A History behind Street Names of Hyderabad & Secunderabad

The street names of Hyderabad. In other words names of the legends behind these place names, not only make a fascinating reading, but also reflect the 400 years old glory of its culture, history and heritage. Each of these street names reveal an interesting account not known to many.

These streets talk about their ancestors and their contribution to the betterment of the city and the society. And these places remind us of our great departed souls, memorable events and incidents. The street names of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have a history and an architectural individuality of their own, which lend them the fragrance of romance. The history, here, like elsewhere, is etched on its walls and monuments, the deluge of heritage, which India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described as the ‘Microcosm of Indian culture’.

Another peculiarity of these names, unlike the names of places in any other city, is the addition of suffixes such as gudas, bads, baghs, kuntas, metlas, nagars and pallys.

The city which has an incredible and diverse culture draws many names form the legends as well as the unsung heroes of yesteryears. One scratch at these street names and out comes about 400 years history of this great shahar. Starting from 1497 AD till date, this place of Qutb Shahis, Asaf Jahis, Moghuls, and the Nizams has had its share of glory and gory. The names listed here have been painstakingly compiled from many sources, pieces of historical information, memory of bujurgs .

Hyderabad, the present name of our city was once called as Bhagnagar which stands for ‘city of gardens’. There appears to have been a number of gardens in and around the city of Hyderabad, such as Bashir Bagh, Amin Bagh, Bir Ban Bagh, Hardikar Bagh, Bagh Lingampally and Jam Bagh etc. Hence it was called as Bhagnagar. But, according to ‘Mahanama’, compiled by Ghulam Hussian Khan Jauhar around 1810 AD, the city of Bhagnagar was named after the lady Bhagirati, who was the queen of Ibrahim Qutb Shah, who married her during his exile at Vijayanagar. Bhagirathi, as narrated in Mahanama, had purchased seven villages and laid the foundation of the city of Bhagnagar. Hence, the city was named after Bhagirathi, the mother of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, who decreed that his capital city should be ‘a replica of heaven on earth’.

There is one theory that suggests that Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, the son of Ibrahim Qutb Shah and the founder of the city, named it after his beloved Bhagmati. However, one thing remains certain, whether he named it after his lover or mother, local inhabitants popularly used to call it Bhagnagar. And continued to call it so till the end of 17th century.

Later, probably it changed to Hyderabad, after the name of Hazarat Ali, a well known Shia Imam. Yet another name in circulation around that time was Farkhunda Buniyad, which meant ‘the city of good fortune’, the literal Persian translation of the earlier Bhagnagar. And the same was also found inscribed on the Asaf Jahi coins. While local people called it Bhagnagar, Khafi Khan a writer in 1687 informed that the city was re-named as Hyderabad only after the death of Bhagmati. Persians called it Aiderabad and Muslim nobility named it Hyderabad.

Secunderabad, part of twin city, was formerly known as Lashkar to many old generation people in the city. Lashkar meaning ’cantonment’ was renamed as Secunderabad after Sikander Jah Bahadur Nizam III in 1806. Secunderabad was also called the Residency Bazaar at the end of the 19th century. It was also developed to house British soldiers. In the early decade of the 19th century, the East India Company had declared Secunderabad as an important military base and a trading centre. Secunderabad is the abode for Secunderabad Railway Station, Head Quarters for South Central Railways, Parade Grounds and many churches. Kings Way, now known as Rashtrapathi Road (laid out in 1936 to relieve congestion), James Street (only existing thoroughfare before 1936 AD), now called the Mahatma Gandhi Road are part of this great locality.

Charminar, synonymous of Hyderabad, is the edifice of the four minarets. The awesome rectangular structure built upon four grand arches by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in1590-91 is the legendary masterpiece in the city. Because of this historical monument Char (means four) minar (means minaret) the area around it gets its name from this great landmark.

Originally it was called Mankal. Mohammed Shah Bahmani of Gulbarga named the fort Mohamadnagar. Golconda, one of the most impressive fortresses in ruins in India, is probably 2000 years old. It was a picturesque city with big gardens, broad thoroughfares and shops. That was the reason why the famous historian Farishta observed Golconda as an International marketplace where merchants converged from Turkestan, Arabia and Persia. Two of the world renowned diamonds the Koh-i-noor (weighed 787 carats, now 106 carats, it was valued at one million sterling at that time, is now found its place in the Imperial Regalia of British) and the so called Nizam’s Diamond, both trace their origin to this place.

Sitting smack in the centre of the city is Abids also called Abid Road. It is one of the busiest business localities in the city and undisputedly the heart of the twin cities today. Bustling with activity, it is quite simply the major shopping mall in the twin cities. St George’s Church, the 130 years old church and one of the oldest in the twin cities was built in a land donated by the Nizam in appreciation of the services of European community settled in the city in 1860’s during the tenure of the Resident, Sir George Yule. Built upon the patronage of the families of domiciled Europeans in the city, it accommodates 500 people.

With major establishments becoming important landmarks like Chermas, Big Shot, the famous Taj Mahal Hotel, Deccan Pen Stores, General Post Office, Golden Threshold (The erstwhile residence of the Nightingale of India, Sarojini Naidu, it accommodates a part of the Hyderabad Central University. Owned by Sarojini Naidu’s husband Dr. Muthyala Govind Rajulu Naidu, who after completing his higher studies in London took a commission in the Nizam’s Army as Major. The adjoining building which presently houses the Mysore Cafe was his clinic. Even the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, during one of his visits to the city, stayed here. The building was later donated by Sarojini Naidu’s heirs, for the establishment of the Central University), it is the hub of business activity as well as a place to visit. Around the early 19th century, a modern shopping centre was developed in this place. The origin of this street name is quite interesting.

Abid was the name of the owner of the first shop, Albert Abid, Valet and Steward, a Jewish merchant in the area. He was also a in charge to Nizam IV. Hence the place is so called. According to another version, Abids derives its name from the first departmental store of Hyderabad, owned by Abid Evans. Such was the popularity of this shop that the whole place comprising business centres got this name. However, the old, particularly hailing from the Old City, still refer to it as Abid Shop and Abid Ki Shop. Before getting christened as Abid Road, the place was known as Mustafa Bazaar. Mahboob Ali Pasha, the sixth Nizam, on a visit to Calcutta met Abid Evans, an American Jewish businessman. Impressed by him, he had brought Mr. Abid to Hyderabad in a royal train.

