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Hyden

Hyden is a small farming town in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, 292 km east of Perth and with a population of 384 in 2021. Its star attraction is Wave Rock.

Come prepared for the climate, which Nov–March is dry and routinely above 30°C. The sparse rains fall May–Sept, when daytime highs are below 20°C, and nights drop to 5°C.

Understand

In the Dreaming, Wagyl the Rainbow Serpent drank up all the water here, then dragged her bloated body across the land. Her slithering carved out Wave Rock and other formations, and she left little pools of moisture in her wake. She appointed the Noongar people to be hereditary guardians of this land, while she busied herself elsewhere: under different names she carved out canyons and valleys and rock formations right across Australia. Whenever the precious rains replenish this parched land, you might see a rainbow – that's Wagyl curling from one waterhole to another.

This region was once a savannah, with a river catchment draining west to join the Avon and Swan towards Perth. Those rivers still flow but their eastern tributaries dried up, leaving long chains of salt lakes. It was semi-arid not outright desert, so when Europeans arrived they found just enough water for wheat farming and livestock. Hyden town was established in 1922. And over the following century, these practical workaday people became part of a western Dreaming no less wondrous, which relates how the ashes of an exploded star formed their world, their own bodies, and the abundant minerals of Australia. Then groundwater charged with corrosive minerals seeped down the side of a buried block of granite, eating out a concavity. Another 50 to 100 million years passed while surrounding material was eroded away, and Wave Rock emerged into the sunlight.

Get in
Hyden is 340 km from Perth on Brookton Highway (Hwy 40), via Brookton, Corrigin and Kondinin. Reckon five hours drive, so with an early start it's within a day trip, but beware driver fatigue on the return to the city. Hwy 40 is a good sealed road that eventually joins National Route 1 at Ravensthorpe.

Transwa buses run once a week from Perth, taking 4 hr 40 min via Mundaring, York, Corrigin and Kondinin. The bus stop is by the hotel. They take a short rest stop then continue south to Ravensthorpe, Munglinup and Esperance, another 5 hours. Transwa ply between Perth and Esperance on other days but not via Hyden, so you either spend 48 hours here then return to Perth, or as many whole weeks as you can face before going on to Esperance.

The airstrip just north of Wave Rock has no commercial flights but is open to private light aircraft.

Get around
You need your own vehicle, 2WD is fine. Hyden town centre is around Marshall and McPherson Streets, and Wave Rock is 4 km east, with Hippo's Yawn another 1 km. The Humps are 18 km north along Lovering Road.

The sites are privately managed and not part of the national or state park system. In 2023 it costs $12 per vehicle for Wave Rock, pay in coins at the kiosk or ticket machine. From the car park it's a 100 m walk to the rock.

If you intend also to visit the Wildlife Park, park there instead for less and walk the extra 100 m to Wave Rock car park.

You could also drive on to Hippo's Yawn, park there for free, then walk the 1 km trail to Wave Rock. It's a pleasant walk if the heat's not too fierce.

See

 * Toy Soldier Museum within the same complex remains closed in 2023.Hippo's Yawn.JPG
 * Lake Magic next to Wave Rock Resort is a salty gypsum lake with attractive colours especially at dawn and dusk, part of the long chain of pools that the ancestral snake left across this landscape. Pay at the Resort kiosk (adults $10, children $5) and walk around. Don't take a vehicle onto the lakeside, it will bog down, and they charge $500 to haul you out. The mozzies are a pest here.
 * is the reason you've come all this way. It's a granite wall some 110 m long by 15 m high, concave like a giant wave about to break, and streaked by mineral deposits. It's the most spectacular outcrop of the underlying Hyden Rock, and is thought to have been created when chemicals in the ground-water eroded the base of the rock some 50–100 million years ago, when it was still buried. The softer surroundings then washed away, leaving Hyden Rock as an "inselberg" rearing up on the plain, with its north cliff sculpted into the wave.
 * 1 km east was formed in a similar way. Here the cliff has eroded more deeply to create a gaping cavern.
 * are 18 km northeast of Hyden via Lovering Road. This is a granite dome rising 80 m above the plains and dotted with massive boulders weathered into fantastical shapes. A couple of trails wind up and around the dome with panels explaining its geological, botanical and Aboriginal cultural features.
 * Mulka's cave (or Bate's Cave) in the northeast corner of The Humps is a recess beneath a huge boulder, with a remarkable collection of 450 handprints and other Aboriginal rock-art. Their age is uncertain, perhaps hundreds of years rather than the thousands that the area has been inhabited.
 * Other rock formations dot the landscape, such as King Rock 30 km east of The Humps, but they have bad access roads. Tell someone before you venture out this far, as there's no way to call for help if you break down.
 * Wild flowers burst into colour between September and November, depending on the weather. The dry terrain is briefly lit up, as if by slow-motion fireworks.
 * Other rock formations dot the landscape, such as King Rock 30 km east of The Humps, but they have bad access roads. Tell someone before you venture out this far, as there's no way to call for help if you break down.
 * Wild flowers burst into colour between September and November, depending on the weather. The dry terrain is briefly lit up, as if by slow-motion fireworks.

Do

 * Hyden swimming pool is public. It's at 4 McPherson St opposite the Bakehouse, open Tu–Su 10:30–18:00.
 * Wave Rock Weekender is a music and film festival staged around the rock face and caravan park. The next is probably 22–25 Sept 2023, tbc.

Buy

 * Fuel: the self-serve on the main highway is open 24 hours.

Eat

 * Hyden Hotel has the best dining, see below.

Drink
The local pub is part of ‘The Hyden Hotel’, and is popular with locals and travellers alike.

Connect

Hyden has a mobile signal tower in town, although the ONLY mobile service provider that covers the area is Telstra. Service is limited upon leaving the immediate townsite.

Go next

 * Highway 40 curls south through Lake King to join Highway 1 at Ravensthorpe. East is the interminable road across the Nullarbor Plain towards Adelaide. South leads to the small coast resort of Hopetoun, with a great arc of white beach.
 * Fitzgerald River National Park west of Ravensthorpe has primordial granite peaks and plant life undisturbed by agriculture.
 * Norseman can be reached by the 300 km dirt road heading east from Hyden. It's little more than a road junction, with routes to Kalgoorlie, Esperance and away east.

title: Hyden


text:
Hyde Park

There is more than one place called Hyde Park:

Australia

 * A park in Sydney/City Centre

United States of America

 * Hyde Park (New York), a township in Dutchess County in New York state
 * Boston/Hyde Park, a district in Boston
 * Chicago/Hyde Park, a district in Chicago
 * Cincinnati, a neighborhood in Cincinnati

United Kingdom

 * Hyde Park, a large green park in London

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Hyde Park


text:
Hyde Park (New York)

Hyde Park is a township in Dutchess County in the state of New York in the United States of America.

By plane

 * Stewart International Airport, 1180 First St, New Windsor, +1 845 564-2100. The closest major airport is about 30 miles away, across the Hudson River from Beacon.

By train

 * Metro-North Railroad - Hudson line . There is service between New York City's Grand Central Terminal and Poughkeepsie. On-board train fares are subject to a stiff surcharge, so buy your tickets at the station or at the vending machines located on the platform. Pick up local taxi to Hyde Park, about 7 miles.
 * Amtrak. Long distance connections are available at Metro-North's Poughkeepsie station.

Do
Take a guided kayak tour on the Hudson River. The River Connection, 9 West Market St, +1 845 229-0595.

Buy
There are several antiques shops in town.

Budget
There are a Dairy Queen and McDonalds on the Albany Post Road, but with so many CIA students and faculty in the area you are sure to find more interesting eats elsewhere.

Go next
Hyde Park is a great starting place for a tour of mid Hudson Valley estates. Once you've visited the Roosevelt and Vanderbilt homes, continue north on Route 9 (Albany Post Road) to the Mills mansion in Staatsburg, then into Rhinebeck to the Suckley's Wilderstein, and then to Frederic Church's Olana in the city of Hudson.

title: Hyde Park (New York)


text:
Hyderabad

Hyderabad, (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు, Urdu: حیدرآباد Haidarābād, Hindi: हैदराबाद Haidarābād), also known as the Pearl City, is the capital of Telangana in Southern India. Secunderabad, 8 km away, is its twin city. Though at one point the twins were two different cities, relentless urbanisation has meant that they are now conjoined into one metropolis, called Greater Hyderabad.

Located on the hot and dry Deccan Plateau, Hyderabad is a city replete with history and tradition, It now competes with Bangalore and Chennai for the crown of India's IT capital; Microsoft and Google have their India headquarters here.

Districts
Administratively, Hyderabad is divided into six zones - North, North-East, South, East, West and Central. This article follows these zones, except that the Old City has an article of its own (separate from the South Zone). Locals rarely refer to these zones, but rather to one of dozens of neighbourhoods of which the city is made up.

Understand
If you are visiting Hyderabad on business, it is easy to miss the 400-year-old Hyderabad. The city that immediately hits the eye is a sprawling metropolis of shopping malls and office buildings with glass facades.

The magnificent "old city" that was once the seat of the Nizam, the ruler of the largest and the most opulent "princely state", and the twin city of Secunderabad where the British maintained a cantonment to keep the army within striking distance of the Nizam can be seen only if you take the time out to see them.

Hyderabad's many epithets include the City of Pearls, the City of Nawabs, the Biryani City and, because of its high-tech industries, Cyberabad.

History
In the 10th century, the kings of the Kakatiya dynasty built the fortress of Golconda about 10 km to the west of what is now old city. Over the next few centuries, the fort became a major centre of diamond trade fed by the mines of Kollur, so much so that the word "Golconda" became synonymous with great wealth. The fort changed hands many times before it came under the control of Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk in 1463. He had quelled rebellion in the Telangana region and was appointed the subedar, or administrator of the region by the Bahmani sultan as a result. By 1518, he had become independent from the sultan, declared himself the Sultan under the name "Quli Qutb Shah" and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. His son Ibrahim constructed the Hussain Sagar Lake in 1563, and in 1589, his grandson Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah moved his capital from the fort to present-day Old City due to water shortages at the old location. In 1591, he ordered the construction of the Charminar, reportedly in gratitude to Allah for stopping a plague epidemic before it could do too much damage.

