PRIDE OF DECCAN

Location: On the Deccan Plateau and Musi River, Andhra Pradesh
Famous For: Bangles, Minarets, Pearl Bazaar and Hyderabadi Cuisine
Recently Called: Second Silicon Valley in India
Capital City of Andhra Pradesh: Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is a bustling 400-year-old metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people approximately. It is located on the Deccan Plateau and the Musi River, 650m above sea level. The physiography of Hyderabad is dominated by hills, tanks, forests, and rock formations.

City Of Two Aspects: The city is cosmopolitan, and is richly endowed with a variety of cultures. While Muslim people are concentrated more towards the old city like Charminar, Secunderabad has got a more contemporary look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians. The city presents an attractive amalgam of old world charm together with the ebullience of growth and enterprise. Beautiful old edifices built in the medieval, Mughal, Colonial and Indo-Saracenic styles abound, rubbing shoulders with large glass and chrome temples of commerce.

The History: The history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Quli Qutub Shah seized the reins of power from the Bahamani kingdom in 1512 and established the Fortress City of Golconda. Inadequacy of water, and frequent epidemics of plaque and cholera persuaded Mohammed, the fifth Quli Qutub Shahi ruler to venture outward to establish the new city with the Charminar as its center and with four great roads fanning out in the four cardinal directions. Hyderabad's fame, strategic location and Golconda's legendary wealth attracted Aurangazeb who captured Golconda after a long siege in 1687. After this defeat the importance of Hyderabad declined and the city fell into partial ruin.
As the Mughal Empire decayed and began to disintegrate, the viceroy, Asaf Jah I proclaimed himself the Nizam and established independent rule of the Deccan. Hyderabad once again became a major capital city, ruled by successive Nizams of the Asaf Jah dynasty until the state was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.

Making Of the Twin City – Secunderabad: In 1798, a subsidiary alliance for military and political cooperation was signed between the Nizam and the British East India Company. Thereafter an area north of what is now the Hussain Sagar Lake was established as a cantonment. The area was named Secunderabad after the then Nizam, Sikander Jah. Both Hyderabad and Secunderabad grew together and have now merged. An imaginary line drawn across the Tank bund is still used to distinguish the two cities.

The Pearl City Of India: The city of Hyderabad is famous for its minarets and its pearl bazaar. Pearls from all over the world are said to come to Hyderabad because the artisans here are skilled in piercing and stringing pearls without damaging them. The city's gypsy tribes called 'Lambadas' and 'Banjaras' are known throughout the country for their colourful costumes and Hyderabadi cuisine is much sought after.
IT Influence: Hyderabad is called as the second Silicon Valley in India after Bangalore. Hyderabad has a Software Technology Park with leading industries like Intergraph, UUNET, TCS, Wipro, Baan, Satyam, Park International, etc.

Hyderabadi Cuisine: Hyderabad's 400-year-old culinary history, like its culture, is unmatched by any other state in India. In fact Hyderabad was known for the spectacular way its aristocracy entertained. Of all the Muslim cuisine, Hyderabadi is the only cuisine of the sub-continent that can boast of a major vegetarian element. This has much to do with the local influences. Considering that the elite of the erstwhile Hyderabad State came from the north of India and was almost entirely Muslim, this is a little surprising. The nation's vegetarians, of course, stand to gain by it.
Some of the salient features of Hyderabadi food are the key flavors of coconut, tamarind, peanuts and sesame seeds. The key spice is chilli, which is used in abundance and is the reason for the sobriquet "Dynamite Food". Other culinary delights include 'Gosht', which is kid or baby goat, and is more or less, synonymous with Hyderabadi food. 'Murgh', which is chicken, is the second favorite. When it comes to Gosht, Hyderabadis prize the meat of the male goat.

PRIME ATTRACTIONS

Charminar: Charminar is a majestic architectural monument standing at the heart of the old city of Hyderabad, built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 supposedly to commemorate the eradication of plague from Hyderabad.

Mecca Masjid: Mecca Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India accommodating upto 10,000 worshippers. This is the biggest mosque in Hyderabad and lies within hundred yards to the southwest of Charminar. Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah started the constructions of this mosque, the work continued during the reign of Abdullah Qutub Shah and Abul Hassan Tana Shah and was completed in 1694 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Golconda Fort: Golconda fort is a majestic monument, which lies on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city. It speaks of a great cultural heritage of 400 years and is regarded as a place worth visiting.

Salar Jung Museum: The Salar Jung Museum is the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world. The museum exhibits over 35,000 objects of art like Chinese Porcelain, Aurangazeb's Sword, and Daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jehan, Emperor Jahangir & Shah Jahan, Sculpture, Indian paintings & Persian carpets. Some of the highlights are the Veiled Rebecca, the translucent white marble statue by Bezoni, the Arms section, The Jade section & the Oriental Section.

Hussain Sagar: Hussain Sagar is a large lake in the midst of the city and was constructed in 1562 AD. Also known as Tank Bund, it connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Built in the 16th century the lake was named to express the gratitude of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah to Hussain Shah Wali, who helped him to recover from illness.

