Lad Bazar and Lac Bangles :)
We reached Charminar after a sumptuous Biriyani, post Chowmahalla Palace visit. If you just licked your lips at the mention of Hyderbadi Biriyani, I would be speaking about Hyderabadi Delicacies later on in another post.
It was nearly 4 pm when Nizam dropped us in Laad Bazaar. Nizam was so eager to show us around Hyderabad that he belittled the idea of stopping in Lad Bazaar. I would have hit him from behind if he had re iterated his own itinerary that did not contain Lad bazaar.
One of the busiest and glittery areas of the old city, Lad Bazaar had swarms of women in purdahs walking across enjoying the heavenly experience of shopping. There are reasons why I call it ‘heavenly’. Laad baar is a small gali festooned with small shops of bangles, pearls and laces. What I had expected were tarpaulin covered stalls and not well established bangle shops like those. At first, they had looked intimidatingly expensive to me.
I had learnt the art of bargaining from Pune and was proud to be in the junior level by now. I just knew the principle “say half the price of what the shop keeper had said and walk out if he doesn’t agree with you. Most of the shop keepers call you back!” Here, I bought a pair of bangles (which was Rupees 500 initially) for 200. If we had time, and I patience, I could have reduced it further.
I should admit that I am really amazed at the dexterity and craftsmanship with which these bangles were made. There were thousands of beauties of all colours, types and sizes. What I liked were Laq bangles and Meena work bangles. We entered a store and saw ivory coloured Meena work bangles with black elephants enamelled (?) on them. I tried to bargain with the elderly shop keeper who looked annoyed as if I had committed a cardinal sin. Unfortunately, it seemed as though only he had those wonderful bangles and probably his being a ‘no bargain person’ left them all stocked up in his glass shelves!
We could spend only less than half an hour in Laad bazaar and could not even look at pearls because the clouds were already dark and mad, ready to pour out.
I remember myself taking a long wide desirous look at Charminar before entering the cab.
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