The name "Hyderabad" reportedly had its origins in an affair between Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and a local Telugu courtesan named Bhagmati. He named the city Bhagyanagar after her, and after she converted to Islam and took on the name of "Hyder Mahal", he named the city Hyderabad. Hyderabad was built on a grid plan with help from Iranian architects. French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier favourably compared Hyderabad to Orleans.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted till 1687, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the sultanate and took over Hyderabad. He appointed a governor to rule the region and granted him the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. However, Mughal rule was short-lived and in 1724, the Nizam Asaf Jah I gained independence from a declining Mughal empire. Legend has it that while on a hunting expedition, he met a holy man who offered him some kulchas (flatbreads) and asked him to eat as much as he could. Asaf Jah ate only seven, and the holy man prophesied that his dynasty would last for seven generations. Sure enough, the seventh ruler in the dynasty was the last. In honour of the legend, the flag of the Nizams featured a kulcha.

Around 1763, Asif Jah II, defeated by the Marathas and threatened by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, entered into a subsidiary alliance with a British. Hyderabad state became a protectorate of the British. The British maintained their army in nearby Secunderabad to protect the Nizam and to ensure that he did not get up to any mischief. Under the Nizam, the Hyderabad state was the largest princely state in the country, and the only one that issued its own currency. In the 1930s Time magazine rated the Nizam the richest man in the world. In 1947, India gained independence. The seventh Nizam was reluctant to cede his principality to the new state, preferring Pakistan instead. India sent in its troops and the holy man's prophecy was fulfilled on 17 September 1948 when the state of Hyderabad was merged with India.

In 1956, Telugu-speaking areas, which used to be split between the states of Hyderabad and Madras, were consolidated into the state of Andhra Pradesh with the city of Hyderabad as its capital. The new capital's administrative buildings were constructed in the "new city", between the "old city" (as the Nizam's city came to be called) and Secunderabad. In 2014, in response to a long-standing demand, the region of Telangana which, roughly speaking, was the Telugu-speaking part of the Nizam's old dominion, was carved out of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana retained Hyderabad as its capital while in 2016-7 the capital of Andhra Pradesh was moved to Amaravati.

Culture and attitudes
In many senses, Hyderabad is the meeting ground between North and South India. The city has a culture that is distinct from the rest of Telangana, showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence imparted from its period as the capital of the Nizamate. This is more evident in the old city. The new city resembles many provincial state capitals in India. Secunderabad is more cosmopolitan, as the cantonment area is in this part of the city.

Due to an influx of young men and women from various parts of the country, Hyderabad's culture and attitudes have taken a turn towards "modernity". However, the city is still a deeply conservative place, so dress appropriately, especially in the old city.

Orientation
Two important water bodies, the Musi River and the Hussain Sagar Lake, define Hyderabad's geography. They also influenced the city's history, as the availability of Musi's water was the reason the city was built where it was.

The Musi River flows from the west to the east. The Old City was established on the south bank of Hyderabad in the 16th century. The crowded bylanes of Old City are steeped in history and home to many of the monuments that hark back to the glory days of the Nizam. The Hussain Sagar Lake, built in 1563, is an artificial lake fed by the Musi River. Secunderabad, a few kilometres north of Hussain Sagar, is an army base that was established by the British. It continues to serve that function today for the Indian Army. The region between the Musi and Hussain Sagar Lake is the new city centre, constructed after independence. The western part of the city is the newest one. It contains the HITEC City, built in the 1990s to house the IT industry.

Climate
Hyderabad has a tropical climate. The best time to visit the city is from mid-November to mid-February. Temperatures are mild with abundant sunshine during this time and average temperatures range from a low of 15°C (59°F) to a high of 29°C (85°F).

March to June is hot and dry with occasional thunderstorms. Highs can reach 45°C (113°F) or more and a lack of air-conditioning can make it feel very uncomfortable. July, August, September and October can be quite warm and humid. Low pressure systems from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon season can cause heavy rain for days.

Talk
Telugu is the most widely spoken language. A variant of Urdu called Deccani or Dakhani, which originated in the courts and military encampments of the Islamic rulers of the Deccan, is spoken by Muslim residents and is especially prominent in the Old City and surrounding areas. In the newer parts of the city, you are more likely to hear Hindi than Urdu. English is also widely understood, if somewhat less widely spoken. You can manage with just English if you are staying at an upscale hotel and are being driven around by a hired driver. English signs are common.

By plane
As you would expect from a major international airport, there is good domestic as well as international connectivity from many locations. It is far from the city, and with the exception of Novotel, there aren't any good hotels close by. Road connectivity to the city is excellent, though. The Nehru Outer Ring Road Expressway connects to the airport - take exit 16. The P V Narasimha Rao Expressway connects the airport with Mehdipattnam in South Hyderabad.

There are multiple options to get into the city.

The Pushpak - Airport Liner, an air-conditioned bus service operated by the Telangana government, goes to various designated points - Secunderabad (Jubilee Bus Station), Miyapur, BHEL and the Mahatma Gandhi Bus terminal (Imlibun) near Charminar. These routes cover most major areas of the city. The airport website has detailed information about pickup and stop points, along with timings. Tickets cost between ₹106 and ₹265 depending on the bus stop. The frequency of the buses is 10-40 minutes depending on time of the day and route.

Meru and Sky cabs are the two metered cab services approved by the airport @ ₹20/km. You can book your rides at counters in the airport departure area and they are available just after exiting the terminal building. The two major app-based ride-hailing services, Ola and Uber, are also available. You can book your ride using the app at the baggage carousel, walk into the designated area where the cabs are waiting and get into any that is available.

There is a pre-paid taxi counter operated by the Hyderabad Traffic Police. That is also a good option. Another pre-paid option, available only for women, is the She Cab, a government service that features cabs driven only by women drivers. You can avail yourself of this service as long as at least one of the passengers is a woman. Beware of taxi soliciting touts at the airport greeting area; they will try to charge exorbitant rates.

There are other counters where you can hire a taxi. These may be on the more expensive side, but the cars will be more luxurious.

By train
Secunderabad in Hyderabad is the headquarters of the South Central Railway (SCR) zone of the Indian Railways. It is an important junction with connectivity to many parts of India.

There are three major railway stations serving the twin cities:, , and and a minor station at Begumpet. Note that as these stations are on different routes, the train you are taking will start or end at only one of them, so you won't have a choice regarding which station to alight at or embark from.

Destinations include:
 * New Delhi (toward north via Nagpur, Bhopal, Jhansi, Agra, 1677 km, 26-29 hr)
 * Chennai (toward south via Vijayawada, Warangal, Nellore, 790 km, ~14 hr)
 * Mumbai (toward west via Solapur, Pune. 790 km, 14 hr)
 * Kolkata (Howrah) (toward east via Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, 1592 km, over 30 hours)
 * Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum; toward south-southwest via Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Katpadi, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam 1568 km, 30½ hr)

From these major railway stations, you can easily get connected buses or taxis which will take you to the destination of your choice. There are no interchanges to transfer to the MMTS or metro lines, however.

By car
Hyderabad lies on the North-South Corridor, the national highway NH44 that runs from Srinagar to Kochi. This highway is excellent, and will take you to Bangalore, 560 km away, in hours. It is 752 km from Chennai (using highways NH65 and NH16) and 800 km from Mumbai (NH65 till Pune and the expressway to Mumbai).

By bus
Hyderabad is well-connected to all parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, most parts of southern India, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Connectivity to some cities of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh is also available. It is served by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) run by the Telangana government, government bus services of neighbouring states, and multiple private services. There are two major bus terminals:

Private bus services which provide decent to excellent services to major cities are Orange Travels, Kaveri Travels and many more. They can be easily found using online services like Redbus Myticketbuddy Railyatri who also provide details of other services and amenities provided. The advantage with private services is that they may serve cities that government bus services do not. Secondly, they provide pick-up and drops from many locations all over the city, unlike government services that start from and end at designated bus terminals only. Important private travel hubs are KPHB Colony, Lakdi-Ka-Pool, Paradise centre in Secunderabad and Dilsukhnagar. .

Get around
Hyderabad's public transport options have been increasing over the years. It has an overcrowded bus network, and a rudimentary local train network. In the past 5 years, it has got its own elevated metro rail service that provides fast and cheap connectivity to some areas.

The ubiquitous yellow and black auto-rickshaws have now been supplemented by the app-based taxi services that provide fairly good service all over the city. Driving yourself around the city may be an excellent option or a terrible choice depending on which areas you want to go to, and how comfortable you are with other people driving like utter lunatics.

By metro
The rail system opened in November 2017. For the areas it does serve, the metro is a fast, clean and efficient mode of travel, better than driving or taking a cab.

Trains run at every 4 minutes from early morning to late in the night, although as of October 2020, due to COVID conditions, the timings are 07:00-21:00.

The trains run on an elevated corridor. Ticketing and platforms are above ground level. Lifts from street level are available at all stations. Many stations have escalators as well. You can buy single journey tickets or reloadable cards. Ticket vending machines are available but may not work reliably.

Parking is available in most stations, but car parking is likely to be inadequate during rush hours. Bike parking is more available. A couple of stations have shopping malls with adequate parking areas attached to them. The metro has a tie-up with Ola, which has installed kiosks at all stations to easily order a cab to get you to your destination.

Ticket prices start from ₹10, while ₹60 will take you from one end of the city to another.

Signage at the stations and the trains is quite good and is available in all three languages including English. Announcements in the trains are clear and helpful, and overall, the travel experience is a pleasant one.

The metro has three lines: Red, Blue and Green connecting 57 stations.