Abid set up a departmental store off the main intersection in a building which is presently known as Palace Talkies. Soon, the departmental store, offering all and sundry merchandise caught the imagination of the Hyderabadis and was turned into a major shopping centre, Not only the Abid Store, but the whole place was dotted with shops. Later, the main market was shifted from the vicinity of Charminar to Abids. F D Khan’s, which is one of the clothes stores at Abids, had weathered the test of time to remain in the reckoning. Popular for its uniform dress material, F D Khan’s is synonymous with quality. The shop was also the official supplier for the staff of the palace during the days of the Nizam. During the World War-II, when rationing on clothing material was imposed, F D Khan’s was appointed as official agents.

On Sundays and other holidays, book lovers drop in here from all parts of the city to get a good pick at bargain prices. In front of the closed shutters of shops lay heaps of books, periodicals, magazines and novels which attract people of all ages. Hence it is also called as Abids Book Bazaar. A treasure for the connoisseur of books!

Near Abids is Gunfoundry or Tope ka sancha which was built by a French General – Monsieur Raymond. The entire lane opposite to Mahboobia Girls School is known as

Gunfoundry. It was one of the several cannon and cannonball factories set up in 1786. So the locality is called Gundoundry. The locality houses headquarters of famous State Bank of Hyderabad, inaugurated on April 5, 1942 by Nawab Sir Aqeel Jung Bahadur, the then Member of Commerce and Industries, Nizam’s Executive Council, it was known as Hyderabad State Bank, which later changed to State Bank of Hyderabad, which brought name and fame to the city.

A couple of kilometers away from Gunfoundry is Saifabad, the abode of the State Government Secretariat, the Legislative Assembly (A blend of Indo-Sarcenic architecture, this completed its construction in 1913 to mark the 40th birthday of Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan in 1905. One of the most amazing features about this monument is that it had costed only Rs. 19 lakh. The Public Gardens where it is housed, one of the As largest city gardens in India, was thrown open to public in 1864 AD. The site for the Public Gardens was acquired by the Nizam’s Government in 1864 from Raja Balakrishna on the advice of Salar Jung I. Nizam VII used to be bestowed with Nazarana (tributes in cash and kind) on his birthday. Iron Bungalow, the oldest building in the Public Gardens, is adjacent to a very beautiful mosque, where the late Nizam used to offer his Jumme ka Namaz (Friday prayers). Before the opening of the Nehru Zoological Park, the Zoo was located inside the Public Gardens and it was here that the first Industrial Exhibition was held in 1939 and which even today is an important annual feature. The adjacent hill is called as Naubat Pahad. It takes its name from Naubat (drum), beaten vigorously to announce the royal Farmans (orders) during the Qutb Shahi and Mughal days.

Overlooking Gunfoundry, this is an epitome of a culture that is progressive yet steeped in religion. The pahad is also known as Drum Beat Rock. Adjoining the Hussain Sagar Lake, the office of our elected representatives – the Secretariat formed the residence of Nizam VII. Once a palace, it was built by Zafar-ud-Doula Saif Jung, the Peshkar or Deputy of the Nizam VII. Hence the place came to be known after him.

Intruding into Saifabad is Basheerbagh, the commercial nerve centre, the locality famous for Nizam College (110 years old, one of the most coveted and prestigious colleges of the twin cities, was established in 1887. Dr. Aghorenath Chattopadhyay, father of Sarojini Naidu was its founder Principal. The present building, a summer palace of Nawab Mulk Fakrul Bahadur, was a gift from him to the college). Feteh Maidan, a saucer shaped play ground, the field of victory, is also referred to as Lal Bhadur Stadium in present times. This is where Aurangazeb pitched his first camp on his victorious campaign against Golconda. In fact he is the one who coined the name Fateh meaning victory, after his triumph over Qutub Shah. From 1853 onwards Hyderabad’s rulers reviewed military parades or played polo here. Now it is the venue of cricket matches and political rallies. (It has a seating capacity of 30,00 people), lady Hyder Club – the testimony to the pivotal role played by women in Hyderabadi society then; Gandhi Medical College, Mor Medical Hall (The pharmacy store where the rarest of the rare medicines are always available. If a particular medicine is not available in this store, means it won’t be available in any other shop in the city) and rooftop of the city – Babukhan Estate (this 17 storied glass colossal is known for its neat maintenance and houses 699 offices plus the modest office of the author, Solus Media!). Basheerbagh acquired the name after Sir Asman Jah Bashir-Uddoula Bahadur, a Paigah noble, a proud owner of a garden located there.

The present site where Nizam College is located was earlier called Asad Bagh which meant Lions Garden. It was also known as Moti Bagh, the garden of Jasmine, and even today the main college building wears its pristine look with the crest of Unicorn.

Within close proximity to Basheerbagh is Hyderaguda, which houses MLAs (Old MLA quarters), Apollo Diagnostic Centre, CDR Hospital and a horde of schools. The name Hyderguda originated after Hyder Ali, the Taluqdar collector who owned the land, formerly owned by Waheeda Unnisa Begum, wife of Nizam V.

A little ahead of Hyderguda is Himayatnagar which was baptized after Prince of Berar and the eldest son of Nizam VI – Nawab Himayat Ali Khan. This street is famous for Hyderabad Stock Exchange, Telugu Academy, Dr. P. Shiva Reddy’s Eye Hospital (the famous Ophthalmologic surgeon, who has Guinness Book of Record and Limca Book of Record to his credit).

Couple of kilometers from Himayatnagar is Bagh Lingampally, known for LIG, MIG, HIG quarters and Ambedkar College, Sundaraiah Park, Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram and library. The old people in the locality inform that the area used to be full of fruit garden belonging to the Nawab, that is why the prefix ‘Bagh’. The place was a small village called Lingampally which had a tank where queens used to have their bath.

population exploded, city grew vertically and horizontally. The greenery vanished over a period of time and concrete structures replaced them. The migrants started occupying every inch of available place. The people lived on the bank (kunta) of a big tank or lake. So the place was called as Nallakunta.

Like Lingampally village there was one more village called Chikkadpally. The present Musheerabad, known as Central Jail, was formerly a part of Chikkadpally village, presently nerve centre of shopping and cultural activity (Tyagaraja Gana Sabha is situated in this locality). Musheerabad was a part of the jagir presented by Nizam II to Nawab Arastu Jah Mushir-Ul-Mulk, who constructed a palace and a garden in 1785 and named them after himself. Azamabad, the oldest industrial area in the city (whereas the other industrial clusters such as Balanagar, Sanathnagar, Kukatpally are quite recent) is located near to this place.

