Persian, the official language of the Nizam's court, is taught in Hyderabad. Lessons are also available in such musical instruments as the oboe-like shehnai and the beautiful stringed veena. For those interested in art and archaeology, the multitude of nearby Muslim and Hindu monuments afford ample research opportunities. Banaras Hindu University has self-consciously developed programs related to India's classical and religious and artistic heritages. The University's certificate course in Hindi is supplemented by regular, intensive Hindi classes and tutorials especially arranged for the College Year students.
Hindi instruction occupies most of the weekday mornings.
Special arrangements are made for students who want to substitute Urdu instruction for Hindi instruction. In addition, students have enrolled for music, painting, or dance instruction with the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, or with tutors. In 1937 the Maharaja of Travancore established the University of Travancore. After India became independent in 1947, the princely states were incorporated into the Indian union, and the Maharaja's University was reconstituted as the University of Kerala. The seaport of Thiruvananthapuram is surrounded by miles of coconut palms, beaches, and backwaters.