 * The Red Line starts from Miyapur in North Hyderabad, goes via Central and Old City and terminates at L B Nagar in East Hyderabad.
 * The Blue Line supports West Hyderabad, Secunderabad and East Hyderabad. It starts at Raidurg at HITEC City, and ends at Nagole.
 * The Green Line connects Secunderabad and the Old City, starting at Jubilee Bus Station and terminates at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS).

Ameerpet, Parade Ground and MGBS are the interchanges where easy transfers between lines are available.

By train
The Multi-Modal Transport System, or MMTS, is the result of Hyderabad's earlier attempt to set up a local-train network. It serves only a few places in Hyderabad. The peak frequency is about every 10 minutes and the frequency is much less during off-peak hours and on Sundays (see schedule). It is a fast way of travel to the few stations it covers, and the cheapest option as well. You are advised to take the first class if you don't fancy travelling in packed trains. Daily, monthly and quarterly passes are also available at the MMTS stations.

By bus
Hyderabad has good local bus connectivity run by TSRTC. Most buses start at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Terminus more commonly known as Imlibun. Apart from normal local buses, you have a choice of Metro Express and Metro Deluxe aka Veera. Local buses tend to get extremely overcrowded and traveling on the footboard of a bus is very common.

The routes displayed on buses are normally shown in at least two languages, one of which is English. The best way to get to a location by bus would be to get to a bus stop and ask people waiting there. You could also get into a bus going in your direction and ask the conductor for help.

By autorickshaw
Autorickshaws in Hyderabad should be metered, though it can be difficult to find an auto-rickshaw driver who ever agrees to a metered fare. You will have to negotiate a fare with the driver before your journey. The traffic police can be helpful and will help engage an Auto with metered fare. Keep extra change with you since most of the auto drivers will claim that they don't have change, even if they have. If you have a choice opt for a prepaid auto which are available at some places. The app-based taxi services, Ola and Uber, also have the option of calling for an auto. You can try your luck with them, but in general, they aren't an improvement over hailing the autos off the street.

Autos can carry a maximum of 3 passengers excluding the driver, but it is common to find them being overloaded to carry up to six passengers. The minimum fare is ₹20 which covers the first 1.6 km. Each additional km is another ₹11. There are also shared 8 seater Maxi Vans available to and from the suburbs to a main location of the city. Fares are mostly ₹2 more than bus fares, but are more comfortable and fast for short distances up to 5 km. Fix the fare before you step in.

Sometimes, auto drivers act as touts for tourist shops, and may want you to check out pearl shops in exchange for a lower fare. They are okay if you don't buy anything from these shops as long as you visit for 10 minutes. However, the pearl shops are notorious for persuasive sales tactics and they won't let you out easily. So pay the complete fare to auto drivers instead of being diverted to one.

Auto drivers get some per cent of the entry fees (around ₹10) if they take you to the places like Chow Mahalla or Salarjung museum for free. If you are around these areas get into some auto instead of walking down and ask them to drop you there.

By taxi
Taxis cannot be hailed off the street, but using the two major mobile app based providers, Ola or Uber, comes close. Coverage and availability is good. The apps do a decent job of showing cab availability and your expected wait time. Relying on just these two, keeping your schedule flexible and ordering the cabs when you need them is a feasible way of travelling around Hyderabad as long as you are prepared for the occasional frustration. During peak hours, you may have to deal with surge pricing, drivers cancelling on you and long wait times. You can also schedule your ride with them, and you are advised to do so if you have a fight or bus to catch.

If you want more certainty, you can hire a car with a driver who will stay with you for a specified period. There are many options to choose from, and many of these listed operators also offer short term flexible rides. Check their websites or call their call centres.

By car
Hyderabad has an underdeveloped road system, leading to traffic jams during rush hours. The 160-km-long Nehru Outer Ring Road expressway, commonly called the ORR, circles the city, and may be faster than driving straight through the city. The P V Narasimha Rao Expressway, fully elevated, serves South Hyderabad and the airport and is a great way of bypassing the crowded Old City. There is also an Inner Ring Road connecting Central, South and East Hyderabad. These roads are helping take some pressure of NH65 and NH44 that, in addition to being national highways, also happen to serve as the arterial roads of the city. Several modern flyovers now link the arterial roads.

Like elsewhere in India, driving is "exciting" in Hyderabad. You find cycles, motor cycles, rickshaws, hand carts, autos, share autos, mini trucks, buses and vestibule buses jostling along. There are long stretches of roads passing through thickly populated areas that have no median breaks, so vehicles, including motorbikes and cars, simply drive on the wrong side of the road.

On foot
Hyderabad is not a walkable city. It lacks good quality footpaths. The ones that exist are encroached upon by hawkers, shops, garbage or by motorcyclists trying to beat the traffic. As in any other Indian city, crossing the road is a nightmare. An urban renewal initiative aimed at improving its infrastructure has been in progress for a few years. The good news is that some attention is being paid to construction of footpaths and foot over bridges. This is especially true around metro stations (and note that metro stations can be used to cross the road).

The bad news is that this has not solved the problem of encroachment, and the ongoing construction has made things worse in the process of making it better. The exceptions to the rule of poor quality pavements are the upscale areas like Banjara Hills, where walking is enjoyable. That said, the weather in Hyderabad makes walking a pleasant experience outside of the torrid summer months.

The Old City is composed of a maze of disorienting alleyways that expand outward from the Charminar. Getting lost in the markets (where you can buy anything from hand-sequined saris to freshly slaughtered goats) and alleyways in the Old City can make for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The famous Chudi Bazaar (Lad Bazaar) across from the Charminar is a chaotic tumble of goods, people, animals and vehicles, and is navigated quickly on foot. The Chowmahalla palace and the Mecca Masjid are easily accessed from the Charminar. Necklace Road, Sultan Bazar (Koti) and Abids are worth taking some time to wander around.

See
As you would expect from a city with a rich heritage, Hyderabad has many historical monuments, but there is much more to see. While the specific attractions are on the district pages, here is a quick rundown of attractions to visit and where they are located:

Monuments
By Indian standards, Hyderabad's monuments are not very old, which means that they are better preserved. Many of the attractions including the iconic Char Minar are in Old City and the surrounding southern Hyderabad, albeit the even older Golconda fort is in central Hyderabad. In central Hyderabad, you find some of the major attractions built after independence, such as the Buddha Statue located on an island in the midst of the Hussain Sagar Lake, and the Birla Temple.

Museums and galleries
Hyderabad offers a feast for history buffs. It has many museums and palaces displaying historical objects collected by the Nizams or their aristocrats, the most recognizable among them being the Salar Jung Museum. The Chowmahalla and the Falak Numa palaces, both under private ownership, have artefacts, photographs and memorabilia from the times of the Nizams, and there is a Nizam's museum as well. All of these are in Old City.

The Banjara Hills area has some art galleries including the State Gallery of Art.

Lakes
There are quite a few artificial lakes and water bodies in and around Hyderabad, built over the past few centuries to alleviate the water shortage. Hussain Sagar, located as it is in the centre of the city, is a major waterfront attraction, surrounded by parks, statues and monuments. Durgam Cheruvu which opened in 2019, is a natural lake and worth a visit. Osman Sagar and Mir Alam tank are also worth a mention. There are many others in and around the city in varying states of upkeep.

Parks
Hyderabad certainly does not lack green spaces. The Nehru Zoological Park in southern Hyderabad has a decent collection of animals and birds. The Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park (KBR Park) spread over 1.6 sq km between Jubilee and Banjara hills serves as a green lung to the city, with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Around Hussain Sagar Lake you will find many gardens and amusement parks, the largest among them being NTR Gardens and Sanjeevaiah Park. Around Hi tec city, Botanical Gardens, Biodiversity Park  and Shilparamam are worth visiting.

Ramoji Film City
Ramoji Film City near Hyderabad is a destination that does not easily fit into any of the other categories. The world's largest film studio and also a theme park modelled on Universal Studios. Many Telugu and Hindi films are produced here. Tourists can tour the studios or enjoy the many attractions and rides. There are two hotels if you are inclined to stay. No trip to Hyderabad is complete without a visit to nearby Ramoji, and there are many who visit it only to make a trip here.

Do
Many resorts and amusement parks offer adventure sports, watersports and other rides. While some are located within the city, most are found on the outskirts.

Buy
Supermarkets in Hyderabad include Spencer's, Big Bazaar, Heritage Fresh, Ikea, Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Fresh, D Mart, Monarch Ergo lulu, Ratnadeep, Ushodaya and others. Most of them have multiple locations.

Eat
No visit to Hyderabad would be complete without sampling its unique cuisine, a rich blend of royal Mughlai flavours, Nizams special, and spice-up culinary traditions of South India such as: Hyderabadi biryani, pathar-ka-ghosht, nahari, haleem, double-ka-meetha, khubani-ka-meetha, seviyon-ka-meetha and kheer.

A popular dish of Hyderabad is biryani. It is prepared with a blending of Mughal kitchen and the style of cooking practised by the Nizams. Hyderabadi biryani has a distinct aroma. Garnished with pudina, fried onion & boiled eggs. Mostly it is served with dahi-ki-chutney and mirchi-ka-salan. Biryani was traditionally made with goat meat, but in modern times it has many variants like lamb biryani, chicken biryani, biryani khaam, biryani zard or zafrani or the most exotic of all joban malti biryani in which mutton, partridges and quails were cooked with rice.

There are many stories about biryani. One of them says, in 1398 legend Turk-Mongol conqueror Timur brought a pot full of rice to feed this army.