A locality that came up around the Residency (Kothi) is Chaderghat, one of the principal suburbs of the city. The locality was so-called after an anicut across the river which formed a ‘Chaddar’ or a ‘sheet of water’. Chaderghat bridge or Oliphant bridge was built by Col. Oliphant during the reign of Nizam Nasir-ud-Daulah. It was mainly a European/Eurasian colony dominated by European style of architecture, including the Christian churches and missionary schools.

Close to the southern bank of the Musi, off the highway to Vijayawada is the 100 years old Malakpet Race Course. It has been regarded as one of the finest race courses in the country. Named after Malik Yakoot, loyal servant of Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shahi, the first races were held here way back in the winter of 1879. The Nizam VI and his nobles were frequent visitors to this place. With a swimming pool for racing horses, a training school for jockeys, it is the most modern race course in India.

Further down is Saidabad named after Syed Mir Mommin, the Prime Minister of Golconda in 1591. A few kilometers away from it is Saroornagar – the land that was granted to Suroor Afza Bai, the wife of Hyderabad Prime Minister – Nawab Arastu Jah Bahadur. He built a palace, a tank and called it Suroornagar, which means a ‘city of happiness’. The intitial ‘Suroor’ over generations became Saroor, thus you have Saroornagar.

Situated far from maddening crowd of the city is Vanasthalipuram, considered to be the biggest colonies of Asia. This two decades old colony, in the beginning of the 19th century, was a densely wooded area boasting an abundance of wild animals and was the famous hunting ground or shikarghar of the Nizam of Hyderabad. Hence it is named as Vanasthalipuram. This once beautiful grassland today regarded as ‘janasthali’ with over a lakh population in about 42 colonies in and around this locality, this soon has become the preferred colony by many employees both private and government. Mahavira Harina Vanasthali – deer park, the Vipasana Mediation Centre, the Venkateswara Swamy temple and the Somnatha Kshetram are some of the attractions of this area.

Barkas is yet another rich colony situated south of Hyderabad of Arabic speaking businessmen. With fruit vendors, gulf money and mosques, this area full of thick forest in the beginning of 17th century is today flushed with dinars, dirhams. Most of the residents in the locality have pucca RCC buildings, electronic household gadgets and other phirang appliances. During 1724-1948, it became a focal point for the Nizam’s dynastic rule. It was in 1812 Nizam felt the need to modernize his army which comprised of Mughal army, irregular troops, regular army, the French Corps, Russel Brigade, Maisram army, etc. In April 1887, Jamait Nizam Mahboob raised a regiment called Maisram Regiment and moved to Maisram, a hilly locality where the Army had its barracks. It is because of these barracks the place adjacent to Maisram is called Barkas. There are 15 mosques, a CRPF Group Centre, CRPF Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bagh Sharfuddin, etc. worth mentioning in this locality.

The area around the Ashoor Khana became famous as Hussain Alam. Raza Ali Khan, the Dewan of Hyderabad in 1670 was given the title Nekh-Nam-Khan. After his death, a village named Nekh-Nam-Khampally has now become famous as Nampally.

Moazzam Jahi Market, one of the largest markets of retail trade in fresh fruits and vegetables till recently, was named after Nawab Jah Bahadur, the son of Mir Osman Ali Kham Nizam VII and the President of the City Improvement Board. The market building which completed its construction in 1935 was inaugurated by Mir Osman Ali Khan Nizam VII. The other big wholesale market for vegetables is Mir Alam Mundi, which was christened after Nawab Mir Alam, Prime Minister of Sikander Jah Bahadur Nizam III.

The city of Hyderabad has a number of bazaars and mohallas. The biggest mohalla Dabeerpura is called after Abdul Sannad Dabirio-UI-Mlk, a scholar and noble man. Begum Bazaar famous for wholesale grain and other business was the piece of land gifted to public to conduct trade by Humala Begum, wife of Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur. So it is called Begum Bazaar. Every Thursday there used to be a special market called ‘Jumme Raat Ki Bazaar’, a tradition that is continued even today.

A lot of markets mushroomed around Begum Bazaar like Moazzam Jahi, Siddi Amber, etc. Area near the British residency was called as ‘Residency Bazaar’ but after 1933, the land was restored to Nizam VII, who named it as Sultan Bazaar. Nizam V donated some land to the grain merchants to store and sell their grains. This area came to be known as Afzalgunj.

Siddiamber Bazaar is called after Siddis -the Afro-Arabs who sold amber or perfumes. They also served as cooks and palanquin bearers. Noor Khan Bazaar was called so after Noor Khan, the ablest administrator in the country who on the request of the Nizam II came to Hyderabad from Lucknow. There was a knight, who was honoured by a land grant by Nizam I, for his role in suppressing a revolt. The place came to be called after him, Ghansitmian Bazaar. Esamia Bazaar is named after a British loyalist Inidan Esamaiah, who stayed near the area. Over a period of time Esamaiah Bazaar had gradually become Esamia Bazaar, Hotel Haridwar situated in this locality is synonymous to the name of its place.

Troop Bazaar was a market place for a British regiment after 1857 attack. It is a corrupted form of Troop Bazaar. Chappal Bazaar, near Kothi, is a word derived from Telugu chapal or fish. The fish caught from river musi was sold here. There is one bazaar in Hyderabad, which no visitor can ever miss. That is Lad Bazaar. Historians have various versions about it. One version records that the doors in this bazaar were painted in a shade of red. Another says that it is a corrupted version of ‘Lary’ from Abdur Razzack Lary, the General, who valiantly defended Golconda on the eve of Moghul invasion. Hence it is so called as Lad Bazaar. The bazaar is famous for its bangles and bridal ware.

Somajiguda with the spacious Raj Bhavan is named after a pandit called Sonaji, employed in the Revenue Department, who resided in this area. Slowly, Sonaji became Somaji. Khairatabad, the thickly populated area is named after Princess Kahiratunnisa, daughter of Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah. The area which is on south western shore of Hussian Sagar was chosen as a location to construct the residence of the Princess who was not keeping good health. The ruler in the fond hope that the greenery and climate of the lake shore would restore the normal health of the Princess and asked his son-in-law, Hazrat Hussian Shah Wali, an eminent engineer to construct a residential palace, a mosque and a tank which is now called after him as Hussain Sagar (or the Tank Bund) as it is commonly called was built on a tributary of the Musi during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562.

