Hyderabad (pronounced /ˈhaɪdərəbɑːd/ or /ˈhaɪdrəbæd/ in English, Telugu: హైదరాబాద్
pronunciation (help·info)), (Urdu: حیدراباد), once known as Bhagyanagaram (City of Fortune), is the capital city and most populous city of theIndian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city of Hyderabad has an estimated population of about 7 million. Twelve surrounding muncipalities about the city have now been included to form Greater Hyderabad. The city thus has been classified as anA-1 status city joining the list of other A-1 cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai andBangalore.
pronunciation (help·info)), (Urdu: حیدراباد), once known as Bhagyanagaram (City of Fortune), is the capital city and most populous city of theIndian state of Andhra Pradesh. The city of Hyderabad has an estimated population of about 7 million. Twelve surrounding muncipalities about the city have now been included to form Greater Hyderabad. The city thus has been classified as anA-1 status city joining the list of other A-1 cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai andBangalore.Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and also its multilingual culture, both geographically, culturally and intellectually. Also known as The City of Nizams and The City ofPearls,[1] Hyderabad is today one of the fast developing cities in the country and a modern hub of Information Technology, ITES andBiotechnology.
Hyderabad has become a preferred conference venue in India, with many conferences and meetings taking place in the city. The city is home to the world's largest film studio, the Ramoji Film City as well as the second largest film industry in the country, the Telugu Film Industry known popularly as Tollywood. The city is also known to be a sporting destination with many national and international games conducted here. The people here are calledHyderabadis. The city is regarded as a blend of traditionality with modernity.
Although Hyderabad was founded less than 500 years ago, archaelogists have unearthed Iron Age sites near the city that could date back to 500 BCE.[3]
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a ruler of theQutb Shahi dynasty the ruling family of theGolconda, previously a feudatory of Bahmani sultanate that declared independence in 1512, founded the city of Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River in 1591;[4] to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golconda.[5] He also ordered the construction of the Charminar, the iconic monument of the city, in 1591, reportedly in gratitude to the Almighty for arresting the plague epidemic before it did irreversible damage to his new city.[6]
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured Hyderabad in 1687 and during this short Mughal rule. But the Mughal-appointed governors of the city soon gained autonomy. In 1724, Asaf Jah I, who was granted the title Nizam-ul-Mulk("Governor of the country") by the Mughal emperor, defeated a rival official to establish control over Hyderabad. Thus began the Asaf Jahi dynasty that ruled Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain. Asaf Jah's successors ruled as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The rule of the seven Nizams saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad became the formal capital of the kingdom and Golconda was almost abandoned. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar,Tungabhadra, Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, and others were built. Survey work onNagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time; the actual work was completed by theGovernment of India in 1969. The wealth and grandeur of the Nizams is demonstrated by the fabled Jewels of The Nizams which is a tourist attraction.The state was richest and the largest among the princely states of India.The land area of the state was 90,543 mi² its population in 1901 was 5,00,73,759. It enjoyed an estimated revenue of £9,00,29,000.
Before 1947, Hyderabad was under thesuzerainty of the British Crown but was not part of British India. In 1947, at the time of the independence of British India and its Partitioninto the Union of India and the new state ofPakistan, the British abandoned their claim to suzerainty over the Princely states and left them to decide their own future. The Nizam wished either to remain independent or to accede to Pakistan. However, India then implemented an economic blockade and forced the state of Hyderabad to sign a Standstill Agreement with it. In 1948, more than a year after India had gained its independence, Hyderabad was invaded inOperation Polo and on 17 September 1948 the Nizam signed an Instrument of Accession to the Union of India.
On November 1, 1956, the states of India were reorganized on linguistic grounds. The territories of the State of Hyderabad were divided between newly created Andhra Pradesh, Bombay state (later Maharashtra), and Karnataka. Hyderabad and the surrounding areas were added to Andhra Pradesh, based on the Teluguspeaking community. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital city of the new state of Andhra Pradesh.
After becoming the capital, the city slowly started to shun the shadow of a princely state and gain importance politically, geographically and economically. People from various parts of the state started settling and investing here. Since '90s the city has transformed itself hugely to acquire the present form, thanks toliberalisation. This brought many changes in lifestyle, culture. It saw the makeshift of Telugu filmdom from Chennai to Hyderabad. The growth in IT sector and construction ofInternational Airport witnessed rise in various other fields like realestate in 2000s.
