areas, especially during winter. But good hotels
ordinarily would have taken care of them. However, as
a precaution, take a course of anti-malarial tablets.
Drink mineral water, available in all good hotels as
well as everywhere else in the city. On a long journey,
especially into rural areas, carry bottles of mineral
water. Check the seals of mineral water bottles before
buying them.
Crime
Beware of petty thieves and pickpockets, when on main
streets and in crowded areas. Be careful about persons
trying to thrust themselves on you. It is advisable
not to carry too much cash on person. Keep all valuables
and belongings in safe custody.
Staying
in touch
A number of public telephone kiosks and STD telephone
booths are usually lined on the streets. The charge
for a single local call is
Rs. 1. 25 in a Public kiosk and Rs. 2 in
a STD booth. The General Post Office at Abids
in Hyderabad and near Patny in Secunderabad
are open till 8 p.m. on week days and till
1 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.
Bargaining
Hyderabadis never buy without a round of good bargaining.
If you are confident of the actual price of the product,
indulge in some healthy bargaining. However, several
government outlets, departmental stores and renowned
shops have fixed prices and well maintained quality.
Etiquette
Hyderabadis are warm, friendly and hospitable. A peep
into their personal lives by a stranger does not annoy
them. If, at times, you find them more inquisitive than
necessary, remember that it is their nature and way
of life. By opening up, you can share a beautiful kinship.
The language spoken by Hyderabadis is colloquial. Do
not get offended when they address you in a very casual
manner. Local state transport buses have front seats
reserved for ladies and disabled people. Men should
avoid occupying them.
Dress
Code
The hot climate demands cotton outfits and casuals.
Both Indian as well as Western style of dressing is
in vogue. On festive and special occasions, rich designerwear,
with suitable accessories can be worn. For weddings
and festivals it is customary to wear gold, silver and
pearls.
For business meetings and office wear, pastel
or white shirts over khakis are preferred. Formals or
chinos are suitable for travelling executives. Ties
are optional.
Eating
Out
The food here caters to all kind of taste buds. But
if you want to try out the Hyderabadi delicacies, we
recommend Biryani, Mirchi-ka-saalan, Tandoori and
Masala chicken and a variety of Gosht (meat).
Try Double-ka-meetha, Khubaani-ka-meetha and
Phirni for desserts. The Irani Chai (tea),
coupled with munchies such as Fan or Lukmi,
always available in any of the Irani cafes, can
be had any time of the day. The hotels, restaurants
and cafes in Hyderabad close at 11 p.m. Try the 5-star
hotels for late night meals.
Tipping
A modest tip of Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 will suffice for the
porters at the airport, railway stations and hotels.
Beggars
Ignore the beggars as much as possible. Otherwise,
give them in kind, rather than cash.
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