Culinary delicacies of Hyderabad include:
 * Hyderabadi dum biryani. Dum refers to the baking process and basmati rice and meat or vegetables are mixed in a pot and heated for a long time. During the Nizam's time, the biryani was made with goat carefully cooked with rice.
 * Double Ka Meetha. A dessert made from bread, milk and dry fruits.
 * Falooda. A favourite drink of Hyderabad.
 * Gosht. Made from a buck/billy/young goat, and is associated with the Hyderabadi cuisine. Hyderabadis prize the meat of a male goat.
 * Hyderabadi Haleem. A dish which is available only in the month of Ramadaan (Ramzan).
 * Irani chai. This is the tea of Hyderabad, available at any of the ubiquitous "Chai" shops. Although, not all of them have the best hygiene and it is best to go with a local. The crowd at the stalls is composed mainly of blue collared workers and college students so expect a noisy environment with conversational topics that range from movies to politics.
 * Kachchi gosht ki biriyani, of Hyderabad, where raw meat is stir fried with spices (masala) for a couple of minutes and then covered with rice and put on dum. Today, biryani is also made using vegetables, chicken, seafood and beef. The beef biryani is known as Kalyani Biryani, available at many small eateries in the city. Although any Irani cafe might serve this delectable dish, there are a few places better known for tasteful food than their hygiene.
 * Khubani ka meetha. Hyderabad's preferred dessert sweet. It is made from apricots boiled in sugar syrup till they achieve a thick consistency. It looks similar to, but tastes different from gajar ka halwa (carrot halwa). It is often topped with ice-cream or cream.
 * Mirchi ka salan. Served with spicy chili sauce, is another dish that serves as a tasty accompaniment to any rice dish.
 * Osmania biscuits. Drinking Irani chai is incomplete without Osmania biscuits. It is a traditional Hyderabadi treat made from Kesar strands, milk, flour, butter, sugar and salt.

Street food in Hyderabad is better than most other cities in India and it is cheap.

Restaurants
There has been an explosion in the number of restaurants in Hyderabad, fuelled by demand from young professionals with money to spend. Quality and variety of food, however, has not kept pace. There is a disproportionately large number of restaurants that aspire to be called "fine-dining" restaurants, but the food they serve is usually indifferent. In general, keep away from restaurants that call themselves "multi-cuisine" or if you see multiple cuisines on the menu, as the chances are that they are attempting to serve every kind of palate and will not satisfy any.

The older areas of Hyderabad are better places to find good and cheap food. Places close to Hi-tech city, such as Madhapur and Kondapur, tend to have expensive and bad food, while in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills you will find restaurants that are expensive, but which sometimes serve good food. Those misled by the fact that Hyderabad is in South India and expecting South Indian food may be disappointed. While there are excellent South Indian restaurants in some of the older areas like Koti and Abids, the average South Indian food served here is quite bad.

Two of the biggest names in Hyderabad's restaurant business are Ohri's and the BJN Group. It will seem as if every second restaurant in the city is run by either one or the other. BJN generally runs upscale restaurants, while Ohri's runs both upscale and mid-range restaurants. It also runs numerous fast food places all over the city, including at Prasad's Imax, Banjara Hills, Somajiguda, EatStreet, Hyderabad Central & Basheer Bagh.

Budget

 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar
 * Best Western Ashoka, Four Square Restaurant, +91 7306000222, Famous for Fine dining, coffee shop and SYNC Resto Bar

Bakeries, cafes, sweet shops and fast food
Hyderabad has a large number of outlets described as bakeries. These are primarily takeaway places, where one can buy sandwiches, burgers and puffs to go (called parcel in local parlance.) Usually, there are a few chairs and tables thrown in as an afterthought.

Many Western chains have set up shop in the posh areas of Hyderabad. Among these are Texas Chicken, McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Dominos and Subway. Most of these have multiple outlets, and all of them have Indianised their fare to varying extents. The Indian pizza chain Pizza Corner also has many outlets. Barista, Cafe Coffee Day and Java Green outlets are good places to have coffee and conversations.
 * Pulla Reddy Sweets, is a chain of sweet shops. The outlets are found all over Hyderabad and are so popular that it has spawned imitators who copy the distinctive yellow signs and choose some variation of "Reddy" (a common last name in Andhra Pradesh) as the name.
 * Pulla Reddy Sweets, is a chain of sweet shops. The outlets are found all over Hyderabad and are so popular that it has spawned imitators who copy the distinctive yellow signs and choose some variation of "Reddy" (a common last name in Andhra Pradesh) as the name.

Drink
There is plenty to do at night in Hyderabad, though local regulations have most places serving last drinks by 23:00. On weekdays, drinks in the some of the pubs have best offers, as most clubs are empty until Thursday or Friday nights, when the clubbers emerge. But the sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list. As a general rule they tend to be clustered around Begumpet (Secunderabad) and Road No.1, Banjara Hills (Central).

Alcohol is available easily from numerous liquor shops, known as wine shops in local parlance, spread across the twin cities, in restaurants with bars attached (includes most upscale ones) and in pubs.

Warning: Drunken driving is not tolerated and police enforce the rule strictly. After 23:00 almost all the roads have police patrols and check drunk driving. If caught you may end up paying fines, apart from vehicle being seized and couple of rounds to police station in worst scenarios.

Some of the good pubs and bars are part of hotels, and they have been covered along with their hotel listing under Sleep.

Sleep
Accommodation in Hyderabad is unlikely to bust your budget, especially when compared to cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, and rooms are usually easily available. However, because the city sprawls so much, you need to be careful about the hotel location if you want to avoid a long commute and traffic bottlenecks.

Plentiful budget accommodation is to be found around the Nampally railway station and in Abids, Koti and other new city areas for a few hundred rupees a day, and tourist attractions aren't very far off. However the facilities tend to be basic, the towels aren't necessarily clean and air-conditioning tends to be extra. It might make sense to pay a little more and choose mid-range accommodation. The area around Hussain Sagar Lake, Begumpet, Punjagutta, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Lakdi-ka-Pul are close to both tourist attractions of the old city and the business areas of the new city. Hotels in Secunderabad might be slightly far for the tourist, but may still work for the business traveller.

Hotel rooms tend to be expensive and scarce closer to HITEC City, and commuting from any of the above areas, except perhaps Banjara Hills, is not a good option because of the traffic. Areas around HITEC City, are Madhapur, Kondapur and Gachibowli. For longer term stays, you might want to consider serviced apartments.

Post Office
India Post, a government-owned enterprise, has its headquarters at Abids known as GPO. And its second biggest centre is in Secunderabad.

Landlines
The dialing code for Hyderabad is 040. When calling from overseas, dial +91 40 XXXX XXXX.

Mobile phones
It is very easy to get a prepaid mobile in India, which is very cheap to buy and for calls. As per government regulations a photo ID and a photograph are required for buying prepaid and postpaid SIM connection.

 * Airtel - GSM/HSPA/LTE
 * BSNL- GSM/HSPA/LTE
 * Vodafone India - GSM/HSPA/LTE
 * Jio - LTE

Internet
Internet cafes are spread around town and most easily found in the city and residential areas. Charges vary between ₹5-15/hr. Reliance WebWorld provides Broadband internet centres.

For a longer stays with a laptop, it's better to get a Data plan either from Tata Indicom or Reliance Mobile, which are around ₹1,000 a month. If you have a WiFi enabled laptop or other digital device there are many public WiFi networks available in Hyderabad for free access to high-speed internet.

Stay safe
Since 2014 Hyderabad has remained free of any terrorist attack, however from 2007 until 2013 the city suffered from several of them. These bomb blasts took place at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park, places often frequented by travellers and also at busy marketplaces. Though the chance that you will be in danger is quite low now, you should obviously make your own risk assessment. Rather than physical danger, it is more likely that the intrusive security will dampen your enjoyment of your Hyderabad vacation. Every shopping mall, theatre and palace has metal detectors and security guards patting you down.

The old city area used to be a communally sensitive zone and a venue for religiously aggravated riots between Hindus and Muslims. It was common for the police to impose a curfew in that area while the rest of the city went about life without any problems. The old city continues to be at the heart of Hyderabad's crime wave and though many tourist attractions including Charminar are in this area, it is best to avoid late night visits.

Outside of these, Hyderabad is rather safe. Muggings and violent crime are uncommon, most crime involves thefts. Avoid staying out late at night, especially if you are a woman.

The usual tourist-oriented scams in India are not as bad in Hyderabad as in other places. However, foreigners will be hounded for money at tourist sites like the old city. Just ignore the beggars and they will go away.

Chain snatchings have become common in the city. One has to be watchful in crowded areas.

Emergency numbers

 * For any other basic information call up Just-Dial ten 8s
 * For any other basic information call up Just-Dial ten 8s
 * For any other basic information call up Just-Dial ten 8s
 * For any other basic information call up Just-Dial ten 8s
 * For any other basic information call up Just-Dial ten 8s

Money changers
Many hotels will change money for you at the front desk. However, they may not offer the best rates.

It is best to change money at the city-based money changers than the ones at the airports. You'll find many money-changing operations in Saifabad, some with door-step service. It's also possible to call them and agree on a rate before the transaction.

Newspapers
The Deccan Chronicle is Hyderabad's oldest newspaper, and indispensable if you need to look up classifieds, for, say, renting a house. The Times of India with its new office in Hyderabad has good local content and is increasingly widely read. Eenadu is the most popular local language (Telugu) newspaper. For events, business listings and movie listings, fullhyderabad.com is popular. Siasat and Munsif are the main newspapers for the Urdu speaking population.

Other newspapers include Vaartha Andhra Jyothy, The Hansindia, Hello Hyderabad, Full Hyderabad, The Hindu, Indian Express, Metro India, Namaste Telangana and Sakshi.

Pharmacy/chemist
Modern medicine is widely available at pharmacies around the city.

