Panoramic tour of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana

Compilation of Panoramic photos from Hyderabad, Rammappa, Ghanpur and Vizag – Araku

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

This blog post contains panoramic photos from Hyderabad, Ramappa, Ghanpur and from the Vizag – Araku railway.

Hyderabad

An amazing mix of old and new

Hyderabad the capital of the newly formed state of Telangana and the de jury capital of Andhra Pradesh is an interesting mix of modernity and antiquity. A major contributor to the It industry, The history of Hyderabad dates back to the late 16th century.

The Charminar, built during the Qutb Shahi rule remains the icon of Hyderabad. Charminar, literally meaning four towers (Char = four, Minar = Tower), is synonymous  the Pearl City of Hyderabad. Standing on a traffic island in one of the the most congested part of the old city.

Panoramic View (with Mekka Masjid) from first floor of Charminar, Hyderabad

Today visitors are allowed up to the first floor of the Charminar, which provides a panoramic views of the old town, including the Mekka Masjid.

Monolithic Buddha Statue, Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

Monolithic Buddha Statue

Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

The giant monolithic statue of Buddha stands on a island in the middle of the Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, Telangana.

Monolithic Buddha Statue on Rock of Gibraltar, Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad

The statue curved out of a single rock is a brainchild of former chief minister of unified Andhra Pradesh, N T Rama Rao (NTR). NTR was highly impressed by the Statue of Liberty, during his vist to New York, USA and wanted something similar in Hyderabad.

Taramati Baradari, A Dancer’s Pavilion

Taramati Baradar, A Dancer’s Pavilion

A classic example of adoptive reuse

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

As my Indigo Airlines flight lost altitude over Hyderabad, I peeped out of the window to locate the important landmarks, but before I could figure out the Golconda Fort or the Charminar, the wheels of my plane had hit the tarmac.

Taramati Baradari, Hyderabad

My visit to Hyderabad was on the occasion of a FAM (Familirazation) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal, conducted by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).

Ghanpur Group of Temples, Ghanpur (Mulug), Warangal, AP

Ghanpur Group of Temples

The Hidden Gem of Kakatiya Architecture

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

Panorama of Ghanpur Group of Temples, Ghanpur (Mulug), Warangal, Anadhra Pradesh

The scattered ruins of the Ghanpur Temple complex, locally known as Kotagullu, looks like a huge open air museum, with crumbling structures and scattered sculptures.

Cherial (Cheriyal) Scroll Paintings

Ancient Audio Visual Art, Chrerial (Cheriyal). Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

As our car meandered through the winding roads of Cherial (Cheriyal) village, it was a total disappointment. I expected houses with intricately painted scroll hanging from the walls, something which I have seen in Raghurajpur (Orissa) and Naya (West Bengal). But Cherial (Cheriyal), which is located in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh and is 100 km from Hyderabad, looks like any other Indian village.

Cherial (Cheriyal) Scroll Painting, Cherial, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

We made our way past playing children, to the studio of famous Cherial (Cheriyal) Scroll Painter, D. Vaikuntham. Its just an ordinary house but a board outside said that it belonged to a National Award Winner.

Charminar, the Icon of Hyderabad

Charminar

The Icon of Hyderabad

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

“At Hyderabad’s centre stood the great Char Minar, a monumental gateway formed by quadrant of arches rising to four domed minarets. The Char Minar marked the meeting of the city’s two principle bazars, where the road from the craggy citadel of Golcanda crossed with that comming from the great port of Masulipattanam.”

William Dalrymple’s White Mughals

Charminar, Hyderabad (view from the southern side)

Charminar, literally meaning four towers (Char = four, Minar = Tower), is synonymous  the Pearl City of Hyderabad. Standing on a traffic island in one of the the most congested part of the old city this monument is the icon of Hyderabad.

Ramappa Temple, Palmpet, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

Gem of Kakatiya Architecture

See also: FAM (familiarization) tour of Hyderabad and Warangal

12 Dancing Girls (Mnadkinis) Sculptures of Ramappa temple, Palampet, Warangal

A dozen elegant female dancers striking different poses will welcome you to the temple. Each with their flowing clothes, intricate jewelery and not to mention the amazing facial expression will be part of the grand entry. This is Ramappa Temple, Palampet, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh.

Hyderabad and Warangal

FAM (Familiarization) tour of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC)

A thundering voice echoed through the ruins of an ancient fort depicting the the tales of a long lost kingdom and battles long ago. Relevant portions of the fort were lit up to add a new dimension to the story.

L – R: P. Jogi Naidu, Kiran Mehta, Rangan Datta, Kalyani and Sunil Vaidyanathan (Photo: Kirtana)

Probably you have got it by now, its the sound and light show at the Golconda Fort, Hyderabad and I was part of a 3 day (8 – 10 Oct. 2013) FAM (Familiarization) trip of Hyderabad and Warangal organized by the APTDC.

Vizag – Araku Train

~ Broad Gauge Mountain Railway ~

As our Kirandul Fast Passenger made its way through the numerous tunnels and bridges I made a desperate attempt to capture the train meandering train on my camera. Sadly my SLR camera (Vivitar v3600s) was too big to pass through the grilled window of the train.

Kirandul Fast Passenger, with Eastern Ghat in backdrop

Suddenly I noticed my wife clicking photos with her newly purchased point and shoot digital camera (Olympus Fe310). I grabbed the camera and it easily passed out of the window grill and captured the Kirandul Fast Passenger making a huge loop with the lush green Eastern Ghats in the background.