Lumbini Park Laserium

Since early 2005, Hyderabad has been host to a veritable marvel of contemporary engineering. With immense foresight and wisdom, the Department of Tourism has provided a world-class entertainment avenue which is at once affordable and convenient.

What we are talking about is the new Laserium that's come up beside Lumbini Park on the Tank Bund road. For nearly half-an-hour, you are taken on an enthralling and immersive sensual treat. Forget Tequila shots, forget psychotropic drugs. If you are in the quest for a more sober inebriation, this is where it's at. Psychedelic beams of all hues execute a seductive dance before your very eyes, even as your mind goes into sensory overload.

A state-of-the-art facility built with German help, the Laser show is worth every paisa of the 30 rupees you spend. Along with the laser animation, you get to watch awesome fountains dance to music of a quality that is utterly stunning. During the half hour, you are taken on a ride through our city's history, all 400 odd years of it, chronicling its birth and all its major milestones. It's Edutainment at its very best.

Of course, not everything is cool and froody with the laserium. You do have to sit by and watch impotently as Anaida is immortalized in amplified light. The fountain meanwhile is forced to dance to long forgotten Bollywood numbers. But the overall experience more than compensates for these momentary lapses of judgment.

One tip: Check out the tree to the right of the seats during the initial burst of laser. The effect is hauntingly captivating. You will not be disappointed.