The bund which links the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad today houses world’s tallest monolithic Buddha Statue, 33 statues of legendary personalities, Lumbini Park and Boats Club where the famous OK Dingy National Boats Regatta takes place. Incidentally, Tank Bund is the only picnic place available within close proximity to the people in the city (off late, the place has become a venue for Tank Bund Tamasha on public holidays). The famous 200 years old Hanuman Temple, Vijay Marie Hospital and The Institution of Engineers (India) (One of the largest professional bodies in the world, it was set up in November 1938. Inaugurated on November 15, 1938 by Sir Akbar Hyder Nawaz Jung Bahadur, the president of the Nizam’s Executive Council, it contributed its mite to the development of the State in general and the city in particular.

Presently, the centre disseminates information on 15 disciplines of engineering. Later this institute was renamed as Visvesvarayya Bhavan, after the famous engineer whose services were enlisted by the then government after the devastating Musi floods in 1908) are famous landmarks of this locality.

After the Nizam captured Golconda in 1724 from the Moghuls he camped near the fort in a village, which was renamed Asifnagar. Abdul Hassan Tana Sha on one of his visits to his Prime Minister’s house, was attracted to a landscape and its proximity to Mir Jumla Tank. He immediately has a palace built here and called the area Sultan Shahi.

Moghulpura is another area where Moghuls set camp. It was formerly called Da-e-ra-Mir Mommin, as it had burial grounds, donated by Mir Mommin. After the Moghuls left, a man named Zabberdast Khan got Tabarrukat from Ajmer and placed it here and called ‘Khaja-Moin-Ud-Din-Chiste-ka-chilla’, a name sill in use.

Pathergutti is so named because the entire area was made of granite stone. Lallaguda, also known as ‘Little England’ (like a street – Little India in Singapore, where there is concentration of Indian settlers) with majority Catholics living there was fortified village development by Thaniat Unnisa Begum alias Bibi Sahaba, favourite queen of Nizam II. He constructed a palace and a garden near Moula Ali, under the supervision of Lalla, one of the best architects of Hyderabad. Originally called Tahniat Nagar or Bibinagar, it came to be called Lallaguda after her death.

Then there are places named after communities like Banjara Hills, Baider Wadi, Bhaldar Wadi, Brahmin Wadi, Kumhar Wadi, Mehtar Wadi and Chakna Wadi (is derived from a dish prepared from the intestines of sheep). Gowliguda is named after the gowlis or milkmen. AC guards or African Cavalry guards, mainly comprised of Abyssinians, Somalis and European Officers and were a gift to Nizam VI from Raja of Wanaparthy. They formed the Nizam’s guards on State occasions. They established a camp around 1910, to the West of Lakdi-Ka-Pul and the area got christened as AC Guards.

Banjara Hills was once the rugged home of a gypsy tribe from distant Rajasthan who left home to follow the fortunes of warring armies, performing daring deeds that they sing about even today around campfires. One sees them occasionally in Hyderabad, the women gorgeously attired in bright flashy skirts, silver glints at throat, ear and nose, and heavy ivory bracelets click on golden brown hands. Thus the place surrounded by fascinating rock formations called as Banjara Hills.

Lakdi-ka-pul – there is no authentic information on how the area derived its name. However, according to a popular legend, a bridge with wooden poles (lakdi) was built across an old pond and so it was named Lakdi-ka-pul. Despite the construction of a concrete bridge and the lake vanishing, the name still continues to be in use. Lakdi-ka-pul comprises towering structures and a cluster of hotels and presents a picture of chaos and confusion. It is major centre for commercial and cultural activities.

The cultural nerve centre of Hyderabad – the Ravindra Bharathi (constructed on a small hillock overlooking the Legislative Assembly, it is the theatre frequented by cultural czars and is a major tourist attraction. It is the first theater established in the country to commemorate the centenary celebrations of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The foundation stone was laid in 1960, it has 1,104 seating capacity), Directorate General of Police, Ranga Reddy District Collectorate, Niloufer Hospital (founded by Princess Niloufer, wife of Prince Moazzam Jah, the second son of the seventh Nizam, the last of the Asaf Jah rulers in April 1949, it is the first hospital to set up a separate ‘Neonatal’ unit. It provides treatment for women and children) and Mehdi Nawaz Jung Cancer Hospital (Founded by the late Nawab Mehdi Nawaz Jung, a legislative luminary and a dedicated social worker in 1952, it has a capacity for about 110 inmates. It was formerly known as ‘Baithul-a-Mazureen’).

Masab Tank, is a distorted version of Maa-Sahaba Tank. Maa-Sahaba was a title endowed on Hayat Bakshi Begum, wife futub hahi VI. The ‘Talab’ or tank was built by Khanum Agha, Qutub Shah V’s mother, but it become famous after his wife as ‘Talab-e-Maa-Sahaba’. The upgraded ‘Maa Sahaba Talab’ got anglicized to Masab Tank.

The royal families also lent their names to various streets. Begumpet owes its name to Bashir-Ul-Unnisa Begum, daughter of Nizam II, who married a Paigah noble and received the land as part of dowry. Kulsumpura near Karvan was so called after Kulsum Begum, the daughter of Muhammad Qutub Shah.

Purana Pul or Old Bridge is the most famous of the four bridges of Hyderabad. It was built in 1578 by Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah, the king of Golconda. Tavernier, the celebrated French Jeweller, traveller and historian, wrote of this ‘bridge of love’ when he visited Hyderabad in 1676: “At Bhagyanagar you cross the river over a bridge no less beautiful than the Pont Neuf at Paris”.

Tarnaka, is derived from ‘Tar’ which means ‘wire’ and ‘Naka’ meaning ‘guard room’. It was thus called because the Nizam barbed the area and put up a guard room to protect his fruit gardens in the area. Though the tar and naka have disappeared, the boundary still exists in the form of Osmania University Campus. Tarnaka once a fruit garden has now turned into the cradle of intellectuals pursuits with a number of research institutions like CCMB, NIN etc.