[edit] Geography and climate
Situated on the Deccan Plateau, Hyderabad has an average elevation of about 500 metres above sea level (1640 ft). Most of the area has a rocky terrain and some areas are hilly. Crops are commonly grown in the surrounding paddy fields.
| Climate chart for Hyderabad | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
3 19 7 | 5 22 13 | 12 30 18 | 21 37 22 | 37 39 26 | 96 34 24 | 164 29 18 | 171 24 15 | 182 24 14 | 91 20 10 | 16 19 8 | 6 18 5 |
| average temperatures in °C precipitation totals in mm source: World Weather Information Service | |||||||||||
The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historicOld City, home to the Charminar and Mecca Masjid, it lies on the southern bank of the river. The heart of the city saw a shift to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Hussain Sagar lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the merging of Secunderabad, 12 municipal circles and theCantonment has resulted in a large, united and populous area. Still so many villages near by are getting a facelift to merge in the twin cities in the near future.
Hyderabad has a tropical wet and dry climate with hot summers from late February to early June, the monsoon season from late June to early October and a warm winter from late October to early February. Hyderabad gets about 32 inches (about 810 mm) of rain every year, almost all of it concentrated in the monsoon months. The highest temperature ever recorded was 46 o C (115 F) while the lowest recorded temperature was 10 o C (50 F)[7].
[edit] Demographics
| [show]Hyderabad Population |
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The city's population in 2001 was 5.7 million and it has reached over 7 million by 2009 making it one of the most populous cities in India , while the population of the metropolitan area was estimated above 9 million. Hinduism is the most widely practiced religion in the city. Muslims constitute about 40% of the population, making Hyderabad's Muslim community the largest in Andhra Pradesh.[9] Muslims have substantial presence across the city and especially they are densely concentrated in and around Old Town. Christians constitute a small amount of the city's population. Churches are located across the city and the popular ones are in Abids area.
Though Telugu and Urdu are the principal languages spoken in the city. English has a strong presence among the educated people. The city has a considerable Marathi, Malayalee andSikh population.
The Telugu spoken here has assimilated manyUrdu words into it. Similarly, Urdu spoken here is also unique, with influences of Telugu and Marathi, giving rise to a dialect sometimes calledHyderabadi Urdu or Deccani. The official language, Telugu, varies a little across the state but the core language remains the same.
[edit] Administration
The city is administered by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC),[10] whose titular head is the Mayor of Hyderabad who has few executive powers. In the past, the mayor was chosen by the legislative body of the corporation, but just before the last elections, the state government modified the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, 1955, to stipulate that the mayoral election be held directly and simultaneously with the corporation elections. The real executive power of the corporation is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an IAS officer appointed by the Andhra Pradesh state government. The Mayor and the Corporation legislative body can and have been in the past dismissed by the state government. For several years elections had not been held for the corporation. Recently the corporation completed its full term and elections are due to the GHMC and for the post of Mayor.
A large part of the twin city Secunderabad and some parts of Hyderabad itself come under the jurisdiction of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) owing to a large presence of military units. It provides basic infrastructure like roads, parks, water and other municipal needs to the public residing here.
The city is divided by the state police intoHyderabad Police and Cyberabad Policewhich come under the state Home Ministry and are headed by Police Commissioners, who areIPS officers. Basheerbagh houses important government offices such as the Police Commissioner's office, Police Control room, Income tax Commissioner's office, Central Excise and customs office, Central Reservation office etc. The city is divided into five police zones, each headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. The Traffic Police is a semi-autonomous body under the Hyderabad and Cyberabad commissionerates.
The GHMC is in charge of the civic needs and the infrastructure of the city. Hyderabad is divided into 150 municipal wards, each overseen by a corporator. The corporators of the administration are elected through popular vote, and almost all the political parties field candidates.The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are in three districts, Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medak. The administration of each district is headed by aDistrict Collector who is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the Central government. The district collectors also oversees the elections held in the city.
Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), a planning agency chaired by the Chief Minister along with an IAS cadre officer has been formed to undertake developmental activities in a jurisdiction of above 6,250 km².
Hyderabad is the seat of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and also has two lower courts - the Small Causes Court for civil matters and the Sessions Court for criminal cases. The High Court and Legislature are heritage buildings built by Nizam.
Hyderabad voters send 24 members to the Assembly, whose constituencies come under 5Lok Sabha segments, in respect to the delimitation of constituencies coming into force w.e.f. 2009 general elections.
