He was one of the most-loved actors in the Tollywood industry who later became the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh. Late N T Rama Rao won hearts in both the roles that he essayed. Movie reels, political history, and the large, square marble under the high dome at NTR Memorial, are what remain of him today.
After paying your respects to NTR at the memorial, you could visit the NTR Gardens which is known for its picturesque characteristics. The moment you enter, however, you will be greeted by possibly the most grotesque structure man has ever contemplated – a fountain that revels in hideousness. You can’t help wondering at the mind that created it.
But it should prepare you for the ‘ant hill’ you will come across later, which consists of statues of various insects blown up to monster proportions. There seems to be no rationale behind them as they stand or sit around, defying us to guess their species.
However, one of the definite plus points is the fact that the gardens are kept spic and span, with their near-perfect flowers and carefully pruned bushes. But surely it is unlike Hyderabadis to exercise self-control when it comes to littering! There are, however, omnipresent security guards who blow their shrill whistles at the first sign of rules being broken. These include walking on the grass, touching the waterfall, littering and the like. Now that’s impressive!
A must-visit is the tree-house with water slide at the gardens. The winding red tunnel plays host to screaming passengers placed in rubber rafts that are sent zooming down from the top of the tree. If you are not the one for scary rides, it’s perfect for you, since it isn’t very terrifying and won’t make you throw up. It really is good fun, and even if you feel like you will fall off any minute, you will stay firmly rooted to the raft and come out laughing and trembling. Almost everyone who tries this ride goes back for more.
The train inside the gardens is also a good way to travel and the quickest way to see the place. The boats might not be such a great idea, though. There is a moat around the Japanese palace where you can pedal your way around in stagnant, stinking water. What you should watch out for is the too-low bridge where you are likely to hit your head.
The gardens aren’t a great place for food, although they have three restaurants. The Fruit Restaurant is good (you have probably seen the monstrous pineapple from afar), while the Leaves Restaurant and the Vintage Car Café do not offer anything special. The mirchi bajji is a safe bet, so ask for extra tamarind chutney and enjoy it while sitting in the ‘vintage cars’ in the shade of the trees. And pray that there are no birds sitting above you!
Before you leave, you must get a portrait of yourself sketched, from the portrait-makers, who are actually good at their art. All in all, the visit is good value for money, and will keep you occupied for longer than you can imagine. Go in thinking you will be done in a few minutes, and you will find yourself staggering out wearily two hours later, with your portrait in one hand (color – Rs. 100, black & white – Rs. 50), an overpriced artifact from the souvenir shop in the other, and knees still wobbling from your go at the water slide.
Our Advice:
Visit in the late evening to experience the full effects of the lights.
Don’t break the rules unless you fancy being whistled at.
To avoid crowds, avoid visiting in the weekends.
Location: Beside Secretariat,
Near Hussain Sagar Lake,
Hyderabad-500004.
Telephone no: 23450305
Posted on: Mar 08, 2007