Similar to Tarnaka, there are streets like Golnaka, Chatrinaka. But, the origin of these names is not known. Probably, like Tarnaka, these places must have had some guard rooms. Hayat Nagar, 16 kms away from east of Hyderabad was built by Hayath Bakshi Begum in 1626. This was the small village, where the ceremony of the first tonsure of Sultan Abdullah Qutub Shah was celebrated by his mother, Hayath Bakshi Begum, on a very grand scale of twelve days in 1631. May be because of Hayat Bakshi Begum, the place was thus known as Hayat Nagar.

Apart from these, other interesting pieces of history behind these places is one Saheb Ki Galli, named after a man who was perpetually irritated. Sookhe Mir Ki Kaman was named after a lean man. Gunge Nawab Ki Deewadi was named after a dumb nawab. Karvan, one of the oldest places in Hyderabad was a trade centre and had two sarais (guest houses) or Inns for the visiting businessmen. Hence, the name Karavan for the place. Mirpet, Muminpur, Muminpet, Dair-e-Mir Mumin and Mir Chowk are named after Mir Mohd. Momin Astrabadi, who was the architect of the new city of Hyderabad in 1591 AD. He was also a prominent Iranian in the city.

Thus Hyderabad, with its twin city Secunderabad, presents a fine picture of Muslim and Hindu cultural coexistence and the convergence of the past and the present, as well as the coming together of north and south India in its population, monuments, modern buildings, bazaars and way of life. Long live Hyderabad.

Information Collected and Compiled By:
B.Sravan Kumar, Moulali:Hyderabad

' BRAIN AND MEMORY' (SMRUTHI AND SHRUTHI)

Most of us suffer from short term memory, oblivion or forgetfullness, the inability to focus with a low attention span. The load on our brain is ever on the increase while its power is constantly on the decrease. Here are some simple things we can do to kickstart that inactive part of our brain.

1. Think positive!

2. Try to think and be creative! Find a new hobby or learn something new. Be it a musical instrument or a foreign language. Draw, write, sing or even try self talking during leisure.

3. Master the art of observation. You can also do theme observations wherein you try to count the same colour, vehicle etc. as you observe. Learn to understand the common fallacies and criticize them healthily. Learn to apply good observations in your life.

4. Try to reason things out, limit procrastinations and learn logic.

5. Try to practise ambidexterity or whole brain thinking. For example, do things with the left hand which you normally do with your right.

5. Use less technology. For example, if you need to make calculations try not to use a calculator or even a paper.

6. Once in a while, do things differently forcing your dull brain to spring in to action for the challenge. If you can't think of anything, solve a puzzle, or go back and learn your Math.

7. Have brain foods. Wild salmon, acaiberries, blueberries, turmeric root spice, organic 100% cocoa, matcha (green tea powder), nuts, pumpkin seeds are good nourishments for your brain.

8. To avoid lethargy, eat a little less and avoid overeating.

9. Sleep well and when you need take a power nap.

10. Exercise well!

11. Meditate for better focus and concentration.

12. Learn to take things with a laugh. And laugh out when you can.

13. Multi tasking is fine. But do things one at a time for better concentration and application.

14. Read and write! Read more especially about the human brain, be curious, be competitive and be ready for a change.

15. Enjoy lucid dreaming. Read more about it as your new task. Learn a new thing at least once a week!

Ways To Achieve Unrealistically Realistic Success

“Realistic is the most commonly traveled road to mediocrity”
– Will Smith

When a little boy says “I want to be an astronaut” – we smile at him and say, “Sure, honey, you can be anything you want to be!” When a twenty five year old man makes the same statement, we say, “Hey, be realistic!” Which basically means, “settle for something that brings you no satisfaction, just because you know you can get it”.

What happened in the 15 years that made a perfectly capable human-being turn into perfectly incapable grown-up, whose only choice in life is to get a degree in a highly- demanding field, find a regular job, work 30 + years and hopefully save enough money for retirement? It is as if in the course of our adulthood years instead of perfecting our skills, tripling our IQ, gaining valuable experience we are somehow getting dumber and less talented.

Common sense would suggest that if we could have accomplished everything we wanted at the age of 5, we are even more capable of doing it at the age of 25 or 50.

And since you and I are sensible people, let’s forget about the most depressing, demotivating, dream-killing cliché’s of our time to “be realistic” and go for something that we actually want and can accomplish!

Here are 9 ways to start achieving unrealistically realistic success:

1. Readjust your goals. Believe that success starts or is based on luck, intelligence, determination or some extraordinary talents. It starts with a big vision that is worth working for.

Take a look at your goal.

* Is it motivating?
* Is it inspiring?
* Is it the greatest goal ever?

If not, then perhaps you have made it too realistic. Psychological research shows that challenging goals lead to increased motivation and improved performance. It makes sense – the bigger the goal is, the more strongly we want to achieve it.

2. Think differently. If you do whatever everyone else is doing you will get the same results as everyone else is getting. Which is fine if this is what you want, but if you feel that you could do more/ be more/ achieve more, why settling for less? All of the greatest discoveries, multi-billion dollar companies and break through- accomplishments were done by people, who thought differently from the rest of the world and were not afraid to put their vision into action.

3. Ignore the “realistic dudes”. They say that you should not go to a doctor whose office plants have died. Just as you should not ask a person who has achieved very little, advice on success. Before listening to “kind-hearted” advice to give up on your goals or think smaller, consider this – most people who claim to “be realistic” spend 95% of their time worrying about things that will never happen. There is a huge difference between having your feet firmly on the ground and making Murphy’s Law “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” your life credo. Do not let the “realistic dudes” dampen your self-confidence and prevent you from going after your goals. Listen to yourself! You already know all the right answers!

4. See everyone as your equal. Two of the greatest fears: fear of failure and fear of success are caused by our unconscious need to compare ourselves with others. As a result we consider some groups of people to be “lower” than us and others to be “out of our league”, because we believe that they have something we have not been given. Here is the truth – no one cheated you at your birth. God did not send you to this Planet to demonstrate to you, your inferiority. You have all the intelligence, skills, tools and perfect circumstances to learn your lessons, develop and succeed. But it is up to you to figure out what success means to you and to make the maximum out of what you have been given.

5. Let go of what is holding you back. It does not matter what you have done to get where you are right now, because you cannot influence this. What matters is what you do today to get where you want to be. Let go of everything that holds you back and creates friction in your progress, be it past failures, pessimistic people or negative beliefs. They rob too much of your physical and mental energy.

