Make way for Charminar!

The new timings that regulate auto movement near Charminar area is a delight to visitors.

August 02, 2015 08:31 pm | Updated March 29, 2016 12:43 pm IST - Hyderabad:

Easy selfie time at Charminar. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

Easy selfie time at Charminar. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

When was the last time you walked on the road without fighting for enough elbow space or without having to look over your shoulder? Near Charminar, to be precise? Probably you never did. But now it’s a possibility.

Walk at your will, the only traffic that you probably will have to watch out for are human beings and an occasional car or a few bikes.

With auto rickshaws given restricted entry into the area, the place from a little beyond Char-kaman is now a tourist paradise.

Autos are stopped right at the fountain near Gulzar Houz and people are at will to walk and stroll in peace. While auto drivers are calling it a foul play and question the decision, tourists, shoppers and business houses aren’t complaining.

On a Friday afternoon, the blazing sun didn’t seem to annoy as much because the fumes from vehicles were missing. The roads appeared much wider and walking in the area wasn’t like doing a life saving stunt in reality.

So, what does one get to see with ‘almost-zero’ vehicles around that area?

One gets to see more than just focussing on the usual shops and chudi lane on either side of the roads before reaching Charminar. These shops, which have been there for ages but were inaccessible because of the line-up of auto rickshaws, have a lot of unusual things to be admired about.

A few of` those shops are a beauty in themselves with the antique factor clearly visible in its wood. Frames and panels with an almost marble finish, now fading owing to the constant touch and rubbing, jewellery sets which we mostly see in movies — something like the ‘nau lakha haar’ which Jayaprada wore in Sharabi. These imitation sets hang with more bling than one can imagine from small shops that sell gold and silver. Here one can pearl sets in smaller shops with designs and patterns that one goes ga-ga over on online shops. They have the latest trends only if one knows where to look.

Of everything, walking on the footpaths was a sheer pleasure and a jumme ka din didn’t make it any different.

Once you reach Charminar you will realise what you have been missing so far. From being a congested road, it suddenly and surprisingly looks like a hot spot which houses one of the most amazing structures.

Minus the vehicular and sound pollution, you can actually stand and stare at Charminar and discover newer aspects of its beauty.

Taking selfies isn’t a matter of life or death for the sake of a photo, standing under the shade of the structure, the only thing that you will probably wish is “why are these hawkers selling travel bags right in front and spoiling its beauty.”

And oh! To reach the sweet shops in Gulzar Houz, one needn’t walk on the road. There are footpaths as well.

Don’t wait too long to experience this, because 2 p.m to 10 p.m might not be enough to let you rediscover the Charminar and its surrounding beauty.

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