Hyderabad rocks

An old, old picture. The famous "Mushroom Rock" in my university campus. One of the many such strange, fascinating stray rock formations in the city. A site most frequented by wanderers and lovers, but mostly by nature worshipers like me. All this dates back to a good seven years, when the world around us was a little greener. 

To come back to the now, while on our way to the airport last weekend for a short trip to my in-laws', we were awed by the dramatic rocky landscape once again. The airport being far removed from the heart of the construction sprouting city, one gets an impression of being ushered by these stunning rock beauties lining both sides of the freeway. Balanced as if by magic and stoic from the scores of years of experience, the rock structures stand strong under a mellow sky. Part of the sprawling Deccan Plateau, the basalt and granite boulders are stacked upon each other in the most mysterious manner. 

But very soon one awakens to the sad reality, and not without a jolt - everyday, bit by bit, this spectacular rockscape is thoughtlessly chipped down to make way for towering buildings. The math is simple - more greed, more infrastructure, more money. Thus, in the name of urbanization, merciless quarrying of an ancient treasure has chiseled away years of history and heritage. If not for the laudable efforts of the Society to Save Rocks, this wonderful piece of nature's handiwork would be lost forever. Hope the much published and less practiced "Rock Walks" take a big leap into every Hyderabadi's heart and spread the word - Hyderabad rocks, noun or verb.