The new Assembly segments and their respective Lok Sabha segments are: Amberpet, Jubilee Hills, Khairatabad, Musheerabad, Nampally, Sanathnagar, Secunderabad under Secunderabad LS seat; Bahadurpura, Chandrayanagutta, Charminar, Goshamahal, Karwan, Malakpet, Yakutpura under Hyderabad LS seat; Kukatpally, Lal Bahadur Nagar (LB Nagar), Malkajgiri, Quthbullapur, Secunderabad Cantonment, Uppal under Malkajgiri LS seat; Maheswaram, Rajendranagar, Serilingampally under Chevella LS seat and Patancheru under Medak LS seat.
[edit] Economy
See Also:List of IT companies in Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the financial and economic capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is the largest contributor to the state's gross domestic product, state tax and excise revenues. The workforce participation is about 29.55 percent. Starting in the 1990s, the economic pattern of the city has changed from being a primarily service city to being one with a more diversified spectrum, including trade, transport, commerce, storage, communication etc. Service industry is the major contributor, with urban workforce constituting 90% of the total workforce.[citation needed]
Hyderabad is known as the city of pearls, lakes and, lately, for its IT companies. The bangles market known as Laad Bazaar is situated near Charminar. Products such as silverware, saris,Nirmal and Kalamkari paintings and artifacts, unique Bidri handcrafted items, lacquerbangles studded with stones, silk ware, cotton ware and handloom-based clothing materials are made and traded through the city for centuries.
Hyderabad is a major centre for pharmaceuticals with companies such as Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Matrix Laboratories, Hetero Drugs Limited, Divis Labs, Aurobindo Pharma Limited, Lee Pharma and Vimta Labs being housed in the city. Initiatives such as Genome Valley, Fab City and the Nano Technology park are expected to create extensive infrastructure in bio-technology.[11]
Like many Indian cities, Hyderabad has witnessed a remarkable growth in the real estate business, thanks to a predominantly information-technology-driven boom in the 1990s and the retail industry growth over the last few years which have spurred hectic commercial activity. A number of mega malls have come up or are being built in the city. Real estate demand in the suburban and rural areas surrounding Hyderabad has gone up exponentially leading to reckless increase in prices over the past few years.
The retail industry in Hyderabad is on the rise. Many international and national brands have set up retail chains here. The city has multiple CBDs (Central Business district) spread across the city. There are many major business/commercial districts from the older Charminar area to newerKothaguda. For the advancement of infrastructure in the city, the government is building a skyscraper business district at Manchirevula, near Rajendranagar with a 450 m supertall structure APIIC Tower at its centre. Also, the Lanco Hills near Gachibowli presents the tallest structure in India for residential and commercial purposes.
[edit] Information Technology Industry
Hyderabad city is today known for its IT and IT-enabled services, pharmaceuticals andentertainment industries. Many software firms,call centres, business process outsourcing(BPO) firms, dealing with IT and other technological services were set up in the 1990s making it one of the major regions for call centre setups, technology development and KPO hubs in India. The development of a township with state-of-the-art facilities called HITEC City prompted several IT and ITES companies to set up operations in the city. An aggressive promotion of growth in this area has led civic boosters to call the city Cyberabad. Hyderabad is the third largest IT exporter in India next to Chennai and Bangalore.[12] There have been extensive investments in digital infrastructure within the city promoting the setting up of several campuses by a vast array of companies within the city. This list includes several multinational corporations having established their development centres in the city. The major areas where such campuses have been set up are Madhapur, Kondapur,Gachibowli and Uppal.
Hyderabad is the south Asian home to manyFortune 500 Corporations, with the majority related to IT or BPO services industry. Microsoft(the largest R&D campus outside the US),Computer Associates, Amazon, GE,IBM,AMD, Accenture, Google, Motorola, SAP AG, DuPont, Deloitte, Oracle Corporation,Dell, Franklin Templeton, Qualcomm,Agilent, ADP, UBS AG, Rockwell Collins,Bank of America, CSC, Verizon, Convergys,Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard,Virtusa, are some the Fortune 500 companies that have significant presence in Hyderabad.Honeywell opened a new R&D centre at Nanakramguda, which is situated on the verge of Gachibowli.
Indian IT giants such as Satyam, Infosys,Wipro, Patni Computer Systems, Cognizant Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services,Four-Soft Ltd, ICICI Bank, Cybage, Polaris,Infotech Enterprises, Avineon, Apollo Health Street, Zavata Inc and Mayur's group of industries also have set up their development centres in the city.