6. Whatever you do, do something! Over time anything we do or do not do on a regularly basis turns into a habit. If we do not consciously try to change our behavior, our life style, opinions, and even relationships lose their excitement and become sedentary. Similar, no matter how great your ambitions are, if you do not do anything about them for a certain period of time, you develop a habit of constantly postponing your dreams for later Momentum is the key to breaking free from the evil spells of stagnation and making your life more exciting and satisfying.

7. Know when to quit. Being unrealistic and striving for higher goals is not the same as being unreasonable and stubbornly sticking to projects that have absolutely no chances of success. Learn to concentrate on your winning ideas and drop quickly the ones that do not bring any results.

8. Use Pareto principle to amplify your achievements. The Pareto principle (also known as 80-20 rule) states that around 80% of the effects come from only 20% of the causes. It means that 80% of your achievements are direct result of 20%of your efforts. And vice versa, 80% of your problems and negative situations are provoked by only 20% of causes. Think of what events/actions/beliefs are responsible for the majority of your distress and negative emotions and which ones are making you happier and more successful? Then amplify your accomplishments by eliminating the main “negativity” triggers and concentrating on those things that bring you most joy and greater results.

9. Choose the path of least resistance. As strange as it may sound, achieving bigger goals usually takes just as much time and effort as accomplishing mediocre goals. There is simply less competition at the top. Aim higher than majority of people and you will not have to waste your energy competing with 95% of the population who are going after “realistic goals”.

And if someone tries to breed doubts in your heart instead of listening to them listen to Michelangelo who said that, “The greatest danger for most of us in not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it”. He obviously knew what he was talking about!

10 home remedies to avoid swine flu

Are the rising swine flu casualties giving you jitters? Not sure how you can avoid falling prey to the growing epidemic? First and foremost,
there is absolutely no need to panic.

Watching television to keep tabs on the progress of H1N1, particularly in the badly affected areas like Pune, is all right. But don't let the hysterical anchors get under your skin and start wearing a mask each time you step out of the house, unless you are visiting a very crowded area. Then too, the mask will protect you only for a specified period.

Without giving in to the swine flu panic and creating a stockpile of Tamiflu and N-95 masks at home and enriching pharma companies, there are a number of other measures you can take to ensure that the virus is not able to get you, irrespective of which part of the world you are in.

It is essential to remember that all kinds of viruses and bacteria can attack you when your immune system is weak, or they can weaken it easily. Hence, building your own defences would be a better, more practical, long-lasting and much more economical idea.

Here are some easy steps you can take to tackle a flu virus of any kind, including swine flu. It is not necessary to follow all the steps at once. You can pick and choose a combination of remedies that suit you best. However, if you are already suffering from flu, these measures can help only up to an extent. And, if you have been infected by H1N1, visiting a hospital and staying in solitary confinement is a must.

1. Have five duly washed leaves of Tulsi (known as Basil in English; medicinal name Ocimum sanctum) everyday in the morning. Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties. It keeps throat and lungs clear and helps in infections by way of strengthening your immunity.

2. Giloi (medicinal name Tinospora cordifolia) is a commonly available plant in many areas. Take a one-foot long branch of giloi, add five to six leaves of Tulsi and boil in water for 15-20 minutes or long enough to allow the water to extract its properties. Add black pepper and sendha (salt used during religious fasts), rock or black salt, or Misri (crystalised sugar like lumps to make it sweet) according to taste. Let it cool a bit and drink this kadha (concoction) while still warm. It will work wonders for your immunity. If giloi plant is not available, get processed giloi powder from Hamdard or others, and concoct a similar drink once a day.

3. A small piece of camphor (kapoor) approximately the size of a tablet should be taken once or twice a month. It can be swallowed with water by adults while children can take it along with mashed potatoes or banana because they will find it difficult to have it without any aides. Please remember camphor is not to be taken everyday, but only once each season, or once a month.

4. Those who can take garlic, must have two pods of raw garlic first thing in the morning. To be swallowed daily with lukewarm water. Garlic too strengthens immunity like the earlier measures mentioned.

5. Those not allergic to milk, must take a glass of hot or lukewarm milk every night with a small measure of haldi (turmeric).

6. Aloe vera (gwarpatha) too is a commonly available plant. Its thick and long, cactus-like leaves have an odourless gel. A teaspoon gel taken with water daily can work wonders for not only your skin and joint pains, but also boost immunity.

7. Take homeopathic medicines — Pyrogenium 200 and Inflenzium 200 in particular — five tablets three times a day, or two-three drops three times a day. While these are not specifically targeted at H1N1 either, these work well as preventive against common flu virus.

8. Do Pranayam daily (preferably under guidance if you are already not initiated into it) and go for morning jog/walk regularly to keep your throat and lungs in good condition and body in fine fettle. Even in small measures, it will work wonders for your body’s resistance against all such diseases which attack the nose, throat and lungs, besides keeping you fit.

9. Have citrus fruits, particularly Vitamin C rich Amla (Indian gooseberry) juice. Since fresh Amla is not yet available in the market (not for another three to four months), it is not a bad idea to buy packaged Amla juice which is commonly available nowadays.

10. Last but not the least, wash your hands frequently every day with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds; especially before meals, or each time after touching a surface that you suspect could be contaminated with flu virus such as a door handle or a knob/handle, especially if you have returned from a public place or used public transport. Alcohol-based hand cleaners should be kept handy at all times and used until you can get soap and warm water.

(The author is an avid reader and follower of alternative therapies including spiritual healing, ayurveda, yoga and homeopathy)

Search for "exit" on google leads to.

A bit of related web 1.0 trivia. Back in the early Google days, the top result for the words "exit" and "exit now" was Disney.com because that's where countless porn sites were directing minors from their age verification pages in an attempt at sarcasm.

SOME FACTS

1. Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a person from stop producing tears. Try it next time you chop onions!!!!!! !!!!

2. Until babies are six months old, they can breathe and swallow at the same time. Indeed convenient!

3. Offered a new pen to write with, 97% of all people will write their own name.

4. Male mosquitoes are vegetarians. Only females bite.

5. The average person's field of vision encompasses a 200-degree wide angle.

6. To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it is ripe.

7. Canadians can send letters with personalized postage stamps showing their own photos on each stamp.

8.. Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.

9. It snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979.

10. Plants watered with warm water grow larger and more quickly than plants watered with cold water.

11. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

12. Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave.

