Hyderabad is the capital of Andhara Pradesh, India. It lies on the Deccan Plateau 1776 ft above sea level and consists an area of 625 km². Hyderabad city is known for its historical background, food and culture. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded this city in 1591. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities, separated by the Husain Sagar Lake made during the reign of Ibrahim Qutab Shah in 1562. The twin cities Hyderabad and Secunderabad are collectively known as Hyderabad and together they form the sixth largest metropolis of India. It is known by different synonyms as “City of Pearls”, “City of Nizams” and “City of Nawabs”. Hyderabad city is an amalgamation of traditions and modernity. Hyderabad has developed into a major hub for the information technology industry in India. It is known as the capital of biotechnology and pharmaceutics also. It has Telugu Film Industry; the second largest in India called as Tollywood and houses the world’s largest film studio, the Ramoji Film City.
How to Reach Hyderabad
By Air: Hyderabad is well connected by air, as many national and international carriers operate from here. There are domestic and international terminals. The domestic terminal is known as N.T. Rama Rao Domestic Terminal and the international terminal is known as Rajiv Gandhi International Terminal.
By Rail: Hyderabad is very well connected by Indian Railways by a wide rail network connecting it to major cities of India. Secunderabad, the sister city of Hyderabad, is the head office of Southern and Central railways. There are three railway stations as the Secunderabad railway station, the Hyderabad railway station (Nampally) and Kacheguda railway station. All the trains leaving from Nampally and Kacheguda stations have stoppage at the Secunderabad railway station.
By Road: Hyderabad city is well connected to all the major states by road. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has a well laid out system of road transport connecting the city through national highways.
Tourist Attractions in Hyderabad
There are plenty of tourists’ attractions in Hyderabad consisting historical monuments, gardens and museums etc. You may see the symbol of the city Charminar, the famous Golconda fort; the Kohinoor diamond was extracted from here. Then right next to the fort is the famous Qutub Shahi tomb, an amalgamation of Indian and Persian architecture. The Paigah tombs are an exquisite example of delicate artistry on marble. The Raymond’s tomb, built in the memory of a French General and Salar Jung museum that has a collection of over 40,000 artifacts from all over the world etc. Hence the city can be termed as tourist city.
Charminar: Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah built this exquisite landmark of the city ” The Charminar” in 1591. The historic Charminar lies in the heart of Hyderabad. This monument has become synonymous with Hyderabad over the period of time. The elegant Charminar was constructed with granite and lime-mortar, is a vivid example of Cazia style of architecture. A mosque has been built on the western side on the open roof of the Charminar fort. Having climbed an array of 149 steps you may reach the top of the fort to feel the tranquility on the terrace and visualize the bustling life below. You can enjoy a glimpse of Hyderabad city from the top.
Golconda Fort: Qutub Shahi kings who reigned during the 16th century built the Golconda fort. It was a mud fort initially in 1507 and then the Qutub Shahi kings transformed the mud fort into a marvelous granite wonder in 62 years. The stunning Golconda Fort lost its splendor and luster when the Mughals invaded and plundered this fort into a heap of ruins. Golconda Fort is a majestic monument of Hyderabad at present. It symbolizes the great cultural heritage of 400 years. Golconda was famous for its diamond mines in olden days. The world-renowned ‘Kohinoor’ diamond was found here. The Golconda fort is erected on a 120m high granite hill. The fort has eight gates. The main gate is called Fateh Darwaza. The hills around the fort have elegant charm. It is great to enjoy the Light and Sound show in the fort.
Qutub Shahi Tombs: The Qutub Shahi Tombs are located close to the Golconda Fort. The Qutub Shahi Tombs are a perfect blend of Indian and Persian architectural genius built in gray granite decorated with beautiful ornaments. The tombs are domed structures that are built on elevated squares and surrounded by pointed arches at base. The domes were originally covered with blue and green tiles but only a few pieces remain at present. This magnificent tomb is the largest monument in Hyderabad with 42 meters height. These tombs were highly revered during the Qutub Shahi period. At present the State Government organizes ‘Deccan Festival’ every year exclusively in Hyderabad city with tombs as the backdrop. There are many renowned artists of music, dance and theater invited to perform on this occasion.