Consulates

 * 🇮🇷 Iran
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next

 * Basara — the home of Sri Gnana Saraswati Temple, in Adilabad District
 * Bhuvanagiri Fort — around 47 km from city of Hyderabad on the outskirts moving towards Warangal via Uppal, is a huge rock fort on very smooth rock. At the foot of the hill is Bhongir bus station. It is a marvellous experience to climb the fort and needs great skill and balance at few places. An attractive place for trekkers and rock climbers.
 * Guntur — around 282 km southeast of Hyderabad by train.
 * Mantralayam
 * Medak Church — around 90 km from Hyderabad.
 * Nagarjuna Sagar Dam — 165 km from Hyderabad - one of the earliest hydroelectric projects in India, the dam impounds the Krishna river.
 * Sangareddy — around 55 km from Hyderabad
 * Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple — 212 km from Hyderabad can be easily reached by state run buses or private taxi. Srisailam referred to as Tirupparuppatham in the Thevaram hymns, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh is a venerated Shivastalam, the second of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines spread all over India. This is a vast temple with several gopurams, on a hill which is said to be a manifestation of Nandi. This temple has been a site of Vijayanagar patronage, and is well visited and well endowed. Several other related Siva temples are in the vicinity of Sree Sailam. Kannada poetess Akkamahadevi made this spot her hermitage
 * Srisailam Hydel Project — around 245 km from Hyderabad. The dam is surrounded by beautiful natural flora.
 * Vijayawada — 270 km from Hyderabad, has many important Hindu pilgrimage sites.
 *  Visakhapatnam— around 620 km, R.K. Beach and many other beaches. Important Hindu pilgrimage sites.
 * Warangal — 144 km from Hyderabad, is a beautiful city of lakes and temples. Location of Bhadrakali Temple.
 * Yadagirigutta — around 60 km east of Hyderabad, features the Narasimha Swamy Temple.

title: Hyderabad


text:
Hyderabad (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Hyderabad:

India

 * Hyderabad - the state capital of Telangana

Pakistan

 * Hyderabad - a city in Sindh province

title: Hyderabad (disambiguation)


text:
Hyderabad (Pakistan)

Hyderabad, population 1.7 million (2017), is the second largest city of Sindh province and the 8th largest city in Pakistan. Lying along the River Indus, it is rich in culture, traditions and history. It was the capital of Sindh for many centuries, and used to be known as the Paris of India, due to belief that streets of the city were washed every morning with clean drinking water from the River Indus. Hyderabad is now an important commercial and cultural center, and serves as a transit between the rural and the urban Sindh. Noteworthy sights in Hyderabad include the tombs of the Kalhora and Talpur rulers, two royal fortresses, and the miles-long bustling and colourful Shahi Bazaar.

History
Hyderabad's early history dates back to a small fishing village on the River Indus known as Neroon Kot, named after its local Sindhi ruler Neroon.

Later, Hyderabad was founded in 1768 by Kalhora ruler Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro on the ruins of Neroon Kot and the city was made capital of Sindh. It started to expand, progressed and flourished, and obtained the nickname of Heart of the Mehran as the Kalhora ruler Mian Ghulam Shah was said to have fallen in love with the city. After the death of the last Kalhoro ruler, the Talpur dynasty conquered the region. The city expanded, progressed and flourished more under the Talpur rulers. Talpur rule lasted until 1843, when the British colonial empire conquered the region, making the city into part of the Bombay Presidency of the empire.

After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, the minority Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India, while the Muslims refugees from India were settled in refugee camps in Hyderabad. Nearly all Hindus of Hyderabad left for India due to better socio-economic prospects in India. The massive migration of Muhajirs into Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan in 1947 raised the population levels of the city to an extreme. The late 1980s saw a black period in the history of Hyderabad, as riots and violence broke out between the Muhajirs and Sindhi nationalist parties, due to which the social fabric of the city was damaged. Until 1955 the city of Hyderabad served as the capital of Sindh province, which was later dissolved and Karachi was made the capital of Sindh.

Climate
Hyderabad has a relatively mountainous climate, somewhat more pleasant than other parts of Central Sindh throughout the year. Summer and winter are the two main seasons, while spring and autumn are very short. The period from mid-April to late June is the hottest time of the year with temperatures as high as 48.5 °C. Winters are usually warm, around 25°C during the day time and often below 10 °C at night, and are the best time to visit the city. The highest ever recorded temperature in Hyderabad is 48.5°C in 1991, while the lowest is 1°C in 2012.

By car
Hyderabad is connected with rest of Pakistan through National Highways # N-5 and # N-55 (the Indus Highway). Travellers coming from the north of Pakistan, usually prefer to come via the N-5, whereas travellers coming from the north-west of Pakistan prefer to use the N-55. Hyderabad is connected with Karachi both via a highway and motorway but travel by the M-9 motorway (Super Highway) is preferred. It's 150km long and the journey take about two hours.

By bus
Plenty of air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses and vans run to Hyderabad from other major cities of Pakistan. A journey from Karachi cost around Rs 200 (non-air-conditioned) or Rs 250 (air-conditioned), whereas from Sukkur the price is Rs 500 (non air-conditioned) or Rs 700 (air-conditioned).

By train

Hyderabad has railway connections with almost all the major Pakistani cities and towns. Most trains travelling between Karachi and rest of the country make a brief stop at Hyderabad. Hyderabad station is a major railway junction, the largest and busiest station in Pakistan besides Karachi.

If you're travelling from northern Punjab with both speed and comfort as a priority, the Karakoram Express is one of the best choices. This train runs daily non-stop between Lahore and Karachi and is faster than other trains, taking less than 20 hours travel time, because it makes only a few stops, whereas other trains make stops at every major station along the route and are usually delayed as well. The Karakoram Express has both economy and air-con class accommodation. A ticket (berth) on the Karakoram Express in air-con class will cost not more than Rs 5,000.

Other than that, plenty of trains (both economy and air-conditioned class) run from Lahore as well other major big cities such as Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta, and Rawalpindi on a daily basis. But expect them to be slower, as they make stops at every railway station along the way. Tezgam or Shalimar Express have air-conditioned class so are best preferred for travellers from Punjab; other air-conditioned class trains are Khyber Mail for travelers from Peshawar, The Bolan Mail is recommended for travellers from Quetta, although this train calls at Kotri railway station.

Get around
Transportation is by private car, taxi, or rickshaw.

Unlike in Karachi, black and white taxis do not operate in Hyderabad. Taxis are generally private cars and operated by taxi companies, so they cannot be hailed on streets, since distinguishing between a taxi and a private car may be difficult. You can ask at a hotels to arrange a taxi, or call the taxi company offices. These taxis are usually air-conditioned, modern and clean fleet which makes them the most comfortable, luxurious way to navigate around the city of Hyderabad especially in the blistering hot weather of Summer.

Rickshaws provide cheap and quick transportation within the city. Shared rickshaws, which are somewhat different from a traditional motorcycle rickshaw, are another option.

There are plans for metro bus and train systems to be built.

See

Buy
Hyderabad is one of the largest bangle producers in the world.

Eat and drink
Western food franchises such as KFC, McDonald's and Pizza Hut exist in Hyderabad.

Budget
There are many cheap lodgings and hotels at affordable charges scattered outside and near the Hyderabad train station.

Go next

 * Karachi
 * Thatta
 * Nawabshah
 * Badin
 * Matiari
 * Mothparja

title: Hyderabad (Pakistan)


text:
Hydra

Hydra (Greek: 'Υδρα Ydra or Idhra, pronounced "EE-thra") is one of the Saronic Gulf Islands in central Greece. The port of Hydra has a scenic location in a deep harbour, with whitewashed houses rising on the hills on both sides from an azure blue sea.

Understand
Hydra is deservedly one of the most popular day-trip destinations from Athens. An enlightened policy of development has meant that there are absolutely zero high-rise houses, cars, or motor-bikes — the only internal combustion vehicles on the island are the few city-owned trucks and a fire truck — and while the main port boulevard is packed full of tourists in season, only a few minutes away are quiet back alleys with nary a soul, and many of those visitors are day trippers, leaving the town relatively peaceful by night.

Incidentally, the name has nothing to do with the nine-headed monster of Greek legend; instead, it's an abbreviation of Hydrea, or "spring". The spring has long since run dry, but the name remains.

Orientation
All hydrofoils and catamarans dock at the centre of the north side of the island at the eponymous port of Hydra. Practically everything of interest to the visitor is on the waterfront, in the few main streets behind the harbour, or along the main road that follows the coast or within a block or two of it. If you head west for about a kilometre, past a little headland, you'll reach the neighbouring, far less touristy village of Kamini.

Get in
There are frequent boats between Piraeus and Hydra. You can opt for either a slow car ferry (around 3 hours) or a fast catamaran (1.5 hours). As of 2019, Hellenic Seaways appears to be the only online bookable option with up to half a dozen daily charging €29.50 one way. Due to the popularity of Hydra, it's possible for some of the Hellenic Seaways boats, which are small, to sell out during peak periods, especially the ones at the most convenient hours. Tickets for all boats may be bought from agencies at the harbour.

Get around

Motorized transportation is forbidden on Hydra. Getting around the town centre on foot is easy enough, but for going elsewhere the only options are by donkey or boat taxi, both of which congregate at the centre of the port. For the boat taxis, there's a sign (in Greek only) listing fixed fares for popular destinations, ranging from €9 for the short hop to Kamini to €120 for a circuit around the whole island.

See

 * Some old Hydriote mansions have been restored as museums illustrating the traditional life of Hydra's splendid past; they are usually listed on island maps available locally.
 * Some old Hydriote mansions have been restored as museums illustrating the traditional life of Hydra's splendid past; they are usually listed on island maps available locally.
 * Some old Hydriote mansions have been restored as museums illustrating the traditional life of Hydra's splendid past; they are usually listed on island maps available locally.

Do

Hydra doesn't have much in the way of sandy beaches, but there are plenty of smooth rocks and pebbly bays for sunbathers. The water is clear and local daredevils show off by diving off the cliff on the road to Kamini — don't try this unless you know what you're doing!

The only good swimming spot within easy access of town is the rocky shore called Spilia in the Kamini district on the west edge of town; just walk along the main coastal road leading west for about twenty minutes, and it's just past the large cafe-bar. This area isn't really a "beach" but a rocky area which has been slightly developed by the addition of a few stairs and level places in the rocks which are good for sunbathing. To swim, you need to climb in and out of the water via some rather primitive ladders set in the sea wall (and beware of sea urchins on wall,) which might be difficult for some people. The water, however, is clean, and usually calm except when a boat sails by close to shore. The view is beautiful.