[edit] Transport
[edit] Road
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation[14] runs a fleet of 19,000 buses, the largest in the world.[15] Hyderabad has the third largest bus station facility in Asia, with 72 platforms for 89 buses to load passengers at a time. Officially named as the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, it is locally known as the ImlibunBus Station, making trips across the state and to some parts of South India. Jubilee Bus Station at Secunderabad runs buses to various parts of the state. Buses plying in and around the city provide major commutation for city dwellers.
The yellow colored Auto Rickshaw usually referred to as an auto, is the most widely used transport service and has flag down minimum fare of Rs 12 for first 1.5 km and then Rs 7 per km. Radio Taxis and cabs by private players have provided an easy travel in the city.
Hyderabad is connected to the rest of the country by National Highways—NH-7, NH-9 and NH-202.Hyderabad is well connected to remaining parts of the state. Like other cities, Hyderabad suffers from traffic congestion. Completion of the Inner Ring Road and construction of the Outer Ring Road encircling Hyderabad city is also underway and is touted to make travel in the city easier. Many flyovers and undepasses are also being constructed to ease traffic congestion in the city.
[edit] Rail
Hyderabad has a light rail transportation system cum suburban railway system known as theMultiModal Transport System (MMTS) which offer connectivity between rail and road transport for the facility of the commuters. MMTS provides connectivity to all major parts of the city, and is a suitable alternative for those who want to avoid road traffic.
The South Central Railway headquarters are located at Secunderabad. Secunderabad is one of the biggest railway junctions in the Indian Railway map. The three main railway stations areSecunderabad Railway Station, Hyderabad Railway Station (Nampally) and Kachiguda Railway Station, providing connectivity not only within the city but also to the rest of the state and country. A moden railway terminal is being planned to be constructed near HITEC Cityrailway station to facilitate passengers in the western parts of the city.
[edit] Air
There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of passengers leading to increased air traffic. The Airport at Begumpet was unable to cope up with the situation and was shut down on 22 March 2008. The new state-of-the-art Rajiv Gandhi International Airport opened on March 2008 by Sonia Gandhi at Shamshabad, southwest of the city. The airport has the second longest runway in India next to Delhi and caters to the high passenger and cargo transits. The airport runs flights to all important destinations, both domestically and internationally.
11.46 km PV Narasimha Rao Expressway, named after fond memory of Late Shri PV Narasimha Rao, is being constructed at an elevated level from Mehdipatnam to Aramgarhalong with an underpass at Aramgarh and atrumpet interchange at Shamshabad for providing dedicated high speed travel to the airport. Once completed it will be the longestflyover in India. A proposal for extending theMMTS to the new airport is under consideration. There are three wide roads leading to the new airport from the city and modern taxis can shuttle passengers between the city and the airport. TheNehru Outer Ring Road between Gachibowliand Shamshabad will also serve as anexpressway to the airport.
[edit] Culture
The City has evolved into a cosmopolitan society due to the heavy presence of the Information technology Industry while maintaining ancient culture and traditions. Historically, Hyderabad has been the city where distinct cultural and linguistic traditions of North India and South Indiameet. Hyderabadis, as residents of the city are known, have developed a distinctive culture which is a mixture of Hindu and Muslim traditions.
Women of all cultures and faiths in Hyderabad typically wear either the traditional Indian dress, the sari, or, increasingly, the Salwar kameezespecially among the younger population. The traditional Hyderabadi garb for females are theKhara Dupatta and the Shalwar Qamis, and for the males, it is the Sherwani. This is one of the more visible cultural attributes of Hyderabad. One of Hyderabad's public carnivals is the annual immersion of Lord Ganesh idols after the 10 day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations onAnanta Chaturdashi (locally known as the Ganesh Nimajjanam). It is a spectacular event and attracts many foreigners every year. Bonalu is a vernacular festival that is celebrated with great fervour.The Hyderabadi Muslims favourite holy month is Ramdhan in which every Muslim keep fasting for a month and after Eid-Ul-Fitr which is celebrated with full of joy by everyone and this day a traditional sweet is made known as Sheer Qorma. Another is the procession of Muharramwhich takes place every year 10th Muharram (1st month of Islamic calendar). While this event is mourned throughout the Shia Muslim world , the old city of Hyderabad, known as Charminar is famed for its grand procession in which participants sacrifice their own blood by hitting on their heads, chest and back with sharp edge weapons (knives, swords and knives attached to chains).
