Capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is the fifth largest city of India with a rich cultural and traditional background. Attached to it is its twin city of Sikandarabad, which is separated by an artificial lake, called Hussein Sagar Lake. The history of the city can be traced back to nearly 400 years and is famous due to its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and hills and lakes.
The buildings, houses, gardens and streets of Hyderabad have a history of their own as well as an architectural individuality which makes the city of Hyderabad enchanting and enticing. Located in the center of Andhra Pradesh in the region of Telangana, the city of Hyderabad is situated on the top of Deccan plateau and 1776 feet above the sea level. The area of the city is 260 km square and the approximate population is 7 million. Hyderabad lies on the southern bank of the river Musi.
The city has now grown over the years on both sides of the river banks and is now a big metropolitan city. Hyderabad was founded on the river Musi five miles east of Golconda in 1591-2 by Mohammad Quli Qutub shah. During the 16th century the city grew to accommodate the rising population of Golconda which was the capital of Shahi rulers at that time. Buildings were constructed and the city began to take shape.
After the Shahs, the Moghals came to power; however after the decline of the Moghal Empire the Nizam rule in Hyderabad was established of which Asif Jah ruled Decca for about 24 years. Even during the years of British occupation in the sub continent the Nizams continued to rule the city. The rule of the seven Nizams saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically; dams and buildings were built and the city prospered.
It is a place where Hindus and Muslims have been living together for the past centuries. It is also one of the most developed cities in India and is emerging as the IT and biotech hub of the country. Hyderabad was also known as the city of pearls and pearl ornaments in the past. The pearl market is still situated near the Charminar.
The city is surrounded by hills as well as rivers and tanks, while Banjara, Jubilee, Golconda, Tirumalagiri and Maula Ali are prominent hill ranges, Hussein Sagar and Mir Alam are prominent tanks located within the city. Hussein Sagar Lake is in the heart of the city and flows to Sikandarabad as well. The Musi River passes through the middle of the city and flows towards the east.
To travel inside the city, the government has provided best internal road systems and a good network of roads and railways is also present in the city. Hyderabad is well connected to many other locations in India, such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Guntur, Nagpur, Pune, and Vijaywada, either directly or through intermediary locations. The highway (express way) network linking Hyderabad to various parts of the country is very good. There is also an international airport in Hyderabad where flights from all countries and cities arrive and depart. To travel to other cities, there is a service of Express Buses which is very good. Apart from that, to travel in the city, local bus service is also available.
For sightseeing, there are rickshaws and taxis available. Cars on rent are also a good way of seeing the historical places and of visiting the city. A series of flyovers and underground subways have made the flow of traffic smooth in the city. The best time to visit Hyderabad is in the months of January and February when the monsoon season has ended which lasts from June to December. Summer is also a good time to visit but sometimes the temperature rises to 40 degrees which can be uncomfortable.