Jama Masjid: The Jama Masjid is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad and is located at a few meters away from Charminar, in Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah built it in the year 1597, after the completion of Charminar.

St. Joseph's Cathedral: The Cathedral of Saint Joseph is located in the Gun foundry area and is perhaps the most beautiful in the twin cities.

St. Mary's Church: St Mary's Church is a famous church located in S. D. road, Secunderabad. Mother Mary is worshipped here.

Birla Mandir: Birla Mandir is a beautiful modern temple overlooking the south end of Hussain Sagar, in Hyderabad. It provides an excellent view over the city from the summit. This magnificent structure built entirely out of marble from Rajasthan, stands atop the 'Kala Pahad', the twin hillock of 'Naubat Pahad'. Built by Birla foundation over a span of ten years, the main temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara or Venkateswara.

Birla Planetarium: Located in the heart of Hyderabad city, on the panoramic hillock of Naubat Pahad, the Birla Planetarium is a tribute to the advances made in science and technology since the dawn of civilization. Late Mr. N.T. Rama Rao opened this beautiful dome shaped architecture, on 8th September 1985.

Falaknuma Palace (Star of Heaven): The palace is one of the most magnificent of its kind in the country. Built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur, it is located atop a 650m high hill, about 5-km from Charminar.

Hi Tech City: Hyderabad has been developed as a destination for Software Companies. The Hi Tech City, at the city outskirts, is been developed to create a favorable climate for these companies.

High Court: It is a beautiful Mughal-style building laid out along the Musi River near Afzal Gunj Bridge. Built in 1916 of local pink granite with red sand stone-carved panels and columns at an estimated cost of 2 million rupees, it is perhaps the most striking work of the British architect Vincent Esch.

Qutub Shahi Tombs: About a kilometer from the Golconda fort are the tombs of the Qutub Shahi rulers. The tombs are domed structures built on a square base surrounded by pointed arches. The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are usually two-storied. In the center of each tomb is a sarcophagus, which overlies the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which now only a few pieces remain. It is open daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 PM. Closed on Fridays.

Paigah Tombs: Situated at Santoshnagar, these tombs belong to the 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are beautifully carved and have marble inlay work on them.

Chote Hazrat Ki Dargah: Chote Hazrat ki Dargah is situated inside Devan Devadi, in Hyderabad. Climbing 400 and more stairs takes you to a place of worship built during the period of the Asif Jahis. The row of arches on the hill leading to the top is a wonderful sight. The Dargah or mortuary was built in the memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.

Raymond's Tomb: Michel Raymond, a French mercenary, was a military commander in the service of the IInd Nizam and also his close friend. His tomb lies in Saroornagar off the Vijayawada road about 3-km from the Elephant Bridge, in east Hyderabad. A commemorative 'Urs' fair is held every year at his tomb, which is 7m high, made of black granite bearing the initials JR.

Sanjeevaiah Park: Sanjeevaiah Park is a major recreation center located next to Hussain Sagar, at the end of Necklace Road, in Hyderabad. It is named after the former President of India, Mr. Neelam Sanjeev Reddy. It houses a rose garden, rock garden and a floral clock.

Indira Park: Indira Park, a recreation park for children situated near lower Tank Bund, Hyderabad. It is named after the former Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It is one of the oldest parks in the twin cities.

Naubat Pahad: A couple of small rocky hillocks in the middle of Hyderabad beside the Hussain Sagar Lake are known as Naubat Pahad and Kala pahad. ('Pahad' means hill and 'Naubat' means drum). It is said that the Mughals used to beat large drums to announce official proclamations from Naubat Pahad.

Public Gardens: The Public Gardens are the largest gardens in the city. Within it's premises are a number of important public buildings including the State Legislative Assembly, State Archaeological Museum, Jubilee Hall, Jawahar Bal Bhavan and Telugu Lalita Kala Thoranam - an open air theatre.

Nehru Zoological Park: Nehru Zoological Park is one of the biggest zoos in Asia with over 250 species. The lion safari park, natural history museum, pre-historical Animals Park, nocturnal birds, a children park with a train ride is other impressive sights. It's special sections and amusement facilities are a popular draw.

FESTIVALS: Shilparamam has become internationally famous for the Annual Crafts Festival that is being organized in the first two weeks of March every year since 1995. The Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh, in Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad for three days from the 2nd Friday of December every year, organizes Lumbini festival. Bonalu, Batkamma, Dasara, Ugadi, Ramzan, Sankranti are the major festivals celebrated in Hyderabad.

CLIMATE: Hyderabad is fairly warm throughout the year and does not receive much rainfall in the monsoon. Temperatures do, however, marginally come down in winter and December nights are quite cool over here.
Though the climate is suitable for visit anytime of the year, the best season is between October-February. June to November are monsoon months and these months are loaded with rains and are accompanied by lovely weather. The temperature during summers is 42 degrees during summers and in winters it may fall to a minimum of 12 degrees.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Climate: Tropical
Temperature Range (deg C):

Summer: Max 42*C, Min 28*C
Winter- Max 25*C, Min 12*C
Rainfall: 89 CMS.
Clothing: Light Cottons in summers and woolens in winters
Language Spoken: Telugu, Hindi, English, and Urdu

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