Fascinating street names of Hyderabad

Names of localities in Hyderabad and Secunderabad are an outcome of a glorious history starting from 1497 AD. With the passage of time and the onslaught of modernity, many names of localities were changed with modern names but there are still many localities that bear the same old name. Tarnaka, for instance, got its name as it was once famous for mango orchards and a Nawab had barbed wire fencing (tar in Urdu for wire) all around and posted a guard (naka) that is how it got the name Tarnaka.

Another very interesting place is Bibi-ka-Chasma, a religious place that dates back to over a hundred years has a fascinating story. One may imagine that the name signifies wife’s spectacles but in fact Bibi refers to Hayat Bakshi Begum, the daughter of the founder of Hyderabad - Quli Qutub Shah and chasma in Urdu means a water spring. Even to this day people flock to the place as it is believed that the water from the place solves all problems. There is no spring at Bibi-ka-Chasma at present but the name is still in use.

Some street names may bring a smile on people’s faces even today. The Ghode ki Qabr (grave of the horse) in the Old City has an interesting history. It is believed that a saint’s horse died here and was laid to rest. Even to this day there is a grave with a horse shaped structure. Locals say that when the owner died the horse refused to eat and consume water and died after a few days.

The Naubat Pahad today resonates with activity and houses Birla temple and a planetarium. It takes its name from naubat meaning drum. During the Qutub Shahi period announcements of royal orders were done by beating a drum and that is how the place got its name.

Old timers still refer to Lal Bahadur Stadium as Fateh Maidan - victory square. The saucer shaped playground was where Aurangzeb camped while attacking Golconda Fort. In the days of yore the place was famous for military parades and later for cricket matches and political events.

A trip to the Old City can be interesting as every nook and turn throws up fascinating names such as Sookhe-Mir-ki-Kaman (arch of a lean man), Magar-ki-Bowli (crocodile’s well), Khuni Darwaza (bloody door), Moti Galli (pearl lane), Patli Galli (a narrow lane) and Chappal Bazaar, near Koti gets its name not for the variety of slippers that are available today but from the Telugu word chapel, meaning fish. In olden times people caught fish when there was water and fish in the Musi nearby and sold it at Chappal Bazaar.

To be continued ...