Another twenty minutes further west is Vlihos, a pebble beach featuring €3 chair rentals. Two idyllic tavernas are only moments away. Vhilos is a short €3 water taxi ride away, but the 45-minute walk from the main port of Hydra is breathtaking and well worth the extra time.

Buy
Hydra has a bit of a reputation as an artist's haven, and there are plenty of galleries around.

Eat
Hydra offers many restaurants. Most prominently feature seafood, but little asterisks in the menu note that pretty much all of it is imported frozen from far away. Only a few restaurants offer local fish, and they charge accordingly.

For a more local experience, head down to Kamini, which has a few distinctly unhip tavernas populated mostly by grizzled Hydriots.

Drink

 * On the picturesque Harbor are a number of cafes, most of which serve ouzo, other drinks, and coffee.
 * On the picturesque Harbor are a number of cafes, most of which serve ouzo, other drinks, and coffee.

Sleep
There are plenty of small hotels and guest houses in Hydra Island for those who don't want to limit their visit to a day trip. Note that some Hydra accommodations may be accessible only by climbing stairs, so if this is a problem for you, ask when booking.

Connect
As of Aug 2022, the main town has 4G from all Greek carriers, but there's no signal elsewhere on the island. 5G has not reached this area.

Stay safe
The flip side to Hydra's environmentally friendly transportation policy is the presence of large amounts of what might be termed "donkey exhaust", so watch your step when walking around.

Go next
The nearest mainland regions are Attica and Peloponnese. Many ferries stopping in Hydra continue on to Spetses island, just 30 min away.

title: Hydra


text:
Hyogo

Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県 Hyōgo-ken) is in the western Kansai region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand
To the south Hyogo faces the Seto Inland Sea. In ancient times Inland Sea was the economic lifeblood of Japan, linking the capitals of Kyoto and Nara to trade with the Korean peninsula and China, while supplying a seemingly endless supply of fish. The Inland Sea still ensures the livelihood of millions of Japanese. It's no surprise then that most of Harima's population (and tourist sites) can be found near the coast, in cities like Ako, Akashi, Kakogawa, and Himeji.

Regions
When Japan's prefecture system was inaugurated in the first years of the Meiji era, most of the modern prefectures were made out of one or two of the old Japanese provinces (Hiroshima was once the provinces of Bingo and Aki, Nara was once the province of Yamato). Hyogo, however, inherited three whole provinces and sections of two others.

While these provinces no longer exist in any administrative sense, they came in to Hyogo with distinct regional dialects and identities. This combination has made Hyogo one of the most geographically and culturally diverse prefectures in Japan, and the only one to span the width of the central island of Honshu.

 * Tajima — in the north of Hyogo along the Sea of Japan.
 * Awaji Island — at the entrance of the Inland Sea, culturally linked to Shikoku.
 * Tamba — shared with Kyoto Prefecture, in the northeast of Hyogo.
 * Settsu — shared with Osaka Prefecture, home to Kobe and the Hanshin area.
 * Harima (播磨), also known as Banshu (播州), is in the southwest of Hyogo, along the Inland Sea. Harima was an independent province in feudal Japan. Harima is centered on the Harima Plain, a large alluvial plain spanning from Akashi in the east to Tatsuno in the west. Further west the terrain gets a little more mountainous, but this is nothing compared to the mountains that make up its northern border with the region of Tajima. While these mountains can be a hassle for getting around (there is only one direct train line between Harima and Tajima) they also protect Harima from the harsh winter weather that blankets its northern neighbors in snow. As a result residents of Harima can enjoy the ski slopes of their northern neighbors while enjoying relatively mild winters back home. Harima is known for a variety of locally-made knick-knacks, which include cutlery and fabric. The dialect in Harima (播州弁 Banshu-ben) is a mixture of the Kansai and Chugoku dialects, and has the dubious reputation of being the harshest in Japan. Listen for rolled Rs.

Tourist information
[https://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/ HyoGo! Navi] is the prefecture's official Japanese-only tourism site (with integrated Google Translate).

Cities

 * — The prefectural capital, a cosmopolitan port city with an international flavor
 * — A port city known for its fresh seafood and Akashi-yaki (a variant of Takoyaki) and the world's longest suspension bridge
 * — A city famous for salt and the legendary 47 Loyal Samurai
 * — Home to Japan's most beautiful castle
 * — Home of Koshien Ball Park and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
 * — Famous for its all-female theater productions and Tezuka Osamu Museum
 * — Home to Japan's most beautiful castle
 * — Home of Koshien Ball Park and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
 * — Famous for its all-female theater productions and Tezuka Osamu Museum

Other destinations

 * - Historic hot spring within easy striking distance of Kobe
 * - Onion farms and large bridges to Shikoku

By plane
The prefecture's only significant airport is Kobe Airport, serving a limited variety of domestic destinations.

Adjacent Osaka Prefecture's two major airports offer many more flights: Kansai International Airport is a major international hub, and Osaka Itami (formally Osaka International Airport, ) is Kansai's busiest and best served domestic airport (in fact, its North Terminal and runways are in Hyogo. Only its South Terminal is in Osaka Prefecture). Both have convenient transportation links to Hyogo – Itami is only 40 minutes away from downtown Kobe by bus and Kansai has a direct ferry link to Kobe Airport (40 minutes from terminal to terminal, subject to cancellation during bad weather).

By train
Kobe, Akashi, and Himeji are all on the San'yo Shinkansen line, with through services on the Tokaido Shinkansen for one-seat rides from Tokyo. Himeji is also the first morning westbound stop on the Sunrise Izumo/Seto, the last scheduled service sleeper trains in Japan. If coming from closer by, these cities are also well served by regular JR trains on the San'yo Main Line and Tokaido Line.

See

 * Japan's Belly Button Park (日本のへそ公園 Nihon no Heso Kouen). This park in Nishiwaki city is considered to mark the geographic center of Japan, which is locally called its belly button. There is a large monument to the belly button, and the park is also home to a children's science museum. If you go in they will eagerly make you watch their planetarium show and then let you use their massive telescope. The actual geographic center is not in the park, but down a hill, past the 日本のへそ公園 train station, through a small tunnel and along the Kakogawa river. Don't miss the charming art gallery next to the train station.
 * Himeji Castle. One of Japan's best castles, a 5-year renovation was completed in 2015.
 * Meditation. Antaiji (安泰寺), Kutoyama, Shinonsen-cho, Mikata-gun. This is no guest house. Antaiji is a monastery in the Soto Zen school. It was founded in 1923, and made famous as a place for serious meditation and simple living by Sawaki Kodo Roshi and his student, and later abbot, Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. Many foreigners have practiced at Antaiji, and it continues to welcome serious overseas trainees for short and long term stays.

Go next

 * Kyoto Prefecture borders Hyogo Prefecture to the east. Obviously, the city of Kyoto is a great destination for any tourist in Japan, due to its abundance of historical and cultural sites, such as Kiyomizu Temple and the Imperial Palace. Uji is also worthwhile, with the famous Byodoin Temple, Ujigami Shrine, and Manpukuji Temple. If you are in northern Hyogo, Amanohashidate is a worthwhile destination, with its main attraction being the view, considered to be one of Japan's Top 3 views.
 * Tottori Prefecture meets Hyogo on the northwestern border. The city of Tottori is most famous for the Tottori Sand Dunes, the only sand dunes in Japan, as well as the Kannon-in Garden and Kawahara Castle.
 * Okayama Prefecture lies to the west of Hyogo. Bizen, located close to Hyogo, is where the famous Bizen swords and Bizen pottery were first made, and there are museums with artifacts and information about making them. The capital, Okayama, features one of Japan's Top 3 gardens, Korakuen Garden, along with Saijo Inari, one of Japan's Top 3 Inari shrines. The city also has a wide variety of museums and Okayama Castle, the famous black castle. The city of Tsuyama features Shurakuen Garden, the historic Joto Street, and Kakuzan Park, which contains the ruins of Tsuyama Castle and is a great place for cherry blossom viewing. Kurashiki is well known for its charming Bikan historic district, a well preserved and quite large area filled with historic buildings, shops, and museums.
 * Osaka Prefecture is located to the southeast. The modern city of Osaka features a wide variety of shopping areas, such as Namba and Umeda. This city also features a variety of museums and cultural sites, such as the Kaiyukan, an excellent aquarium, and the famous Osaka Castle. For historic sites, Sumiyoshi Shrine is a great destination, along with Shitennoji Temple. In the city of Sakai lies the Nintoku Tomb, the largest burial mound in Japan. In Suita City one can visit Expo Memorial Park, which is where the 1970 World Expo was held. The famous Tower of the Sun can be seen here.

title: Hyogo


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Hythe (Hampshire)

Hythe is a town in Hampshire, a county in England. This article also covers Fawley and the surrounding area.

Towns in Hythe

Towns in Fawley

Understand
The village of Hythe lies in a pivotal position on the western shore of Southampton Water abutting the New Forest. In the area now known as the Waterside, Hythe is the central village of numerous small communities vastly expanded by dormitory housing serving the petrochemical industries in the Waterside and the City of Southampton.

Calshot Spit comprises a flint pebble structure around one mile long. Between it and the main shore is a salt marshy area with a wealth of wildlife and birds. The nearby Fawley Power Station discharged cooling water into the shallow waters around Calshot beach, and this has led to some reports of warm water species being attracted into the Solent. The Habitats Directive Review of Consents for the Solent Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC) did indeed identify thermal pollution on the intertidal zone on the west shore of Southampton Water, but this is likely to be from more than this one source. Excavation for the nearby power station discovered buried land surfaces from the Neolithic period.

By plane
is a relatively small airport and serves destinations in the UK and Europe. It is about 15 miles from Hythe via the M27.

