Nizamabad: Sandeep’s Hometown

After recovering for only one day from our dance pilgrimage, (by going back to our beloved Paradise Restaurant for another legendary Hyderabadi lunch), we again felt fit for yet another adventure.

Sandeep had planned to take us to his hometown of Nizamabad for the week-end to visit his family in their new apartment, which Sandeep purchased in May last year. There were lots of things we wanted to buy on our trip so far, but Sandeep has kept saying Don’t get it here, get it in Nizamabad!. He has quite a celebrity status in his hometown, and thus has all the connections needed to get the best deals. So for many reasons we were looking very much forward to experiencing Nizamabad, and of course to see his lovely family again.

We set off at 7 am from Hyderabad, in order for Sandeep to work his Saturday, which is also a school day. The school is 50km out of town, on the road to Nizamabad, so it made sense for us all to wait there during school hours, and then travel the last 130 km straight from there. While Sandeep worked the kids read their Harry Potter books, and I decided to cure myself from the horrid cough I could still not shake off. I also had an allergic reaction the night before, and had not been able to sleep for most of the night from itchiness. So in desperation I took one of Sandeep’s one-pill antibiotic cure, and then slept on the office couch for several hours. I could feel the medicine blasting the bug, and after some hours I actually felt decidedly better! By the time we left the school at 3.30pm I was already coughing much less. The drive was pleasant as this road, which goes all the way to North to Delhi, and is relatively well surfaced. Before reaching town we stopped at one of the many beautiful sunflower fields, where we took a few pics.

We met Sandeep’s father at a material shop, where Sandeep encouraged Guy to get silk shirts made up. They sew shirts for Sandeep here at the old rate of 60 rupees per shirt, which is less than $2! Guy selected some beautiful raw silks in the most stunning colors and weaves.

Sandeep’s new home, is the on the 2nd floor

After that we made our way to Sandeep’s House where we were met by his family. Upon entering his house we were warmly greeted by the rest of the family. Sandeep’s sister & mum were pleased to see us again and gave us many hugs. The house is a new and the fitting out of the apartment has been overseen by Sandeep. It has beautiful marble floors, high ceilings and has light airy feel. One wall of the living room is occupied by a select list of Sandeep’s Dance awards. He has many hundreds of awards and this wall has only the most recent!

Sandeep’s mum served us Chai and sweet rotis stuffed with brown sugar and sesame seeds. Most delicious! It was great to relax at a Home after our long day. Whilst relaxing and drinking Chai, Sandeep filled in the family with our adventures of the last couple of weeks. he was most keen to show his father the video of Freya’s performance at Cuttack. So Guy started attaching the video camera to the TV – however freya suggested that rather than watching the video, she could show them the dance there and then. So without much fuss, we again got the iPod out and Freya danced for the family.

The next morning, Sunday, we got up early (very hard for the kids) and after some hot Chai, we ventured off early to see the famous Saraswati temple. In all of India, there is only one Saraswati temple, and its just 30km from Nizamabad. Saraswati is the goddess of creativity, so as we are all in creative pursuits, it seemed appropriate to visit her temple. Outside the temple we bought a bunch of lotus flowers for 10 rupees (30 cents). I wish we could get them at home at that price!

We arrived at the temple with all the other devotees. Sandeep was greeted by the curator of the temple, as just about everyone here know him. We were ushered directly into the heart of the temple by passing the long queue snaking around the building. The story of the temple, is that saint Vasadeva meditated in a cave near the temple and the created out of the river clay, a figure of Saraswati. Later a huge temple was constructed around the clay deity. On the leaving the temple, we climbed the hill behind to go and see the very cave that Vasadeva meditated in. There was small opening that we climbed through and into cool space with light from cracks above – there was room for about five people to sit.

Art on the Village walls near the Saraswati Temple

A little further down the road is ghat (steps down into a river) and we wanted to cool our feet in the river, as the day is quite hot. Sandeep haggled with a boatman at the ghat and we took a small pontoon out into the heart of the river. It was really quite on the river and we hung our feet off the edge of the pontoon. Very nice.

Next on the tour, was the Hanuman temple built be the great warrior-king Shivaji. It is a much lesser know temple than the Saraswati one and consequently, we just about had the place to ourselves.

Outside the Hanuman temple, near Nizamabad

Saint Ramadas, another great saint, was said to have heard the earth making a noise as the god Hanuman was self forming out of the stone. Now one must not look when the gods are taking form, but he was so keen to see his lord, that we turned his head to look. As he did we witnessed that Hanuman had not fully formed and his left foot was still in the stone, unformed. And as such, the Hanuman at the temple appears out of the stone of the mountain with an unformed left foot. Amazing story.

Later that day we shopping for pearls at a family friend of Sandeep. Again we got amazing prices for things because of our association with Sandeep. That night we went to the local mediation center, where Freya did an impromptu performance.