The Paigah Tombs: The Paigah Tombs are matchless specimens of extraordinary artistry that can be seen in the beautifully inlaid mosaic works. The geometrical patterns and designs of these amazing tombs are extraordinary. The Paigah tombs are the tombs of generations of the Paigah nobles. The Paigah nobles were close to the Nizams and enjoyed a special status in the society. They were responsible for upkeep of the security and defense of the state. Abdul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung founded the Paigah nobility and rendered services to the second Nizam, between 1760 and 1803. The Nizam bestowed him with the prestigious title of Shams-ul-Umra, meaning “the Sun among the masses”. Tegh Jung was buried in 1786 at the foyer of the complex. An iron plaque at the entrance of the complex traces the Paigah lineage and exalts the marble magnificence of the vault. The Paigahs were also great patrons of fine arts, literature and sports. The rulers and the ordinary peoples respected the Paigah nobles.
Raymond’s Tomb: This tomb was built in the memory of the brave French General Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (1755 – 1798 AD). He had joined the service of the ruling Nizam of Hyderabad as an ordinary soldier. But he was promoted to the position of an army General soon. He was a highly respectable figure as Hindus fondly called him Musa Ram and Muslim named him Musa Rahim. The tomb is still a symbol of great respect among masses as they pay respect to the late army general on his death anniversary by lighting incense sticks near the tomb. The Raymond’s tomb is a conical structure that is made up of black granite slabs. It is 60 meters long, 30 meters wide and 10 meters high. Raymond’s Tomb is situated 10 Kms away from Hyderabad city center. The tomb is open on all days except Friday. The visiting time to visit this tomb is from 9:30 am to 4:30pm.
The Salar Jung Museum: This is the oldest museum in Hyderabad city. It has the largest compilation of artifacts from the world over. This museum has a great collection of rare antiques and knick-knacks. It takes one full day to visit this legendary museum. Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, commonly known as Salar Jung III, did the major collections. However it was started by his father Nawab Mir Laiq Ali Khan also known as Salar Jung II and his grand father Nawab Mir Turab Ali Khan i.e. Salar Jung I. The museum has a rich collection of around 40,000 items, accumulated from the world over. The portraits of the Salar Jung, the Nizams of the Hyderabad city can be seen in the founder’s Gallery. A well-preserved library in the museum is a rare treat to book lovers.
Ramoji Film City: This is the world’s largest film studio complex. It is one of the most popular attractions of Hyderabad. The film studio complex is well equipped with natural and artificial backgrounds. This film city is situated 25 Kms away from Hyderabad. Ramoji Rao, head of Ramoji Group opened this studio complex in 1996. The studio facilitates pre production, production and postproduction. The infrastructure of the studio is well equipped with latest gadgets. The studio complex has more than 500 ready locations inclusive of gardens, high-tech laboratories, outdoor locations, studio floors and authentic sets.
Osmania University: The last Nizam of Hyderabad Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan founded The Osmania University. The Osmania University is the seventh oldest establishment of higher studies in India and the third oldest in South India. It has been functioning for nine decades. It has made remarkable contribution to the academic, social, and economic improvement of the region and the nation. It has internationally recognized alumni from India and abroad. The Osmania University was awarded the five-star status by the National Accreditation and Assessment Council (NAAC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India.
HITEC City: HITEC City stands for the Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City, a technology township in Hyderabad. It is a sheer contrast to the old city, which has monuments and palaces. There is a charming Shilparamam, an arts and crafts village, located close to the technology hub. It is amazing to visualize the ultimate harmonious co-existence. This Hitech city has multinational software company offices like IBM, Microsoft, GE Capital, Toshiba, Infosys and Wipro etc.
Source by Anil Baree
