The history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, was the founder of Hyderabad City. In the year 1591, when the Moon was in the constellation of Leo, Jupiter in its own abode and all celestial planets favourably placed, he laid the foundation of a new city which he called Bhagyanagar after his beloved queen "Bhagmati". Later to perpetuate his wife's memory, he enlarged the fort city of Golconda and bestowed on her the title "Haider Mahal". The city later came to be known as Hyderabad. Hyderabad became the capital of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh in 1956.
Hyderabad has a tropical wet and dry climate. The city is extremely hot in summer with temperature reaching 40°C (104°F). More than 75% of the rainfall city received during the south-west monsoon season, from June to September, July being the month when it rains. Winters are, however, mild and more tolerable, the minimum temperature may come down to as low as 12°C (53.6°F). Humidity in the morning is very high exceeding 80% from July to September. In the dry months of March, April and May, humidity is generally low with an average of 25% to 30% and decreases to 20% at individual stations.
Hyderabad is one of the fastest growing cities of India and has emerged as a strong industrial, commercial, technology center. Its economic activities include textile, sugar, cement, and hosiery mills, manufacturing of glass, soap, ice, paper, and plastics. There are hide tanneries and sawmills. Ornamented silks, silver-work, gold-work and lacquer ware are also some of its exclusive products. The city is the foremost destination for Microsoft Development Centre in India. The growth of Hyderabad’s economy is largely due to the software services. Hyderabad city is today known not only for its IT and IT Enabled Services, but also Pharmaceuticals and Entertainment industries.
The Hyderabad Airport is located eight kilometres away from the city centre, numerous national and international flights are provided from it. Hyderabad has a transportation system known as the Multi Mode Transport System (MMTS), which incorporates light rail. The MMTS connects various parts of the city. Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses and Metro Liners operate in Hyderabad. The public buses are crowded during rush hour while Metro Liners are comfortable but offer only a limited number of seats. Auto rickshaws are a good mode of transport in Hyderabad for places close by. The auto rickshaws cannot be missed, as they are found everywhere and can be recognised by the yellow colour and its three wheels.
Hyderabad is considered as a hot destination for higher education in southern India. Hyderabad is home to some reputed colleges and institutes. The City has two Central Universities, two Deemed universities, and six State Universities. The city’s higher educational scenario has attracted students from all over India and also from abroad. It is also home to the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Hyderabad attracts students from all over India as well as some international students. The English and Foreign Languages University is also based in Hyderabad.
There are a variety of tourist attractions in Hyderabad, "city of pearls" has heritage monuments, lakes, parks, gardens, resorts, museums and delectable cuisine, also it has of the most interesting bazaar of the country, which is known to be the longest bazaar in Asia.
The most famous of all the monuments at Hyderabad is the Charminar, which is located in the heart of the Hyderabad City and has the signature style of Islamic architecture. This imposing monument was built, as the legend goes, by Sultan Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah in honour of his Hindu Wife, Bhagmati, between 1591 AD and 1612 AD, soon after he shifted his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad. With its 56 Metre tall slender minarets with spiral stair cases and huge arches on each side, Charminar is built with carefully finished stucco ornamentation and is plastered with line mortar. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name "Charminar". Each minar stand on a lotus-leaf base that is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings.
The tombs of the Qutub Shahi rulers are domed structures made of black granite or green stone and built on a square base or octagonal base surrounded by pointed arches. Each tomb is quadrangular and rises to a height of 9 - 15 meters above the terrace. In the centre of each tomb is a casket overlying the actual burial vault in a crypt below. The tombs were once furnished with carpets, chandeliers and velvet canopies on silver poles. The tombs of Abul Hasan Tana Qutb Shahi (1672 - 1687), Princess Hayat Baksh Begum (died on 1677), Muhammad Qutb Shah (1612-1626) and Pemamati, one of the mistresses of Muhammad Qutb Shah are also situated near to the tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah.
The Golconda fort is a majestic monument reaches to a height of 120 meters with a boundary wall covering a range of 10 kilometres of the outskirts of Hyderabad. Founded originally by the Kakatiya's in the 13th century the existing structure was expanded by the Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1525 into a colossal fort with granite walls and ramparts extending some 5-km in circumference. The fort was famous for its diamond trade and the 'Kohinoor' diamond is said to have come from here. The fort has 8 gates or Darwazas as they are called locally, the main gate being Fateh Darwaza. A new attraction at the fort is a sound and light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life.
Warangal, located around 200 km from Hyderabad, once the hub of Telugu culture as the capital of Kakatiya rulers s famous for its architecture. Another famous destination is the Nagarjunasagar, which is located 150 km from Hyderabad. With world's tallest masonry dam across river Krishna, Nagarjunasagar is a popular tourist destination of South India.
Hyderabad is a place where festivals are a way of life and celebrated around the year. Known for its diverse culture and traditions, festivals in Hyderabad depicts its true colour. The festivals are celebrated with much splendour and joy by one and all irrespective of their caste and religion. The popular festivals of Hyderabad are Deccan Festival, Lumbini Festival, Mirgasira Festival and Ugadi.