[edit] Cuisine
Hyderabadi cuisine is a blend of Mughal andPersian cuisine. Hyderabadi Biryani is an iconic dish of the region. Other native preparations include Qubani ka meetha,Double ka meetha, Phirni (a sweet vermicelli porridge eaten during the festival of Deepawali),Nahari Kulche also known as paya andHaleem (a meat dish traditionally eaten during the holy month of Ramazan), Kaddu Ki Kheer (a sweet porridge made with sweet guard), Sheer Qorma (a sweet liquid dish cooked with vermicelli and milk), Mirchi ka saalan, Bagaare Baigan, Khatti Dal, Khichdi and Khatta, Til ki chutney, baigan ki chutney, Til ka Khatta, Aam ka Achaar, Gosht ka achaar, Peosi (a sweet prepared with egg whites and milk), Shahi Tukde, Kheema Aaloo etc.
Indian sweets are known for their ghee-based items. Famous sweet shops include the traditionally made Pullareddy Sweets. Widely found on street-corners are Irani café's that offer Irani chai, Irani samosa and Osmania biscuit.
Western, Italian, Mexican and Chinese cuisine are all popular in the city along with typical Andhraand other South Indian cuisine. The city also has some of the best pubs in South Asia and a growing popularity for Trance Music.
[edit] Hospitality
Hyderabad has seen an increase in the hopitality sector. Some of the Five star hotels in the city are ITC Kakatiya Sheraton, Taj Krishna, Taj Deccan, Hotel Novotel Hyderabad, Hyderabad Marriott, Tulip Manohar and Hotel Ista. Four star hotels like Hotel Greenpark, Hotel Peppermint, Hotel Kasani GR etc.. Hotel Novotel present at Hyderabad Airport, Shamshabad is a newly built hotel for passengers coming from various countries to the city. Many hotels are in the pipeline in view of the increasing demand in this sector.
[edit] Education and research
Hyderabad is an important seat of learning in India. It is surrounded by hundreds of engineering colleges.The city is home to three central universities, two deemed universities, and six state universities. Among them is the Osmania University, established in 1917, which is the seventh oldest university in India and the third oldest in South India.[17] Important institutions for technical education such as International Institute of Information Technology,Jawaharlal Nehru Technological Universityare located in this city. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, a well known educational institution in the field of Agriculture is located on the outskirts of the city. Important medical institutions such as the Gandhi Medical College, Osmania Medical College and several other private medical colleges such as Deccan College of Medical Sciences are located in Hyderabad.Birla Institute of Technology and Science-(BITS Pilani) has established its branch campus at Shamirpet. IIT has started off its temporary campus at Hyderabad. Fly-Tech Aviation Academy and Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy are those amongst the best institutes in theaviation field.
The Indian School of Business, a top ranking business school which attracts students from all over the world is present at Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Hyderabad Central University,National Academy of Legal Studies & Research, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University and English and Foreign Languages University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University are other famous universities which are present in the city.
Hyderabad has various research institutes such as the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology(IICT), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), National Geophysical Research Institute(NGRI), IRISET for railway signal engineering and ICRISAT. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)along with DRDL and DERL has research centres in Hyderabad to develop communication and radar systems and for the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Nuclear energy sector has a strong presence with three organisations under Department of Atomic Energy (India) including the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research(AMD), Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) andElectronics Corporation of India Limited(ECIL).
[edit] Media
[edit] Film Industry
Hyderabad is home to the third largest film industry in India, Telugu cinema, also known asTollywood which produces approximately 150 movies every year. Saradhi Studios, Annapurna Studios, Ramanaidu Studios, Ramakrishna Studios, Padmalaya Studios, Ramoji Film City (the largest Film Studio in the India) are some of the notable film studios in the city. The first Hyderabad International Film Festival(HIFF) was organised in 2007 by the Hyderabad Film Club and Andhra Pradesh Film Directors Association.The largest IMAX 3D Theater in the state is Prasads IMAX along with 4D Simulatorat Hyderabad, India. Adlabs Goldspot, PVR Cinemas, Cine Planet, BIG Cinemas and Talkie Town are some other multiplexes in Hyderabad. In the year 2009, 17 multiplexes are going to open including one by the Maducon group atKukatpally.
