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Hyderabad was spun into a city with the yarn of love. The tale runs in the land of fancy but is probably true. It’s about a young Muslim prince and his love for a nubile Hindu girl – about a relationship that develops in spite of caste, class and religious divides. About a town that grew into a city called Bhaganagar (named after the girl called Bhagamati, or ‘the lucky one’). The prince became King and shifted his capital to the town of his beloved.

It’s evident that the city of Hyderabad has been loved and cared for. Hyderabad is steeped in history and heritage and that makes it a very interesting city as far as tourism is concerned.. You will find heritage in the Faluknama Palace, in the priceless treasures of the Salar Jung Museum as also the imposing Golconda Fort and the recognisable four minarets of the Charminar. The wide roads and public parks in the garrison town of Secunderabad, the leisurely pace of the people of Hyderabad who still have the time and the gentility to offer "adaab" and to cook up a slow simmering storm in flavourful cauldrons do this special city real proud.

Besides

being a veritable treasure trove stacked with heritage, the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are one of the major centres of Information Technology development, and is known as 'Cyberabad' with many of the big IT companies having their headquarters here. A delightfully elegant disposition, a miracle of technological revolution or a city with quite some tradition - Hyderabad is really all of these and more. So travel to Hyderabad to explore the charms of this city of pearls.

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The Salar Jung Museum is the single largest collection of art and artefacts by one person. Do not miss visiting the museum! Ramoji Film Studios is supposed to be the largest film studio in the world covering over 1600 acres.

Historically Speaking

In the 16th century, the scion of the Golconda Nizami was in love. The Muslim prince, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah had fallen in love with the beautiful and gifted Bhagmati, a Hindu commoner. He’d ride out of the Palace at Golconda every night, down to his beloved’s village by the Musi River. Eventually, he became King, she his Queen, and they ruled from the new capital city that was founded on love!

The more prosaic version works somewhat differently. In the 16th century, the Golconda Nizami was in trouble. The fortified city in Golconda from where they ruled was stricken by a disastrous drought. In search of water, looking to establish a capital city that had reliable water supply, the royal family, court and courtiers moved to Hyderabad that lay on the banks of the River Musi.

The truth of the episode probably lies somewhere between the two stories. In 1687, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb sacked the city subsequent to which the Nizams were reduced to viceroys of their former empire. This arrangement lasted only till 1724 when, taking advantage of declining Mughal power, Asaf Jah declared independence and laid

the foundations of a dynasty, the Nizams of Hyderabad that were to rule over a large part of what is Andhra Pradesh today.

When India gained Independence in 1947, the decision on which province was to stay with India and which was to join Pakistan was decided on whether it had a Hindu or Muslim majority. The Muslim Nizamof this Hindu majority state tried to join Pakistan but civil unrest and the subsequent Indian Army intervention ensured otherwise. The princely state of Hyderabad signed the Instrument of Accession and became a part of the Republic of India in 1956 and its capital city became the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

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