13. Those stars and colours you see when you rub your eyes are called phosphenes.

14. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

15. Everyone's tongue print is different, like fingerprints.

16. Contrary to popular belief, a swallowed chewing gum doesn't stay in the gut. It will pass through the system and be excreted.

17. At 40 Centigrade a person loses about 14. 4 calories per hour by breathing.

18. There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.

19. Cats, camels and giraffes are the only animals in the world that walk rightfoot, right foot, left foot, left foot, rather than right foot, left foot...

20. Onions help reduce cholesterol if eaten after a fatty meal.

21. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.

22. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch and make it look=20 like it's smiling.

23. The color blue can have a calming affect on people.

24. Depending upon the shade, the brain may send up to 11 tranquilizing chemicals to calm the body

25. Leonardo da Vinci could write with the one hand and draw with the other simultaneously. Now we know why his pictures were exquisite!!

26. Names of the three wise monkeys are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Speak no evil).

27. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning it's head are the rabbit and parrot.

28. The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.

29. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age

30. The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start.

31. Electricity doesn't move through a wire but through a field around the wire.

32. All U.S. Presidents have worn glasses; some of them just didn't like to be seen wearing them in public.

33. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple.

34. Raw cashews are poisonous and must be roasted before.

Information On Indian Currency

Top 10 of Everthing

COUNTRIES

VACATIONS

AUTOMOBILES

BUSINESS & CONSUMERISM

MISCELLANEOUS

SPECIFIC TO THE U.S.

Soon, a fuel efficiency tag for cars

How fuel efficient is your car or two-wheeler? Chances are you don't know or have only a foggy idea, based on what brochures collected from showrooms said.

And they don't even factor in the difference between "test conditions" and real-life ones. By the year-end though, the government will make your job easier.

Under a voluntary scheme, vehicles are set to carry "star rating labels" that will specify how much fuel each model consumes and how well each fares in comparison to others in the same range. The government will certify as much.

The star ratings will conform to a voluntary standard and labelling scheme for the automotive sector - the first step towards enforcing mandatory fuel efficiency standards for cars, two-wheelers and heavy commercial vehicles.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency had begun the process of setting up mandatory fuel economy standards for cars, two-wheelers and heavy commercial vehicles almost a year ago but the move has gained momentum since following pressure from consumers.

With today's buyer as much hemmed in by growing oil prices as he or she is influenced by environment concerns, BEE believes the market itself will force a substantial number of auto manufacturers to fall in line with the voluntary standards and get their models verified for mileage before they put them in the market.

The auto-fuel policy had more than three years ago suggested that the auto sector come up with such voluntary schemes but the industry dragged its feet.

Now the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, mandated under the Energy Conservation Act, wants to use growing consumer consciousness to its advantage. While most developed countries spread over the Americas, Europe and Asia as well as key developing countries like China have already brought in mandatory standards, India has lagged behind substantially in "cleaning up" its act.

BEE, along with the auto industry, experts and other stakeholders, is already in the process of developing standards for different categories of cars. The auto industry, which has for long held back from sharing fuel efficiency data with buyers, is now more constructive, BEE sources said, adding that the agency will help willing manufacturers label their models and certify the fuel efficiency ratings of the vehicles.

With the bureau having successfully set up the two-step process of first bringing in voluntary labelling and then setting up mandatory standards for electrical appliances like air-conditioners and refrigerators, it is confident that with some modifications, the system would become successful for the auto sector as well. For starters though, it needs to work on a comprehensive classification method — two committees set up to formulate standards are yet to arrive at one.

Sample Crop - Seed Storage Vault

Feng Shui for your kitchen

The Chinese medical model emphasises on the nutritional value of food and is often referred to as the “post natal Chi”. Chi, in this context, refers to the positive energy of an individual which is attained by having nutritional food, essential for maintaining proper and harmonious Feng Shui.
Everything that is brought into the kitchen is changed in some way and this process of changing includes a cycle of energy that symbolises the entire process of life.

In order to understand the world of Feng Shui and the art of Chinese cooking, it is important to understand the logic of landscape to live, cook and eat in accordance with the dynamic harmony of nature. The common expression, “you are what you eat”, has been part of the Chinese culture for centuries. You can change what you are and how you feel by what you eat. We do this every day without particularly thinking about it. The most common ingredients in Chinese food are onions, ginseng, ginger root, garlic, carrot and spinach. They are called “medicinal foods” and you will find at least one of these items in each meal being consumed by them.

A fundamental principle of Feng Shui is that there should be a clear distinction between different functional areas inside a home and especially in the kitchen where different kinds of energies exist. It is mandatory to demarcate the areas of each function. It is important to keep the stove away from the water source. There should be a large window behind the sink and not behind the stove. Colours like brown and beige are good for the kitchen. A darker brown shade is good for the floor.

All equipment which rely on water should be put together in one corner of the kitchen as this makes any plumbing work easier and also ensures that there is no clash of elements. Remember a good and healthy kitchen is not just about good food but a harmonious environment, that supports the occupants and connects them with the energies of the premises.

Nokia laments that world knows it only as a brand

NOKIA (SOUTH-WEST FINLAND): Listen up. Nokia is more than just the phone in your pocket. Even though nearly two billion people around the world rely on and recognise the brand because they own the mobile, few know its story began in a town called Nokia.

Even fewer know that this quiet conurbation of 30,000 people, three hours away from Helsinki, is not just the birthplace of the sprawling multi-national Nokia Corporation, but the very roots of Finland’s industrialisation. And that there may be some corporate magic still in the heavily-wooded, green surrounds of Nokia town, fed by an important river and carpeted with wands of lupins growing wild.

For Nokia town continues, as it did back in 1868 when Nokia company began as a groundwood mill, to nurture unlikely global success stories and great corporate ambition.

It manufactures the world-beating winter tyre, the Hakkapeliitta. Its locally-produced Nanso clothes and Nabo leather bags are brand leaders in Finland and Scandinavia. The local paper mill produces the widely-used Lotus brand of face tissues and toilet paper. And it is home to Molok, the company that invented the eponymous revolutionary deep-waste collection bins now sold in their hundreds of thousands throughout the world from China to Canada, Australia to Europe and possibly coming soon to an Indian airport near you.

