Shilparanam

Shilparanam is an arts and craft village. You need 50 Rupees to enter. It is authentic. It is interesting. It is a huge area. Craftsmen from all over India show off their products here in individual stalls. You can get toys, scarves, blankets, sarees, clothes, footwear, wood products, bags, accessories and pearls here. There is also a village museum located inside Shilparanam. 

The main entrance

Stalls galore

Wood products

Wood products

Pearls

Accessories

This is Rumi. He comes from Kashmir. His family makes beautiful scarves, blankets and carpets. He goes back to Kashmir every 2 months to bring back new products to sell in this market.

Entrance to the village museum

Pottery

This is an old man selling fried peanuts outside Shilparanam.

Taj Falaknuma Palace

This was the ultimate palace in Hyderabad but today, it is an exquisite hotel.  

You need to make an appointment, if you are not a hotel guest, to dine in their restaurant.  A very strict check would be done at the entrance and if your name is not on the list, it would be goodbye for the day.

If you pass through the entrance check point then it is wonderful to be transported on a royal carriage to the entrance of the palace, where you would welcomed warmly. 

Waiting for our horse carriage

Horse carriage

Main entrance of the palace

The amazing view of Hyderabad 

You would be covered with rose petals as you walked up the staircase

Sweet, isn’t it?

English Hi-Tea.  Tasteless!
Food was presented beautifully but that’s just it. In my opinion, they focused on quantity and not quality. For the price you have to pay, quality should have been the top of the list. I was MOST disappointed.

The palace slowly lights up as the sun sets

A well decorated fine-dining restaurant

Loved the painting, not the desserts!

Sunset was amazing

The palace balcony

Palace lighted up

The palace as sun was setting

The grand gate