The book launch of this photo essay of Hyderabadi pictures over a 40 year period (almost the same amount of time i spent in Hyderabad) was held on November 24, 2022. Luckily they kept the Photo Exhibition going till December 14, 2022 and Vasu and I decided to quickly pay a visit. It was well worth the visit.
We got into the rather crowded Salar Jung Museum at about 3 pm. Its 50 bucks for adults and 50 bucks for mobiles (if you want to take pics - in case you're caught taking pics without the mobile ticket you will be fined 500 bucks). But the staff is quite friendly and not interested in these petty things and let us go with both mobiles despite having only one mobile ticket.
Inside we found no idea how to find the photo exhibition. The entry it to the left and I realised we have to necessarily go through all the rooms - bumped into the beautiful veiled Rebecca on the ground floor. Finally found some chaps who were guarding each room but i a rather desultory way - one guy didn't know about the photo exhibition, one merely shook his head and one pointed us upwards and a downward motion in a circular manner. After going up we found no circular exit and came back. This time he again gestured - I thought he was perhaps mute but Vasu said he was chewing paan and his mouth was full. The guy spat it out somewhere, came back and guided us well. In the first floor, on the Western balcony, is a ramp, after which there are stairs and up there is the photo exhibition. Something like finding the Princess.
Anyway we did. It was nice and empty and we enjoyed watching the pictures of an old Hyderabad in 1975 - Golconda and Qutb Shahi were empty plains - now they are full of structures. We discovered many new places to see - Raymond's tomb, Bhagawandas Garden etc. Suddenly felt there was so much more of Hyderabad to see.
The guard here was quite taken in by an old song 'Abhi na jaao chod k...' I think and he kept playing it again and again on his mobile - just the first line. Maybe she left him. Anyway we spent a good 45 minutes with the pictures, took some pics mianly because he did not seem to have any objections to it. We returned with plans to visit the other places as well.
Was well worth it.
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