The cities largest and oldest park, Public Gardens is located in a busy
area in Nampally. With in the beautiful sprawling green garden premises
there lies a number of public buildings. To the right of the main gate
is a small beautifully constructed Mosque, where the seventh Nizam is
said to have prayed every Friday. Flanking the mosque are two old buildings
now occupied by the Abul Kalam Institute of Oriental Studies. To the left
is a mini school called Jawahar Bal Bhavan for children to be trained
in Fine Arts and an auditorium called Indira Gandhi Auditorium where exhibitions
and contests for children are held. The public garden houses two museums,
i.e the Health Museum and Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum,
a park for kids and an open air auditorium named Lalitha Kala Thoranam
which is a venue for many film festivals, fashion shows and beauty pageants.
Apart from these, the most stunning structure in the public garden is
the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly building. This white building
located amidst the sprawling green lawns is beautiful. There is also a
huge statue of Mahatma Gandhi sitting in a praying posture.
Entry timings are from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon and 2.00 P.M. to 5.00
P.M. It is closed on Fridays.