Falaknuma

I had been on them a couple of times but finally we took the local train, to enjoy the train. The journey from station nearest to home to the last station on line, Arts College to Falaknuma, cost 5/- per person. A quick check – after return – on the fare for cab for the route pointed to 300/- and indicated consuming thrice the time. Some Sunday evenings we go to Lamakaan to soak in events; today as if we were going to another city. Not only did the constructions outside give the feel but also the people we shared the coach with.

Falaknuma station I had walked on for about 20 odd minutes when, during a return journey from Bangalore, the train had taken an unscheduled halt. My memory was restricted to an interesting quiet about it, a long structure – rooms stitched together for storing goods and a double-decker train. The red and yellow train was present today as well and the storage space appeared equally laid back.

Google Earth, April 2016, Falaknuma Station and accompaning Green

We walked out using the over-bridge that appeared a tad too long for the station. Tall trees – their beauty enhanced with nests – looked down upon 2 separate games in progress as we walked towards the main road. This connecting road had a different feel; was it the end of city feel or that of being cosmopolitan or else?  Irani Chai and Osmania biscuits followed at the junction; Limrah Café. We saw people going up the hill across the road to a religious structure; coloured stones highlighting the path. We walked a short distance on the road towards Chandrayangutta halting for a couple of minutes to look up the fascinating colours on slippers being sold along the road.

The Falaknuma Palace rose on the hill. Now a luxury hotel, I recall reading of its earlier days in The Last Nizam: The rise and fall of India’s greatest princely state and the guide telling us – during a heritage walk – of the time when its floors were covered with pigeon shit. An exemplary restoration project I understand; one that took around a decade. It is telling on our times that most web searches on ‘Falaknuma’ brought out the Palace and its grandeur, a hotel most of us would not be able to afford.

Image: http://indiarailinfo.com/arrivals/falaknuma-fm/2534

We crossed the over-bridge again, enquired time for the return train and walked on the road parallel to tracks. Trees on either side of the road met each other above our heads and besides the pleasant chirping of the winged ones this itself is such a pleasant feeling. A little ahead as the road bent towards left we noticed a quaint temple that stood on the right. Roots of a banyan tree hung all around the small structure and I caressed them with one hand as I had the rice prasad with the other. The urge to sit overtook me and I realized I had company of those who had come to finish off the rice I had spilled. I was reminded of the Dakshinamoorthy or the EME Temple at Vadodara. Temples that appeal on account of their peace unlike some which are uninviting with their speakers, instructions and rush! 

As we walked back, mumi said it is so difficult so imagine parts such has these being in the very city we live, sitting at home. I wondered on the multiple subjects in school and college can be discussed as one moved in the city and not just by memorizing theories. We got into the train and waited for it to take us back. Lights at the Palace were now on enhancing its beauty. As the train moved – like happens at so many of our stations – we crossed homes that had tarpaulins as walls.  

Earlier posts on Walks in City

Walking in the University

Twin Cities: On the move

Loitering near Charminar

Walking in Old City