“We call Nokia town and nearby Tampere the Manse or Manchester of the Nordic world,” says Johanna Saksala of Molok. But she adds, in a lament increasingly heard of late in this town, “yet, few know about the town, few know that it is both a town and a brand name. Nokia town should advertise itself more, tell the world that this is where the phone company came from. It should get more out of the name”.

Marjo Paaskynkivi, who works for an aluminium company that feeds Molok’s busy and expanding Nokia factory, says the Nokia town should encourage tourism because visitors mean the chance to make connections and spread the word.

The complaint that Nokia town is failing to connect with the world sits oddly with its famous namesake’s advertising tagline, “connecting people”. But the local press is increasingly pointing out the town’s profit-less anonymity even as the brand continues to be the world’s largest mobile manufacturer. Two-fifths of the 3.3 billion handsets currently in use worldwide are Nokia but locals say the town whose name is now a trademark gets little recognition.

Paaskynkivi says the phone company’s success story may not have been possible elsewhere. The Nokia river, she points out, connects two lakes, which allowed the newly-founded Nokia company to expand on either fertile bank in the late 19th century. Crucially, it was able to grow food for its workers. This kept Nokia company’s labour costs low and gave it a stable workforce, allowing it to grow from fledgling paper factory and rubber-tyre manufacturer into the behemoth that bestrides the world. In a reflection of local angst Paaskynkivi says “Some here believe Nokia’s mobile phone success was paid for by Nokia paper factory”.

Archaeologist Vadim Adel is currently excavating the grounds of Nokia Manor, where the company’s founder Knut Fredrik Idestam lived within a stone’s throw of Factory Island, the place its first ‘global’ headquarters was built in 1908. He believes the Nokia Manor “is a very important archaeological site — there was activity in the stone age, metal age and early middle ages”. And now, the information Age.

The Manor continues to be owned by Nokia corporation, which still flies its top executives in for meetings to the place where it all began.

But even though the company has shifted its loyalties by moving headquarters to the capital Helsinki, Nokia town continues to be partisan about the brand. Says Tommi Heino, owner of the larger of Nokia town’s two mobile phone shops, “more than 95% of the phones we sell are Nokia”.

Control that Aggression

If you have ever felt restless over not finishing something as fast or as perfect as you would have liked to.


If you frequently find fault with and criticize other people. If you perceive life’s little aggravations as personal threats. If you come unhinged just thinking about the plumber’s next visit. If you frequently feel like taking a cricket bat and breaking someone’s windshield when their car gets too close to yours, you must read on. Chances are that you belong to the Type A personality and there are also chances that you are more prone to coronary heart diseases (CHD) due to the extra tension that you put on yourself.

Type A personalities are very hurried, impatient and rigid. They become irritated by others’ differing line of thinking. Type A’s are very competitive, and tend to be tense and edgy when it comes to work. They have poor impulse control and feel that they always need to be hyperactive in something or the other. When it comes to expressing emotions they express their anger with outburst and verbal comments, display strong emotional reactions, can be unpredictable with emotional consistency, and experience negative emotions. They may let their guard down only for business prospects and meetings.

Ask yourself if you display two or more of these behavioural traits
l If you are not multitasking, you think you are wasting time?
l Do you eat fast and leave the dinner table immediately
l Does it bother you a lot to wait in line or to be seated in a restaurant?
l Do you find that you are often highly alert, mentally as well as physically?
l Do you try to control and change situations and people according to how you want them to be?
l Do you always rush to finish tasks?
l Do you find it difficult, if not impossible, to relax, even on scheduled downtime?
l Does the car-driving errors of other drivers, the indifference of other people, or the tardiness of mail delivery upset you significantly?

The Type B personality, in contrast, is patient, relaxed, and easy-going. There is also a Type AB mixed profile for people who cannot be clearly categorized and have a combination of both types of personality. They know how to react and when to retract in certain situations.

What makes a person a Type A personality?
A variety of social, biological, psychological and behavioural factors influence the development of our character. Scientists agree that a largely genetic personal chemistry, or in-born temperament, influences a person to react to its environment in ways that can be assertive or shy. Such tendencies are further influenced by experiences. The combination of inheritance and experience form an individual's characteristic way of behaving, feeling and thinking — his/her personality.

Negative Effects of Type A Behaviour:
Over the years, the type of extra stress that most ‘Type A’ people experience takes a toll on one’s health and lifestyle. The following are some of the negative effects that are common among those exhibiting TAB:

l Hypertension: High blood pressure is common among “Type A” personalities, and has been to be as much as 84% more of a risk among those with Type A characteristics..
l Heart Problems: Some experts predict that, for those exhibiting Type A personality, are more prone to heart attacks.
l Occupation Stress: ‘Type A’ people usually find themselves in stressful, demanding jobs (and sometimes the jobs create the Type A behaviour!), which lead to metabolic syndrome and other health problems.
l Social Isolation: Those with TAB often alienate others, or spend too much time on work and focus too little on relationships, putting them at risk for social isolation and the increased stress that comes with it.

Dealing with your personality
Identify what makes you stressful and uneasy. Making a list of your stressful experiences is useful. Immediately deal with the issues that you can change, for instance delegating tasks in case you are taking responsibility for everything. Trying to be king of the hill is OK so long as it remains a game. When it becomes a stressful, obsessive and competitive desire to win no matter the cost, you’ve got a problem in your personality.

We sometimes catastophize every bump along life’s highway and anticipate the worst. Don’t paralyze yourself by magnifying your fears of the unknown and the uncontrollable. Give yourself a license to be imperfect.
Put the “vacate” in your vacation. Remember to get away from the ties to your stress and work. Put companionship, laughter, reflection and freedom into the vacation plans.

Follow your grandma's advice: healthy food and a good night’s sleep, backed up with regular exercise, is nature’s best prescription to combat a stressful lifestyle. Stay away from alcohol and caffeine, which actually increase your body’s stress reaction. When it comes to exercise, 30 minutes of daily aerobic activity is best, but anything that works for you-meditation, yoga, or even just going for a walk-is a step in the right direction.

Mental imagery relaxation, or guided imagery, is a proven form of focused relaxation that helps create harmony between the mind and body. Guided imagery coaches you in creating calm, peaceful images in your mind -- a "mental escape." Identify your self-talk, that is, what you are saying to yourself about what is going on with you situation. It is important to identify negative self-talk and develop healthy, positive self-talk. By making positive affirmations, you can counteract negative thoughts and emotions.