Monday, December 23, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Abids Forever!
Hyderabad
has developed in leaps and bounds. The city has touched gold since
Chandra Babu took over as the CM way back in '95. Since the
development of the Hi Tech city on the skirts of Jubilee hills, the
main shopping and activity magically moved to Banjara Hills and
Jubilee Hills. It is a pity scene today. Ask anyone who has
visited the nizam city recently, all they talk about is the
'happening' BH and JH, for them Abids, Nampally are just out of the city. And ask any true Hyderabadi, they will vouch
for Abids as the main centre.
Yes
ABIDS, the name synonymous with shopping and spending quality happy
time with family or catching up with the latest release, had a shop
belonging to a jewish valet called Albert Abid of Nizam VI of
Hyderabad state, hence it came to be known as Abids.
For
some, the association have to do with school, college, studying or
teaching and for many, like me, its the visit to the cinema or eating
out, shopping or leisurely browsing old books on a sunday afternoon.
It
had the most english medium schools, Grammar, Stanley, Little Flower
to name a few, and kids studying in any were considered 'smart'.
The beautiful Taj Mahal Hotel
Heritage
building, once belonging to a Parsi family and later turned into the
Taj Mahal hotel, was my family's favorite destination to have yummy
south indian Dosa, Idly or full meals, before catching up with the
latest release at Santosh-Sapna (I must have had seen more
movies in Santosh theatre than at IMAX or INOX.) or Ramakrisha
35mm/70mm theatre. For delicious hyderabadi dinner, we had always
gone to Annapurna Hotel on Abids-Nampally road at times after the
movie.
Santosh-Sapna Theatre
FD Khan Stores
The Book Store
The Frame Store
FD
Khan is one place where the parents will most certainly take
their kiddies for their uniforms or school bags shopping, while
Femina boutique was gor grown up girls. My mom had always
shopped for my dad at S Kumar next to Annapurna Hotel.
Although
I had discovered it much later, the area have two historical stores,
one catering to framing and other for book lovers.
Abbas
and Co has been in the framing business since 1931, “very soon
we are going to be heritage”, said the proud owner and extremely
friendly Mr. Fakruddin. And one has to mention AA Hussain in
the same breath when talking about books.
If
you are looking for authentic leather jackets or bags or belt, then
head to Abids. If you are looking to explore the churches of
Hyderabad, then head to Abids.
Ofcourse
its a little differnt story today with the high end glitz or glamour
and fast paced of Jubilee Hills can never understand the politeness
and slowness of Abids. Thats the charm and character of Abids. Still.
Whether
shopping for festivals, special occasions or for that matter
anything, Abids was the answer to hop and explore. Its 'Abids
forever' for many of us!
A
trip to this area is like recharging ones battery.
I used to look at this wonderful architecture with amazement
Meena Bazaar Lane
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