By ferry
The Hythe ferry is a practical and charming way to travel between Hythe and the Town Quay in central Southampton. An adult return costs £7 (return leg valid for a month), and cycles are charged £1 (as of 2020). The ferry departs every half hour, 7 days a week and the journey takes about 15 minutes. If you like quirky transport and spectacular sea views then the journey is worth making just for fun. A shuttle bus operates at the Southampton end between the Town Quay, the West Quay shopping centre and Southampton Central station.

By train
Hythe no longer has its own main line rail service – the last train ran in 1966 and the station is now the village museum. However, you can reach Hythe easily from the stations at Lymington and Southampton (via bus or ferry).

By taxi
There are a couple of local taxi companies providing local and long distance travel services from major airports, towns, bus and rail stations to Hythe. New Forest Taxi and Soton Taxi provide instant cab/taxi booking facility.
 * Taxi fare is approximately £80 from Heathrow, £90 from Gatwick, 130 from Luton and £20 from Southampton, £30 from Bournemouth airport.

By bus
Bluestar Buses travel from Southampton, £8, between 1 hour 20 and 1 hour 30.

Get around
Hythe is on the eastern edge of the New Forest.

Do

Eat

title: Hythe (Hampshire)


text:
Hythe (Kent)

Hythe is in the District of Shepway, in Kent. In medieval times Hythe was one of the Cinque Ports responsible for England's maritime defence. Then the Kent coast silted up, leaving the village inland.

Visitor information

 * Visit Folkestone and Hythe website

By car
Your best option.

From London, the main road leading towards Hythe is the M20, which runs via Maidstone and Ashford. Exit the M20 at junction 11, and follow the signs for Hythe. From the Brighton direction, take the A259 via Hastings, Winchelsea and Rye along the scenic coast route. Coming from the Dover direction, travel along the A20 and M20, passing by Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel, and exiting junction 11.

By train
The nearest train station to Hythe is the annoyingly-rural, which is served by one Southeastern train per hour in each direction on the line from London Charing Cross to Dover Priory. Infrequent buses (Stagecoach routes 10, 10A, and 18) link the station to Hythe; alternatively, your only options are to call a taxi (JJ Taxis, ) or to walk the two-and-a-bit miles along the road into town - fortunately, there is a pavement.

Do

Go next

 * Romney Marsh
 * Port Lympne

title: Hythe (Kent)


text:
Hyuga

Hyuga (日向) is a small, but prominent port city in northern Miyazaki prefecture. It is a small city with a population of just over 60,000 with a long and varied history.

Hyuga was historically one of the most major ports in Kyushu, acting as the gateway to Kyushu, but shrunk with the introduction of trains. Now, Hyuga is most famous for its natural beauty, white sand beaches, and surfing. It makes a perfect trip for those visiting Miyazaki or other parts of Kyushu.

Lore
According to legend, the first Japanese Emperor, Jimmu, came from the Miyazaki area. Ninigi, grandson of the Sun goddess Amaterasu, came to down from the heavens to Takachiho. His grandson, Jimmu, went to what is modern day Miyazaki City and at the age of 15 became the crown prince of the region. At the age of 45, he heard about a very abundant land called Yamato, in modern-day Kansai, to the east. Jimmu and his army walked up the eastern coast of Kyushu looking for a decent port, eventually stopping at Mimitsu (southern Hyuga). They lived there for a time and built their warships. He launched his conquest of Yamato from Mimitsu and traveled to the Kansai area. There he fought his way to the Yamato Plain, establishing himself as the first Emperor of Japan and the start of the long line of Emperors.

On his way there, he stopped at an independent island that was at that time unnamed. This small farm covered island was known for academic pursuites. The villagers there told him about a whale that terrorised the village, killing fishermen who left the island. Jimmu decided to help the villagers and killed the whale. The villagers rejoiced and subsequently enshrined the spear (鉾 hoko) he used. After that, the island was known as Hokoshima (Spear Island). Over time, the pronunciation changed and today it is known as Hososhima, despite no longer being an island.

Hyuga also has a huge boulder of naturally fused pebbles near the sea at Omi Shrine. This is supposedly the boulder (さざれいし) mentioned in the Japanese National Anthem.

History
The Hyuga area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Archeologists have found stone tools and stone mounds dating back as much as 30,000 years ago, placing it in the early Japanese Paleolithic period making it one of the earliest inhabited areas of Japan. There are also active archeological digs uncovering pottery from the Jomon Era which you can see in many of the museums in Hyuga.

Many thousands of years later, Emperor Keiko conquered Kyushu to bring the local tribes into the Japanese Empire. It is said that following a war to subjugate the Kumaso people (an ancient tribe that used to live in the Miyazaki area), Emperor Keiko faced East and said, “I name this country Hinata because it faces the rising sun.” Hinata (日向) literally means "facing the sun" or sunwards. Hinata-no-kuni (日向の国) was later changed to Hyuga (日向) and eventually to Miyazaki during the Meiji Period. Hyuga City (日向市) has adopted the Prefecture's old name.

There used to be castles on the mountain behind Omi Shrine (Hichiya Castle) and in Shiomi (Shiomi Castle), in western Hyuga. Shiomi Castle was totally destroyed and never rebuilt and Hichiya Castle is just ruins that have now been swallowed up by forest.

Geography
Central Hyuga is centered on Hyuga-shi Station. The greater Hyūga area is 336.29 km², much larger than the city limits as a result of mergers with other smaller towns such as Togo and Mimitsu. Hyūga City is a small port city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, just south of Nobeoka. The city sits on flatlands between the Kyushu Mountains and the Hyūga Sea. The area along Cape Hyūga with its exposed hexagonal pillar rocks (columnar joint) and ria (saw tooth) coastline are designated as part of the Nippo-Kaigan Quasi-National Park. A bit south are famous beaches such as Ise-ga-hama, Okura-ga-hama, and Kane-ga-hama, known for their surfing.

Weather
Hyuga has a mild, but humid subtropical climate with no dry season. The climate is comparable to the southern coastal areas of the United States or southern Europe. The average summer daytime temperature is about 30 °C (86 °F) with 80% humidity. The average winter daytime temperature is about 13 °C (56 °F) with 60% humidity. Early summer is marked with the rainy season in June and July. This is followed by an incredibly hot, humid summer and daily sunshine, but is often accompanied by typhoons. Winter is mild with small amounts of rain.

If you are planning on coming to Hyuga during the rainy season, have an umbrella or be ready to buy one. If you are coming during mid summer, be sure the place you are staying has air conditioning.

Money
It is possible to withdraw cash using credit or debit cards issued overseas, but many Japanese ATMs are not compatible with overseas cards. Every post office in Japan has an international ATM, and tend to offer the best exchange rate. Strangely, these ATMs, like human tellers, close at night and either have weekends off or reduced hours.

Aeon mall also has a postal ATM; look for a green sign with "JP BANK ゆうちょ銀行".

There are 24-hour ATMs at most convenience stores, but 7/11s are best for international withdrawals.

Major districts

 * Shinmachi

Shinmachi (新町) is Hyuga's downtown area. Hyuga City has been engaged in large scale urban renewal, slowly widening roads, creating new businesses, beautifying, and modernizing the city center. As such, Shinmachi is probably the most modern and tidy downtown areas in Miyazaki Prefecture. This region is centered around Hyūgashi Station.

 * Hososhima

Hososhima (細島) is Hyuga's waterfront. This district is bisected by a mountain, giving each side a very different feel.

The southern part of Hososhima is centered around Hyuga's commercial fishing port between Komenoyama and Makishimayama. It looks and feels like a fishing village from the late Edo or early Meiji period. Many of the buildings are actually from the Edo period, but may be poorly maintained. Despite this, the area has a nice atmosphere, like an old fishing village with some Edo Period buildings still in good shape. This is good if you want to see more traditional Japan without the drive to Mimitsu.

The northern part of Hososhima is centered around Hyuga's Industrial Port. It is mainly large factories and trade storage, but doubles as the cruise ship terminal. As the largest port in northern Miyazaki, it serves as the main international trade port in the area handling materials and goods import and export in the region.

 * Mimitsu area

Mimitsu (美々津) was a port town to the south of Hyūga which merged with Hyuga in 1955. It is famous for washi paper and fishing. It is also supposedly the port from which the first Japanese Emperor, Jimmu, launched his military expedition to conquer Yamato and establish it as the center of power.

In the 19th century, it was a prosperous commercial port that was a hub for trade with the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe, with so many houses belonging to merchants and shipping agents crowded together that people used to refer to the thousand houses of Mimitsu (Mimitsu-sengen). It disappeared from the map with the advent of railroads. In 1986, it was designated as a national important preservation district for groups of historic buildings, and much of the 19th-century atmosphere, including traditional buildings, earthen walls, and stone pavements, remains. It is about 30 minutes from Central Hyuga, so you will need to drive or take a taxi or bus.

 * Togo

Tōgō (東郷) is a small mountain town. It is famous for Udon. It is also the birthplace of Wakayama Bokusui, a famous Tanka writer. The Udon here is to die for, the exhibits on Bokusui are interesting if you like traditional Japanese poetry, and the scenery is beautiful, but there is little else to do here.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
The nearest airport is in Miyazaki City, though Kagoshima Airport typically offers cheaper flights. From Miyazaki Airport, you can drive or take the Nippo Main Line (60 minutes by express train).

By train
The Nippo Main Line, which runs along eastern Kyushu, has several stops in Hyuga City including Mimitsu, Minami-Hyuga, Zaikoji, and Hyuga-shi stations. Hyuga-shi Station is the main station in Hyuga, but be careful, there are several other stations along the Nippo Line with "Hyuga" in their name. These have no connection with Hyuga City.

You can easily get there from transport hubs and major stations such as Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Oita Station, and Kagoshima Chuo Station. Fees will vary but will usually cost from ¥4000-6000 one way depending on your location.

Within Miyazaki Prefecture, travel by the local train costs far less, but takes more time. From Miyazaki City, a local train costs ¥1290 one way (75 minutes) and the express train costs ¥2110 (45min).