[edit] Arts & Theater
Ravindra Bharati located at Saifabad, is an important and well known center for theatre and performing arts in the city. Many artists from around the world perform here regularly.Lalithakala Thoranam, Shilpakala Vedika are also similar centers for arts and theatre. State-of-the-art Hyderabad International Convention Center (HICC) or simply HITEX is the first of its kind in South Asia and is now one among the world's great convention centers.
[edit] Electronic Media
The radio industry has expanded with a number of private and government owned FM channels being introduced. The FM radio channels that broadcast in the city include AIR Vividh BharathiFM (102.8 MHz), AIR Rainbow FM (101.9 MHz),Radio Mirchi FM (98.3 MHz), Radio City FM (91.1 MHz), Big FM (92.7 MHz), S FM (93.5 MHz) and AIR Gyan Vani FM (107.6 MHz). State-ownedDoordarshan transmits two terrestrial television channels and one satellite television channel from Hyderabad. Some prominent private regional television channels broadcasting from Hyderabad are ETV, Gemini, Teja, Maa TV, Zee Telugu,ETV Urdu, ETV2, TV9, Sakshi TV, NTV, TV5,RTV, Bhakthi TV.
[edit] Print Media
Hyderabad has three print media groups that publish several newspapers and magazines in Telugu,Urdu,Hindi and English. The major Telugu dailies include the Eenadu, Saakshi, Vaartha,Andhra Jyothi, Andhra Prabha, Andhra Bhoomi, Praja Shakthi. The major English dailies are The Deccan Chronicle, Business Standard, The Hindu, The Times of India,The Indian Express and The Economic Times. Hyderabad publishes more number of Urdu dailies than any other Indian city. The major Urdu dailies are The Siasat Daily, The Munsif Daily, The Etemaad, Rehnuma-e-Deccan,Rozanama Rashtriya Sahara and The Daily Milap.
[edit] Communication Services
Hyderabad is covered by a large network of optical fibre cables. There are four fixed telephone line operators in the city: BSNL,Tata Indicom, Reliance and Airtel. There are seven mobile phone companies in which GSMplayers include BSNL, Vodafone, Idea, Airtel;CDMA services offered by BSNL, Virgin Mobile,Tata Indicom and Reliance currently, withSpice Telecom soon to launch its services.
[edit] Sports
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Cricket and hockeyare the most popular sports in the city.Hyderabad Sultanswon the inauguralPremiere Hockey Leaguechampionship in 2005. The city took pride in hosting National Games andAfro-Asian Games.Hyderabad 10k Run is a marathon event conducted every year.
The earliest stadium built in the city is the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. Formerly known as Fateh Maidan, it was, till recently, the city's only stadium that could conduct International cricket matches. The first cricket match played here was on November 19, 1955. The stadium is currently being used to conduct ICL matches. The new Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium at Uppal has a capacity of approximately 55,000 spectators and is being enhanced to have world class facilities. It houses an ultra-modern gymnasium along with a swimming pool. Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers franchise in the Indian Premier League was bought by Deccan Chronicle for USD 107 million. Notable players include Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Symonds, VVS Laxman, Herschelle Gibbs, Scott Styris, RP Singh, Shahid Afridi, Rohit Sharma and Chaminda Vaas.
The city houses the Swarnandhra Pradesh Sports Complex, the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium at Gachibowli for hockey and football and a sophisticated Velodrome for cycling atOsmania University. The city has state-of-the-art venues for gymnastics, archery and sepak takraw, shooting at Saroornagar Indoor Arena and University of Hyderabadrespectively. The Aquatics Complex Stadium at Gachibowli, with a capacity of 3000 spectators hosts swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized events. Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 2500 spectators andwooden flooring with temperature control. SAAP Tennis Complex has a central court that holds 5000 spectators and has seven courts with synthetic surface. Water games like rowing, yachting, kayaking and canoeing are conducted at Hussain Sagar lake. The city also has fiveGo-Karting tracks and a Paint Ball Field. There are venues for table-tennis, basketball,equestrianism, boxing, weight-lifting with world class facilities.
The city is well known for Horse racing. TheHyderabad Race Club formerly known as the Nizam Race Club is located at Malakpet. The Hyderabad race club attracts jockeys from all over the country by conducting various derbys/events here. Deccan derby, a popular annual event is a regular feature here. The winter races also were conducted here recently. Badminton events take place at the Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Stadium and also at Gachibowli stadiums, and also played by youth and veterans in locality parks.
[edit] Tourist Attractions
- Charminar - the major landmark in Hyderabad with four graceful minaretslocated in the old city. It is built as a memorial for plague victims. Charminar in most occasions is used to represent the city and the state and is hailed as a unique Deccan monument. It is in the midst of Charkaman.
