Heritage Hotels in Hyderabad?

travelerindia

Hello all:

I will be visiting Hyderabad for a few days in June and I would like to stay in a heritage hotel - something that is built in the British raj days or before - but well maintained.

My budget is up to Indian rupees 5000 per day.

Any suggestions?

Thanks much

TI

machadinha

Hm. Lonely Planet '07 mentions one Taj Mahal Hotel, corner of Abid & King Kothi Roads; single/double with A/C from Rs. 800/1150 at the time; described by them as a "rambling heritage building [with a] magnificent interior ... and some exceedingly charming rooms. Each is different so ask to see a few ... All are peaceful."

That's about as heritage as they at least get. Tel. 040-24758250.

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joeirish

Also mentioned in the '09 LP (just arrived yesterday) and I have been thinking about this hotel but there are absolutely no photos that I can find anywhere on the internet - and I have been looking hard. Does anybody have a link to some photos so I can decide. Most other nearby (in Abids) hotels of similar price do have photos so does the Taj Mahal have something to hide

Thanks

machadinha

Mwah, I wouldn't read too much into it, necessarily; web presence in India just isn't like what you may be used to.

If anything, it might tell you something about the "rusticness" of the place. But then who knows, indeed...

(Do please bear in mind pictures you may indeed find for some other places may just be spruced-up versions of whatever won't necessarily match the situation on the ground either, of course...)

joeirish

Thanks for that. So...

Which are the best hotels in and around Abids (south of Hussain Sagar)? Taj Mahal, Srai Prakash, Rajdhani or others. Looking for something 3 stars or thereabout, not too bland, maybe nice restaurant attached or nearby, bar (not sure if alcohol is prohibited in Hyderabad). I've read so many contrasting reviews so it's difficulty to make a final decision. My wife and I are planning a few days over Christmas.

machadinha

Sorry, can't help you there, hopefully someone else may.

No, not at all, you'll find bars alright. (Perhaps not right in the Muslim area in the Old Town/around the Charminar.) In Abids, no problem. If unsure, just ask around.

Don't expect them to be like your cosy neighborhood pub; but they're there alright Often serve decent honest fare while you're at it (they're usually advertized as "bar & restaurant"'s anyway); tho' you may well be looking for something a little more classy. There are other decent restaurants in this area too; or probably as you head towards the Old City, indeed. Hotel staff will probably also be happy to advise. (Secunderabad would probably be another area to hunt around; I've not, or scarcely, been here. Although come to think of it, it's possible actually we had excellent dinner here for our IndiaMike meet-up, I don't remember the name of the place.) Andhra food is renowned for its spiciness btw, not without reason (and I'm not normally averse to this), so take note of this. Menus may specify what is or isn't considered to be spicy (or just ask); what isn't considered so may well be spicy enough for you.

machadinha

nb On eating there, check also these threads, there probably exist others:

Hyderabad Best Wine n Dine.........
Must see, do, eat: 2 days in Hyderabad - advice?

machadinha

nnb Joe & wife, I left some thoughts on drinking dens in Abids here & onwards: Cheap Hotels in Hyderabad. Note that if the typical Indian darkened male-dominated kind of sinner's hole is not your thing, these may not be for you; I quite enjoy such settings, but to each their own & all that. You could always have a drink to soak up the atmosphere, then move on if it's not your thing; no one will bite you, that's for sure (well, almost for sure )

As noted, these places often serve decent and hearty and affordable food as well, but, just see what you make of it. And ppps

That was the Yatri Nivas,* according to Hyderabad Meetups (read back & forth there a little for further directions and reflections); looks to be in Secunderabad (/'ish), indeed. Excellent food & nice atmosphere; it's one of those places that seems to have several restaurants under one roof, so you could presumably pick what kitchen or style you fancy; we chose the open-air bit, with lots of Andhra goodies if I recall. Somewhat to your right hand side and in the back as you walk into the compound.

In Abids btw, there's a couple of Kamat restaurants right next to one another, also each with their own cuisines, on Troop Bazaar, just south of the GPO on Abids Circle; while I was told this chain is more of a franchise really and so quality may vary, I found them pretty dependable in several cities as fairly cosy family-style places serving good food, and I found it so here (having only lunch here with the Capt.) I think they're mostly veg., not sure though. Like the Nivas, prices will be a little over strictly budget, but nothing to immediately break your back though, unless budget is really tight I suppose (notably Kamat's will be very reasonable though). No drinks at Kamat's btw; the Nivas does serve them (or in the section where we sat anyway).

* Oh, I see now this has in fact been advised to you as being a hotel as well, on the other thread where you sort of continued the same hotel question; do please try and keep your related or similar questions together, or it just gets confusing to everyone: Anybody stayed here?

Others may want to note that the first reply there actually features comments on, as well as pics of, the Taj Mahal Hotel. Looks nice enough; strongly reminds me of (the far cheaper however) Broadlands Lodge in Chennai really.

joeirish

Thanks for all the information about places to eat. Very helpful.

I started another thread because I wanted to narrow down my inquiry - to just 3 hotels - and because this thread was not generating much new advice on hotels or answering my initial inquiry. The first reply I received on the new thread, as you point out, did go a long way to answering my question, and I finally got some photos of the TM. So my new thread did generate information I was looking for.

Sorry for the any confusion though .