Turns out, the train ride was worth it (mostly). Hyderabad is flipping gorgeous.
To bring me back to life, Ken promptly took me to a palace (smart man). The Chowmahallah Palace is possibly the most beautiful thing I've seen in India. Modeled after the Shah of Iran's palace in Tehran, every last detail is fabulously opulent and over the top. Don't know why, but Persians just do royalty right (word to my people).
Thanks to the wonderful India Tube and some lady friends at Dakshina Chitra, we had a long list of sights to see and places to eat.
If you're planning a visit I'd recommend the Golconda Fort and the Shilparaman Craft Market. Skip the Salarjung Museum (India doesn't know how to take care of its paintings, so everything is deteriorating), and the Laad Bazaar was medium with nothing to buy other than plastic bangles. Also it's filled to the brim with beggars that b-lined my white man every chance they got.
We got home last night--this time via airplane, that brilliant modern marvel. And it took about 55 minutes. That's 15 hours and 5 minutes less than our arrival journey.
Lesson of the week: just say no to Indian trains.
Thanks to the wonderful India Tube and some lady friends at Dakshina Chitra, we had a long list of sights to see and places to eat.
If you're planning a visit I'd recommend the Golconda Fort and the Shilparaman Craft Market. Skip the Salarjung Museum (India doesn't know how to take care of its paintings, so everything is deteriorating), and the Laad Bazaar was medium with nothing to buy other than plastic bangles. Also it's filled to the brim with beggars that b-lined my white man every chance they got.
We got home last night--this time via airplane, that brilliant modern marvel. And it took about 55 minutes. That's 15 hours and 5 minutes less than our arrival journey.
Lesson of the week: just say no to Indian trains.
That's a huge difference in flight time! So lovely...My husband and I have had India on our list for sometime now...It's just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteGood husband :) I love the intricacy and detail. Hope you are feeling better, how long is your stay in India anyway?
ReplyDeleteMy goodness! Look at all that beauty! I'm so happy for you for getting to see all this amazing stuff!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to visit--those chandeliers are just insanely gorgeous, the whole place is over-the-top royal fabulousness!!! I know what you mean about the trains in India--I had to take one once, it was the saddest place I've ever been in my life. Still can't get over your amazing life in India, I'm sure it is setting a tone that will stay with you for a long time.
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
@kathleen, we'll be here til spring of 2012. seems like foreverrrrrrr.
ReplyDeleteWow..that looks absolutely magical. I would love to meditate in that temple. Hope you're having a great Monday!
ReplyDeletelooks gorgeous! I haven't been to India but have been close. Do they say a lot of yes please? They say it everywhere in little India in Singapore.
ReplyDeleteit always amazes me how intricate the architecture is.
amazing pictures! love the colours on the herbs- i can almost smell them : )
ReplyDeleteIt's the colours that always strike me in photos of India - the place looks stunning! Have you visited Mysore palace yet? That is very beautiful too, esp when lit up at night! x
ReplyDelete@erika, haha that's so cute. no, i havent noticed the "yes please" so much. but there is a lot of "madam and sir".
ReplyDelete@Miss raj, ooo thanks for that heads up! havent visited it or heard of it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures - and cute shoes! :)
ReplyDeleteThese photos are so stunning, and I think they must have been the perfect antidote to that horrible train! Thank goodness for air travel!
ReplyDeleteWow what an abundance of beauty! Now that's just not something you see every day!
ReplyDeleteAs for my red studio.. It was actually red when - moved in! I'm not sure if I would have originally chose that colour either.. Haha but it ended up working well!
lol, indian trains are crazy!
ReplyDeleteglad you had fun in hyderabad!
it is all so stunning. and the tiling on the floor is just beautiful. love the colours!
ReplyDeleteWOW! It's all so beautiful! The detail is beyond incredible. The street market looks like an adventure as well. I can only imagine the sounds and scents that go along with all of the beautiful colors. ("Word to my people" lol).
ReplyDeleteWow these pictures are so amazing (and so are those shoes!)
