Hyderabad
About Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and the most populous city of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is known as the “City of Pearls”, “City of Lakes”, “City of Minars” and the “City of Nizams” .
Hyderabad has a population of over 4 million. The twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad come under the ambit of a single municipal unit,The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, and form the sixth largest metropolis in India, with a population of 6.38 million. The city has been classified as an A-1 city in terms of development priorities, due to its size, population and impact.
Hyderabad has developed into a major hub for the information technology industry in India which has earned it the sobriquet “Cyberabad”. Madhapur and the HITEC city are the center of the IT boom in the region. It is one of the centres of biotechnology and pharmaceutics of the country
Hyderabad – On the Map
Quick Facts
| Population | 4 million |
| Currency Rupee | Rs1 = 100 paise |
| Emergency numbers | Police-100 | Fire-101 | Ambulance-102 |
| Telephone | Country code: +91 | Area code: 040 |
| Electricity | 220/250V 50 Hz Plugs C &D |
Places to see
Charminar
Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. It was said to be built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7m. above the ground. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. Visitors can view the architectural splendour inside the Charminar.
Golconda Fort
Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu words “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Yadava dynasty of Deogiri and the Kakatiyas of Warangal. Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years.
Qutb Shahi Tombs
The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi kings lie about a kilometre away from Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort. Planned and built by the Qutb Shahis themselves, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. They form a large group and stand on a raised platform. The tombs are built in Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles using grey granite, with stucco ornamentation, the only one of its kind in the world where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place.
Mecca Masjid
A two hundred yards southwest of the Charminar is the Mecca Masjid, so named because the bricks were brought from Mecca to build the central arch. The Qutb Shahis never finished the building of the mosque, which was completed by Aurangzeb in 1694. Mecca Masjid is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring 67m and soaring to a height of 54m.
Birla Mandir
This white marble temple of Lord Venkateshwara floats on the city skyline, on Kala Pahad. The idol in the temple is a replica of the one at Tirupati.
Useful Information
Tourist Information
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Email: info@aptdc.in Phone: +91-40-23262151, +91-40-23262152 Fax: +91-40-23261801
Weather
The average temperature during the months of summer is anywhere around 40 ‘C and in the months of winters the average temperature is about 16 ‘C. Best time to visit the state of Hyderabad is during the months of September to March.
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Hyderabad – In pictures
