Hyderabad, India

**Hyderabad** (pronounced ( )) is the largest city and capital of the state of Telangana. At over 12.2 million, it has the largest population of any city in the state Hyderabad is an A-1 city under the terms of development priorities. It is also known as _city of pearls_ or _city of Nizams_. The people of Hyderabad are called _Hyderabadis._

Hyderabad was founded in 1591 AD by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah on the banks of river Musi. It was later ruled by the Mughal governor Nizam Asaf Jah I who then founded the Asaf Jahi Dynasty (Also known as The Nizams). There were a total of 10 Nizams with the last one being Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII.

The city is home to the Ramoji Film City which spans an area of over . The movieindustry here is called The _Hyderabad Deccan Urdu_ film industry (also known as _Deccanwood_).

## History

Archaeologists have found Iron Age sites in Hyderabad that are around 2,500 years old. These sites have been found near Haythnagar and Ramoji Film City, and have burials and tools. The Qutub Shahi kings ruled Hyderabad till 1687 when the city was taken over by the Mughals. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah was a Qutub Shahi ruler who ordered the construction of the Charminar as a mosque. Nawab Abdul Hassan Shah who is popularly known as Tanisha was the last Qutub Shahi ruler of Hyderabad before Aurangzeb captured it in 1687. Asaf Jah was declared the governor of Hyderabad by Aurangzeb. This is how the Asaf Jahi Dynasty began which ruled Hyderabad till 1948.

Hyderabad became a princely state in 1947 after the collaboration with India. But soon the Nizam had to sign an Instrument of Accession to the Union of India so that Hyderabad becomes a part of India. On 1 November 1956, the province of Hyderabad was divided into Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on the basis of language. So, Hyderabad came into the Telugu speaking community and thus became the capital of Andhra Pradesh. The state of Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014 and separated from Andhra Pradesh retaining Hyderabad as it's capital.

The city has now developed in fields of IT with four IT universities including JNTU (Jawaharlal Nehru's Technological University ). The rise of International Airport and real estate has a major impact on the development of Hyderabad.

## Geography

Hyderabad is situated at the Deccan Plateau, 500 meters above the sea level and most of the area is rocky. Paddy is the main crop grown and other crops include Bengal gram, groundnut, sugar cane and sunflower. Hyderabad was found on the banks of Musi river in 1591. Today that area is known as old city where Mecca Masjid and Hussain Sagar Lake exist. The area has many official buildings and that area is very old. From the recent time, Hyderabad has been merged with Secunderabad. This has led a large, united and populous city with many villages surrounding it.

### Climate

Hyderabad has a hot, wet and dry climate. The monsoon or rainy season is from late June until late October. On average, 32 inches of rain falls on the city each year. The highest temperature ever recorded was 51.5 °C (113.9 °F) on 2 June 1966. The lowest recorded temperature was 1.1 °C (43 °F) on 8 January 1946. It is cooler in the evenings and mornings because the city is high above sea level.

### Population

The city has a population of over four million. Hindus form the majority while Muslims are 40% of the population. The Muslim community of Hyderabad is largest in Telangana. Christians are also in a considerable numbers in the city. Famous churches include those around Abids and Secunderabad like St. Joseph's Cathedral.

### Architecture

**Charminar** is actually founded as a Mosque and later by archaeological department changed into a monument. Charminar has long been the icon of Hyderabad. The name means "Four minarets". The towers rise to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. There is a mosque with 45 prayer spaces in the upper storeys of the building.

The **Golconda Fort** was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. In the 16th century, it was the center of a busy diamond trade. The outer wall of the fort is 10 km around.

**Mecca Masjid** is one of the oldest mosques in the city. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb finished the building in 1694. The mosque is made of granite. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long. Ten thousand worshippers can fit inside at the same time. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite. It is believed that Muhammed Quli had bricks made from earth brought from Mecca. He used them the central arch of the mosque. This explains the name of the mosque.

The **Chowmahalla Palace** was Asaf Jahi dynasty capital. The Nizam entertained official guests and royal visitors here.

Nawab Viqar al-Umra built **Falaknuma Palace** in 1872. The palace includes sculptures by artists from Florence.

## Language

Telugu, Urdu and Hindi are mainly spoken in Hyderabad. English is also spoken among the educated people. The Telugu dialect spoken across Telangana is very different from the one in the Andhra Pradesh Region.

## Related pages

- Hyderabad State
- Nizam of Hyderabad

## Infobox (settlement)

- **name**: Hyderabad
- **native name**: హైదరాబాదు
 हैदराबाद्
 حییدراباد
- **settlement type**: Metropolis
- **named for**: Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib
- **blank emblem type**: Logo of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
- **blank emblem size**: 100px
- **subdivision type**: Country
- **subdivision type1**: States and union territories of India, State
- **subdivision type2**: List of districts in India, Districts
- **subdivision name1**: Telangana
- **established title**: Established
- **founder**: Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
- **government type**: Municipal corporation (India), Municipal corporation
- **total type**: City proper, City
- **unit pref**: Metric
- **area total km2**: 650
- **area urban km2**: 1225.59
- **area metro km2**: 7,257
- **elevation m**: 536
- **population total**: 6,809,970 (List of cities in India by population, 4th)
- **population as of**: 2011
- **population density km2**: 10477
- **population est**: 9,482,000
- **pop est as of**: 2018
- **population urban**: 7677018 (List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India, 6th)
- **population density urban km2**: auto
- **population metro**: 9.7 million (List of metropolitan areas in India, 6th)
- **population demonym**: Hyderabadi
- **timezone1**: Indian Standard Time, IST
- **utc offset1**: +5:30
- **postal code type**: Postal Index Number, PIN(s)
- **postal code**: 500xxx, 501xxx, 502xxx
- **area codes**: Telephone numbers in India, +91–40, 8413, 8414, 8415, 8417, 8418, 8453, 8455
- **registration plate**: List of Regional Transport Office districts in India, TG-07 to TG-15
- **blank name sec1**: Gross metropolitan product, Metro GDP (Purchasing power parity, PPP)
- **leader title**: Parliament of India
- **leader name**: Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM)
 G. Kishan Reddy (BJP)
 Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP)
 Etela Rajender (Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP)
- **leader title2**: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, Mayor
- **leader name2**: Gadwal Vijayalakshmi (Indian National Congress, INC)
- **blank name sec2**: International airport
- **blank info sec2**: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)
- **blank1 name sec2**: Rapid transit
- **blank1 info sec2**: Hyderabad Metro