- Falaknuma Palace - Built by an Italian architect through one of the Paigah nobles, Nawab Viqar al-Umra', complete in Italian marble. It's a beautiful and stunning piece of architecture with Louis XIV-style decor, a lavish Mughal ambience, Italian marble staircases and ornate fountains. It has now been undertaken by Taj group to develop this as Heritage Hotel.
- Golconda Fort - Once abandoned by Qutub Shahis, Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India. Seated on a hill on one side and spiraling fort on the other, it's location and internal design made it one of the strongest forts in the world.
- Chowmahalla Palace- It was the seat ofAsaf Jahi dynasty, where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors. Initiated in 1750 by Nizam Salabat Jung and designed along the lines of theShah's palace in Isfahan, this actually consists of a group of palaces each used as aDurbar Hall. It has now been aesthetically renovated and is also venue for conferences.
- Salar Jung Museum - The museum houses the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world. Collections includeThe Veiled Rebecca and other huge collection of artifacts dating back to a few centuries. A mere day isn't enough to cover the whole museum.
- Taramati Baradari - It is Located near Golconda on the way to Gandipet. It was built by a Qutb Shahi sultan. Newly added structures are the venues to many conferences. Similar structures likePremavati and Bhagmati can be seen from here.
- Mecca Masjid - a stone-built mosque, which lies immediate southwest of Charminar. Remarkable for its architecture, size and its royal splendor, this is one of the most beautiful mosques in Hyderabad. It is famous for its symmetry and the gateway bricks that are believed to be from Mecca.
- Birla Mandir - a Hindu temple made of white marble located on top of a hill overlooking the city.
- Birla Science Museum - The science centre is another beautiful structure, reflecting the advances made in science and technology. The interior décor matches the architectural exterior of the centre built over 10,000 sq ft (930 m2). The centre is host to a number of divisions such as the Planetarium, the Science Museum, and the centre for Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences.
- Public Gardens - Located adjacent to theLal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, the gardens host the Horticulture department of Andhra Pradesh, the state museum of history and archeology and a sprawling park. Beside this is the Lalithakala thoranam, which is a venue for various cultural activities.
- Ravindra Bharati - The stage for all performing arts, especially for those enhancing the state and Indian cultures. Shows are held almost every evening throughout the calendar year which include musical and dance performances, drama, award ceremonies and special events of the government.
- Birla Planetarium - The Planetarium is another magnificent building with a big dome resembling that of the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur and some of the earliest government structures in New Delhi. A special attraction are the shows which unveil the mysteries of the cosmos and the origins of the universe, comets, eclipses, unidentified flying objects and the clash of titans. The latest addition is the Dinosaurium, which houses a collection of dinosaur egg fossils. The highlight of the museum is a mounted Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis, the remains of a 160 million old dinosaur.
- Purani Haveli - The official residence of the Nizam.
- King Kothi Palace - The last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan lived here.
- Qutub Shahi Tombs - Home to various Tombs dedicated to Rulers of Qutub Shahi dynasty, located at Shaikpet, near Golconda Fort. These are an example of Deccan architecture with large minarets, huge domes, delicate marble designs and multiple inner passages.
- Paigah Tombs - These are recently discovered series of mausoleums with uniquegeometrical sculptures which were no where found in the world. These are located at Chandrayanagutta. Paigahs were noblemen under the reign of Nizams.
- Lumbini Park - This is one of the popular parks in the city. The main attraction of this park was the Musical fountain. It is now replaced by the 1500 seater Laserium, the first of its kind in the state. Boat rides take you across the lake to give you a closer glimpse of the Buddha.
- Ananda Buddha Vihara - It is a Buddhist tourist destination. Located at posh Mahendra Hills, it houses meditation hall, a museum and rest houses for monks etc.
- Hussain Sagar - It is a man-made lake is also famous for the 19-metre tall Buddha statue on a platform island called Rock of Gibraltar in the middle of the lake, and for the Tank Bund which consists of beautiful gardens and statues of famous personalities. Boating and water sports are a regular feature here. Tall monolithic Buddha statue erected in the middle of the lake adds charm to this lake.
- Nehru Zoological Park - This zoo is the largest in India by area, houses a large variety of animals, birds, nocturnal species, aquatic and amphibian species. Located close to this is the Mir Alam Sagar, which is proposed to be converted into an Aquarium along the lines of Sentosa, Singapore. Its unique feature is the 21 in-built masonry dams that are jewel shaped, which were built in 1806 by the then prime minister Mir Alam.
- Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy Botanical Gardens - These gardens located atKondapur are spread across a sprawling area of 130 acres (0.53 km2), housing different varieties of herbs, plants, trees etc. These gardens provide a complete visual treat to the eyes with water bodies, meadows and rich grasslands - nature at its best.Night Safari Park is adjacent to this.
- Chilukuru Balaji Temple - It is the temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. Located around 23 km from Mehdipatnam.
- Necklace road - This popular boulevard lies on the other side of the lake, linking the IMAX theatre and Sanjivaiah park. This has become the-place-to-be for the Hyderabadis in the evenings. This strip provides a scenic atmosphere with lush lawns and long rows of flower beds. Eat-Street, Water Front are popular restaurants located on this strip. The latest addition to this strip is the Jala Vihar, a mini water world designed to soothe your senses. PV Ghat is also situated in memory of Late Shri PV Narasimha Rao.
- NTR Gardens - This leisure spot is located beside the IMAX theatre. Situated on 36 acres (150,000 m2) of land adjoining the Hussain sagar, these gardens provide of entertainment and recreation to families and youth alike. It also houses a memorial of Late Shri N.T.Rama Rao, former Chief Minister. It is renowned for its creative design which includes tree-top restaurants and architecture.
- Osman Sagar, Gandipet - A man-made lake, the largest in Hyderabad. The lake is a major drinking water source to the city. Abutting the lake are lush gardens that provide an ideal ambience for a holiday.
- Himayat Sagar - It is the twin lake toGandipet lake. It comes along the way onOuter Ring Road enroute to airport which is a beautiful view.
- Laad Bazaar - Also called Chudi Bazaar is on the west of Charminar, and known for its exquisite bangles, jewelry and pearls.
- Lotus Pond - A beautiful garden built around a pond situated in Jubilee Hills, said to have been designed by an Italian designer. This garden is currently maintained by the Municipal Corporation. It is also home to a few rare species of birds.
- Durgam Cheruvu - Also called The Secret Lake it is a peaceful boulevard near the bustling Madhapur.
- Shilparamam- Located opposite Cyber Towers, HITEC city, it is an arts and crafts village which was conceived with an idea to create an environment for the preservation of traditional crafts such as sculpting wonders from stone, weaving in cotton, silk and gold thread, Dhaka muslin, Kondapalli toys, Bankura horses, gudda-guddis of Punjab, temple arts and a motley of Indian arts and crafts. Close proximity to this is theShilpakala vedika, a conference hall built with exquisite ethnic decor as well as with all state-of-the-art facilities.
- Sanghi Temple - A temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara graces a promontory overlooking Sanghi Nagar, near Ramoji Film City.
- Ramoji Film City (RFC) - It is the world’s largest integrated film studio cum theme park, at nearly 3,000 acres (8 km²). It is also one of Asia’s most popular tourism and recreation centres. Recently, it has made its way to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest film studio in the world. Opened in 1996, it is about 20 min. drive from Hyderabad on Vijayawada Highway.
- Kasu Brahmananda Reddy Park - A sanctuary for Peacocks and Anteaters along with many other species including Monkeys and Snakes, the sanctuary is the green spot of the richest area of the city, Jubilee Hills.
- Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali Park - Located near posh locality ofVanasthalipuram, previously it is a hunting (shikari) spot for Nizams it is now a picnic spot for the city people. Nischalvan Eco-tourism project is located here.
- Mrigavani wildlife sanctuary - A sanctuary for deer and leopards, it is located enroute to Chilkur. The Outer Ring Road passes over (flyover) through this national park which is a thrilling experience.
- Anantagiri Hill station - Located near Vikarabad, just 2 hour drive from Hyderabad, it is the place where River Musi originated. It is an exotic hill station far away from hustle and bustle of the city, providing trekking, camping and many adventures to do. Added to this are many up coming hill resorts where you can spend a happy weekend or vacation. In one word to say it is the Araku Valley of Hyderabad.
Besides, many resorts like Pragati Green Meadows, Golkonda Spa cum Resort, Lahari Resorts, Alankrita Resorts, Dream Valley and recreation spots like Treasure Island, Runway 9, Ocean Park, Mount Opera, Dhola-ri-Dhani make Hyderabad an ideal destination for tourists....
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