| Hyderabad
- The Heart of AP |
 |
Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh is a
bustling 400 year old metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people. The city is cosmopolitan, and is richly endowed with a variety of
cultures. The city presents an attractive amalgam of old world charm together
with ebullience of growth and enterprise. Beautiful old edifices built in the
medieval, and large glass and chrome temples of commerce of the modern era are
intermingled in a mix of eternal charm.
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.
Hyderabad was built on the Southern bank of the river Musi. According to legend, Sultan
Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah built it for the love of the beautiful Bhagmati whom he titled
"Hyder Mahal". The City was then named after her. Inadequacy of water, and frequent epidemics of plague and cholera
persuaded Mohammed, the fifth Quli Qutub Shahi ruler to venture outward to
establish the new city with the Charminar at its centre 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, 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 Jahi dynasty until the
state was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.
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. Both Hyderabad and Secunderabad grew
hand in hand as twins. One of the few Twin Cities of the World, Hyderabad can be aptly,
described as the Budapest of India. A Sheet of water, Hussain Sagar, Separates the Twin
Cities, like the Blue Danube. A trunk road connects the twin cities of Hyderabad
and Secunderabad and is popularly known as 'Tank
Bund'.
Though twins, the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are
different in their layout of buildings, their way of life and the very atmosphere. Thus,
side by side lie two cities presenting a different image-one having been the capital of a
princely state and the other remaining under direct rule of the British Government, till
it was retro ceded to the Nizam on the eve of Independence.
The City of Hyderabad is famous for its minarets
and its pearl bazaar. Pearls from all over the world are brought 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 cusine is much sought after.
Hyderabad, often called "The gateway to the south",
blends the North and South Indian identities. Yet, from both it has developed a distinct
personality of its own. To the traveller, Hyderabad offers a fascinating panorama of the
past, with a richly mixed cultural and historical tradition spanning over 400 colourful
years. Hyderabad is a cosmopolitan city, where the Moghul Grandeur lies side by side with
modernity, where art and architecture, the life and way of living of the people, has a
distinctive stamp of its own. Hyderabad is a blend of the fairy tale and the earthy, a pot
pourri of old and new. Banjaran Gypsies is swinging skirts and silver ornaments and
black-veiled burkaswathed women rub shoulders with lively, modern, working women dress in
Chooridars or Jeans.
Hyderabad is at an altitude of 536 meters with the
mean summer temperature going upto a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius and the
minimum average temperature being around 22 degrees. The maximum winter
temperature is around 22 with the minimum going down to around 12 degrees. Light
woolens are required during early mornings and late evenings.
"Let Millions of Men and Women of All Castes, Creeds
and Religions make it their Abode, Like Fish in the Ocean."
- (Prayer of Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, while laying the
foundation of Hyderabad.)
This prayer has come true over the ages, with Hyderabad
becoming home for a population as varied and charming as Hyderabad Itself.
|