By bus
Hakko Liner (高速バス ハッコーライナー) is an express bus service serving Hyuga, northern Miyazaki and Fukuoka. A round trip from Fukuoka will cost only ¥7,000, however as this line is mainly a way for people from Miyazaki to get to Fukuoka, buses from Hakata station only leave in the evening (buses from Hyuga to Fukuoka will leave early in the morning). The website is in Japanese only, but it has embedded Google Translate, making it usable if clunky.

While bus services directly to Hyuga are limited, Miyazaki City has several express bus routes that link it to every other part of Kyushu. One could easily take these buses and then transfer using local or express train lines.

By car
If you can drive in Japan, cars are far more convinient. Route 10 is a highway that connects all the major cities in eastern Kyushu. Driving along Route 10 is slow and does not offer much of a view. It takes 2 hours from Miyazaki City.

The Eastern Kyushu Expressway is a tollroad, but it is much faster than route 10, taking only 1 hour from Miyazaki City and almost 2 hours from Oita City. From either destination, expect to pay just over ¥2,000.

Get around
The Hyuga Regional Information Center Tomitaka, just outside of Hyuga-shi station, and the information booth at the cruise ship terminal (if there is a cruise ship), will have plenty of flyers in multiple languages and typically an English speaker present. These will help you find your way around.

By bus
Bus services and public transportation access to tourist spots in Hyuga is limited, typically about 1 bus every hour. It is probably better to avoid this unless you are confident about timing and use of buses in Japan. As a whole, locals avoid using the buses.

By car
Car rental is available near the station. The Hyuga City Tourism Incorporated Association, located in the Information Center can help you find the nearest one. There are two rental stores also listed in the Hyuga Walking Map.

By taxi
Taxi is fastest and most convenient if you can not drive in Japan, but as in the rest of Japan, fares do add up, so be careful.

Hyuga City runs a Tourist Taxi service which can get you to the tourist destinations for 2/3 the price of standard taxis. These are available through the Hyuga City Tourism Incorporated Association in the Information Center at Hyuga-shi Station.

When you reserve these taxis, they will ask you which route you want. These recommended courses include:
 * 1-Hour Course (¥2200): Hyuga-shi Station, Umagase, Kurusu no Umi, Hyuga-shi Station
 * 2-Hour Course (¥4400): Hyuga Cape, Hyuga-shi Station, Umi no Eki Hososhima, Umagase, Kurusu no Umi, Omi Shrine, Hyuga-shi Station
 * 3-Hour Course (¥6600): Hyuga-shi Station, Omi Shrine, Kurusu no Umi, Umagase, Mimitsu or Togo (Bokusui's Home and Bokusui Wakayama Memorial Museum), Hyuga-shi Station

By bicycle
Bike rentals are available between 09:00 and 17:30 from the Tourist Information Center at Hyuga Station. They are labor-intensive but very enjoyable. This is recommended for travel within city, not for traveling to Mimitsu, Togo, or Umagase. Rentals are ¥100 for the first hour and an additional ¥50 for each additional 30 minutes.

See
Hyuga is most famous for its coastal areas and historical district, but there is more to see than just beaches.

Because it is the product of various mergers, Hyuga is quite spread out, with three main regions: Central Hyuga, Togo in the mountains, and Mimitsu in the south.

Famous products

 * Go Stones Hyuga is known for its production of Go stones, the highest quality of white stones are made from clam shell.
 * Hebesu Hebesu is a type of small green citrus fruit only grown in the Hyuga area. It has thin skin and few seeds, making it very easy to use in cooking or juice. Hebesu juice is tart, but much milder than a lemon or lime. During Hebesu season, locals will add this to a lot of their food and drinks, especially meat and alcohol. Try hebesu if you come in the summer or early fall.
 * Kumquat Hyuga kumquat (金柑, kinkan) are said to be larger and slightly sweeter than normal kumquat. They are a winter fruit, so try them if you come in mid to late winter or early spring.

Eat
Hyuga has a lot of agriculture and an abundance of fresh specialty food. Some of these are available around Miyazaki.
 * Hyuga natsu (日向夏) — A yellow citrus fruit. The white part of the skin is sweet, so locals often cut the outer skin and eat the rest.
 * Hebesu or Hebezu (へべす) — A small green citrus fruit often eaten in other food or juiced.
 * Jidori Sumibiyaki (地鶏炭火焼) — Charcoal grilled chicken
 * Chicken Nanban (チキン南蛮) — Fried chicken with tartar sauce.
 * Chicken Sashimi or Tori-sashi (鳥刺し) — Miyazaki is one of the only places in the world where you can eat raw chicken and know you won't get sick. Oddly enough, it doesn't taste like chicken.
 * Sushi — Hososhima port is a commercial fishing port, so the fish is very fresh.

Drink
Hyuga City has no shortage of places to drink. Most of these are located generally around the izakaya, Hachiman. There are many bars, snack clubs (スナック), and Izakaya. To avoid surprises, it can be important to know the difference when you are looking for a place to go drinking.
 * Bars are good places to meet people, just like anywhere in the world, but many in Hyuga include karaoke and darts. Many of the bars in Hyuga have English names and clearly mark themselves as bars.
 * Snack clubs are halfway between a hostess club and a bar, with all female staff who serve drinks and flirt with guests. Snack clubs have limited drink selection, but include karaoke. Snack clubs will have スナック written somewhere on the sign and are always in buildings with other snack clubs.
 * An Izakaya is like a Japanese pub, featuring a variety of small plates of food and drinks. Izakaya are best for groups, and include some degree of privacy, with curtains or private rooms. You can usually tell an Izakaya because it has a more traditional look and its own building.

Connect
Like much of Japan, Hyuga is somewhat lacking in terms of public Wi-Fi, so don't have very high expectations. The tourist information center in Hyuga-shi Station and most convenience stores have free public Wi-Fi.

Most free Wi-Fi in Japan still require registering your email and a user name. This can get annoying if you have to keep registering over and over, so there are some Japan free wifi apps to help you search to locations and connect with the push of a button. If you install the app, be sure to register it in a place that you still have internet access, because you will need to open a confirmation email.

The city is also slowly installing free Wi-Fi hotspots for tourists. The hyuga_free_wifi hotspots are available at city hall, Togo Roadside Station, Seaside Station Hososhima, and in front of Omi Shrine. To access this Wi-Fi, you need to input the password (0982522111), your email, and our own password. You can do this without internet access, but you can only access this Wi-Fi for one hour at a time up to 4 times per day.

If you want to use a computer, you can often use one in your hotel or go to an internet cafe (which can be a bit sketchy).

Go next

 * Kadogawa
 * Nobeoka
 * Saiki
 * Misato
 * Kijo
 * Tsuno
 * Kawaminami
 * Takanabe
 * Saito: The site of over 300 kofun, burial mounds, built over 1,500 years ago.

title: Hyuga


text:
Hyvinkää

Hyvinkää (population 47,000 in 2021) is a town in Southern Finland. It provides many opportunities to exercise in nature. The green and verdant city also offers various cultural experiences.

Understand

Hyvinkää’s Tourist Office is in city hall, address Kankurinkatu 4-6 building O. It is open M-Th 08:00–16:00 F 08:00–15:00. The Tourist Office provides brochures and maps of Hyvinkää area and various destinations and cities across Finland. The services are free for all customers. You can find free brochures also from Prisma shopping centre, Kauppakuja 2

History
Hyvinkää community was founded 1917 and it became a town in 1960. Before 1917 Hyvinkää was part of Nurmijärvi community.

Get in
Hyvinkää is about 50 km from Finland's capital Helsinki along the Helsinki–Tampere railway. Highway 3 (E12) between Helsinki and Vaasa passes near the centre.

By train
Hyvinkää is on the backbone railway from Helsinki northward to Tampere and farther, but you need to take or transfer to one of the suburban trains to or from Helsinki (R, H or T). See VR. It is a 45-min train ride from Helsinki, 1½–2 hr from Tampere.

By bus
There are several coaches operating from Helsinki to Hyvinkää. Most stop at the bus station, some late buses just pass Hyvinkää by Highway 3 (E12). The ride takes 1–1½ hr depending on whether it is direct or not. Some services between Helsinki and Tampere stop at highway 3, stop name in Matkahuolto schedule search is "Hyvinkää liittymä 16". See Matkahuolto.

By car
Hyvinkää’s centre is 2 km from highway 3 (E12). The south side of Hyvinkää borders road 25 between Porvoo and Hanko.

By bus
Hyvinkään liikenne operates 6 regular-schedule local bus lines. The ticket costs €2.50 for adults or €1.50 for children under the age of 12. The ticket allows one immediate change at the railway station, where all the buses depart from. Buses usually go every half an hour, at 15 and 45 minutes past from the railway station and at 00 and 30 minutes past from the other end of the route. Matkahuolto Reittiopas route planner includes information about local bus lines. Routes and Tickets mobile app has an address based routing and also a ticket purchase option directly from the app.

By bike
Hyvinkää is well known as a bicycling city. Grab a free cycling map from the tourist information centre.

By scooter
You can rent electric kick scooters for use in the centre from Finnish Swup.

By taxi

 * See Uusimaa for information about companies and fares

Do
The city is surrounded by nature and therefore it provides people who enjoy sports excellent opportunities to exercise for example in the Sveitsi nature park, swimming pool or ski centre. There are also many interesting sports associations in Hyvinkää, for example pesäpallo team Hyvinkään Tahko, playing in Superpesis, American football team Hyvinkää Falcons, ice hockey teams H.K.H., Hyvinkää Storm and Hyvinkää Bruins and football (soccer) team Hyvinkään Palloseura,

Buy

There is a shopping centre,, which was opened in 2012. It has more than a hundred shops.

Eat
There are many restaurants in the center of Hyvinkää, for example Medicin Man, Martina, Amarillo and so on. There are also many places where you can get Asian food.

Internet
Many businesses have Wi-Fi for customers, ask the staff for details.

For free Wi-Fi and internet terminals, check the.

Go next

 * Nurmijärvi
 * Riihimäki
 * Tuusula

title: Hyvinkää