ReplyDeletethese photos are absolutely enchanting! I want to go visit places like those so badly:) I can't wait till I'm all done with school and can plan lots of trips all over the world!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to agree with you on the whole "Persians doing royalty right" thing. That palace is amazing!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures!
ReplyDeletewow...such beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteabsolutely stunning pics and you so made me smile - definitely no to indian trains!! have a good week x
ReplyDeletehttp://fashionandfrank.blogspot.com/
Also, Indian buses. Just don't do it.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures.
Andrea x
What an amazing place!!! I love those Indian spices stores!Hope to visit India one day!!
ReplyDeleteHave a beautiful Tuesday, hon!! xoxoxo
The details are breathtaking. I love the colors. This place is stunning!
ReplyDeleteCrazy Beautiful pictures! Looks like a very interesting trip and I hope to go one day.
ReplyDeleteWow, you are right, this palace is beautiful! I love the detailing, the colors of the floor and surroundings...so beautiful! I am glad you had a wonderful time!
ReplyDeletewow those buildings, that a beautiful structure!
ReplyDeletewhat an amazing place... i'm always amazed at how they do those decorations on the wall that look look molded with their hands... amazing images!
ReplyDeletePlanes, trains...and automobiles (it could have been worse no?). It looks beautiful and totally worth it. Your shoes are cute too. I was distracted by them from the start.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I posted something today. Thanks for the kick in the pants.
@Nikki, they're my fave shoes...and are almost on the way out. heading to your blog NOW to finally see the pics :)
ReplyDeletegorgeous photos!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
b
oh my goodness, Inda is such a beautiful country! a friend of mine studies there the whole past year and she has a kazillion photos too. If I'm a bit older I'm defo going to make a voisit to this country, and maybe Korea and Nepal too :) x
ReplyDeleteyour blog is stunning and makes me miss living abroad.
ReplyDeletelove your cow watercolor that you posted earlier.
thanks for the visit.
I just love reading about your adventures in India. And I want your shoes, please!
ReplyDeleteWow! These images are gorgeous! Got to go there someday!
ReplyDeleteGTBB,
http://badjoan.com
http://badjoan.blogspot.com
That place is gorgeous. I love all the detail and color. I can only imagine being surrounded by all of that everyday!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are tremendous!
xo,
Ang (peach coglo)
These photos are beautiful ! I love, it's a pleasure for the eyes.
ReplyDeleteWORD!
ReplyDelete@ang, I'm not exactly surrounded by things like this everyday :) generally my day-to-day is not nearly this pretty.
ReplyDeleteSo glad the end trip was worth it for you Kimia! Everything you have shown us just looks amazing! I love the photos of the spices and that palace - what can I say - magnificent!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and here's to planes as well.
Hugs, Stephie x
What absolutely stunning photographs! That place looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. I'm so happy to have found your beautiful blog! xoxo
ReplyDeletelol sounds like a very unfun lesson to have to learn! What a beautiful beautiful place though WOWzers!
ReplyDelete@mighty burns, lol. unfun indeed.
ReplyDeleteSorry have not left much comments on your blog since you left US, have been a silent reader most of the time. What a beauty you have captured. I always want to visit India, maybe one day, when the kids are older, so I can leave them with the grandparents! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeletereally beautiful palace! so intricate!
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me of one of Anthony Bourdain's episode when he takes the train in India...
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to see nice things during your trip and that you guys flew back home.
i'd say so too lades, pea-shaw to cockroaches when you come away to views like these!!! just amazing, your eyes must be blowing you kisses daily for such amazing sights. decadent beauty around every corner. how i adore the windows to your world. xoox ♥
ReplyDeletehi kimi! this is josephine from jd's class...
ReplyDeletei'm just flipping through your blog and i just had to stop and say that this palace is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful!!! what a sight to see.
i'm glad to hear that you're having a wonderful time living in india, and congrats on your artist residency! i really do hope i get to visit this unique country one day. how lucky you are to be able to reside there :)