Treasure Island, India > Reviews (1)

Stuck where to party this weekend? Fed up with long queues at large commercial city Clubs, (and the extortionate London Club prices!) or maybe you fancy a change from dancing in small back street Clubs, well here’s a Club with a difference…it’s in the middle of nowhere, set in rural surroundings just outside of an army controlled area…near the city of Hyderabadin India. Ok, I realise this is a long way to go Clubbing just for the weekend but you wont be disappointed by the rural charm, location, atmosphere and wonderful hospitality of the local Hyderabadi’s. If you do manage a visit to the southern city of Hyderabad in India this is one Club, well the ‘only’ Club worth checking out!

Treasure Island, commonly known as ‘TI’ by the locals is Hyderabad’s first proper Club. It is situated in Gandipet, which is about 16Km drive out of Hyderabad city. For those of you not familiar with Hyderabad, it’s a place immersed with a rich history, heritage and known for its fine cuisine. It is a place that is rapidly modernising and expanding with its up and coming hi-tech developments in the world of IT. With the development it has a growing vibrant city life to cater to the needs of the young professionals, the University and College students and the locals.

I will try and provide you with some background as to why I was so impressed by this one and only Club in Hyderabad. Having spent my teenage years in Hyderabad at a time when there were no Clubs or Hotels with Disco’s in them, this is a much-welcomed place for the young crowd as well as the locals. Prior to opening of such Clubs the only discos in Hyderabad were private ones where the venues were at people’s houses.

Finding Treasure Island ~

This was my first visit to Treasure Island and I was really excited at the thought of visiting Hyderabad’s premier Club. Treasure Island also hosts concerts and we had tickets to see an Abba Revival Concert by the Group ‘Bjorn Again’ who were visiting India in December and the event was being held at Treasure Island. I had no idea where the Club was and was imagining a large commercial set up in the city, with neon lights, strict entry and maybe dress code (as is prevalent in some of the disco’s in Hotels in India). At first getting out of the congestion and dust of the city met us with a pleasant surprise as we progressed driving out of the city. As the traffic eased the air became clearer and the atmosphere more pleasant. The only thing that slowed our journey was that the route from Hyderabad to Gandipet has about 31 speed breakers! Being an army area the route was also dark with not many street lights, so I would advise you carry a torch incase of a break down. Upon reaching Treasure Island our tickets for the Abba Revival concert were checked by security guards and we could then drive along onto a dirt track of what was looking like an open farm. However, after a short bumpy drive we found tarmac parking with a reception house for guests. Without digressing too much about the Abba Revival Concert, which was held outdoors in open grounds, after an enjoyable evening we decided to check out Hyderabad’s night Life at ‘TI’.

Treasure Island (TI)

Treasure Island has acres of open land with purpose built cottages that allow families to take short weekend, daybreaks and enjoy the countryside. There are many daytime activities for children such as rides, swimming pool, karting etc, as well as access to mouth-watering cuisine. However as the night sets in Treasure Island becomes alive with its local disco; the atmosphere is buzzing, as the music gets louder. The crowds start arriving from 10.30pm onwards. Unlike Clubbing in UK there are no black cabs dropping people off, instead it’s a collection of private cars or people who have managed to talk their drivers into working late!! Entry into TI costs Rs.200 (which is about £3) so it’s not too pricey. At the time of writing the disco only operates on Saturday nights, though this may change in future if the demand is high enough on weekday nights.

As you approach the entrance to TI’s disco called ‘The Robber's Roost ‘ you will be impressed. It looks like a hut on an island made of wood, straw and logs and you suddenly start feeling relaxed, at ease with the open space, and your mind, body and soul are ready to unwind. TI’s hut like building is approached across a tiny bridge (footpath) made of wooden slats with a small stream running beneath. If you are drunk upon entry then you will have a surprise if you fall into the steam before you’ve even made it to the door! There were two ‘bouncers’ on the door but they are not like the heavies you usually find in UK’s clubs’ but more like “gurkhas” (watchmen) guiding people through. A flight of wooden stairs takes you to the Disco where the music is pumping and from the moment you set your foot in you know the party has just begun….

So you may be wondering what sort of music can you expect to find at TI..Garage, trance, hip-hop, soul, blues, 70’s, 80’s, rock or perhaps Hindi pop..? Well, you’d be amazed at the variety. At the time of my visit they were playing anything from Eminem to mixed ‘Bollywood’ re-mixes of various Hip-Hop songs on the 10,000 watt speaker system. I mean have you ever heard Shaggy’s tune re-mixed with an indian beat and Hindi words..? (Bollywood is a term used for India’s rather popular film industry, and it is often on a par if not greater than Hollywood at producing Blockbuster winners). Inside the atmosphere is relaxed with plenty of city crowd on the wooden dance floor, there is also a central dance floor area with glass squares that light up in various colours. The DJ’s are situated in a circular central place on the dance floor. A request from me soon got them playing some Hip Hop..much to the dislike of the most of the locals..still I enjoyed myself! If the dance floor gets too hot there is a chill-out area towards the back of the ranch like TI with tables and chairs with a couple of TV screens airing MTV. There is also a bar serving alcohol and soft drinks. The music is generally loud and the regulars seem to hang out at this joint. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and we left at around 2.

00am, I’m not sure for how long the Club stays open till but I doubt it’s beyond 4.00am.

Upon leaving the Club (assuming you make it over the bridge without falling into the water!) the scene is different to one found in England..no taxi’s, no night buses, no hot-dog stands, no chips, just a pile of cars with a few groups of people talking away into the early hours of the morning under the moonlight. The location of the Club is so pleasant miles out of the city and there are no mosquitoes!! That is a great blessing! The journey back to the city surprisingly didn’t take as long..and I’m sure there were less than 31 speed breakers…

Overall, TI is a great place where you can soak up the atmosphere, chill, and relax in the natural surroundings. It’s a place for people of all ages and you wont feel left out. There are other Clubs and bars in the city of Hyderabad such as ‘Under Deck’ located in Taj Banjara Hotel, Atrium (another Taj Hotel Group bar) at the Taj Residency Hotel, and 10 Downing Street situated in Begumpet in Hyderabad. But if you are looking for a unique location and a pure dance venue there is nothing that comes close to TI! So that’s Clubbing Hyderabadi style!!

Connoisseur_haggler 2002© for ciao.com

Further Info:

Treasure Island,
Shankarpalli Road
Gandipet, Hyderabad - 500171
Tel: 332-3330, 9233-3345, 9233-3346

For further details on city of Hyderabad:
1.http://www.uk.ciao.com/opinion_view.ph​p?Pid=1,17,14140,14506,14577&ProduktId=8​9425&OpinionId=5081271
2. Or check the Hyderabad Category here on Ciao http://www.ciao.co.uk/Hyderabad_India__8​9425 -see latest opinion by stevethesleeve.

P.S. I have tried to select as best as possible Ciao's essential Club rating bars at the bottom of this opinion.....