History of Hyderabad

                  Hyderabad, the capital of the State of Andhra Pradesh, is the fifth largest city in India with an ancient civilization and culture. The twin cities of Hyderabad and secunderabad are separated by Hussain Sagar, an artificial lake constructed during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah by Hussain Shah Wali in 1562.

                The city is 400 years old and is noted for its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and bridges, hills and lakes. It is perched on the top of the Deccan Plateau, 1776ft., above sea level, and sprawls over an are of 100 sq. miles.

               A multitude of influences have shaped the character of the city. Its palaces and buildings, houses and tenements, gardens and streets have a history and a architectural individuality of their own, which makes hyderabad a city of enchantment. The history, here , like elsewhere, is etched on the walls, monuments and collections of the heritage of the place which India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru described as the " microcosm of Indian culture".

              Hyderabad was founded on the River Musi five miles east of Golconda, in 1590-91 by Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah who was a unique personality. In 16th century the city grew spontaneously to accommodate the surplus population of Golconda, which was the capital of the Qutb Shahi rulers. Many buildings sprang up along the banks of the River Musi. Gradually the city grew and people from all parts of the country have settled here and have merged with the local culture, adding something of their own, to give Hyderabad a distinct flavor, pleasantly palatable to all.

              The Qutb Shahi dynasty founded the kingdom of the Golconda, one of the five kingdoms that emerged after the breakup of the Bahmani Kingdom. All the seven rulers were patrons of learning and great builders. They contributed to the growth and development of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic literature and culture in Hyderabad. They also patronized the regional culture of the Deccan, symbolized by the Telugu language. Farmans(or orders) were often issued in Telugu as well, for the benifit of heterogeneous population. During the Qutb Shahi reign Golconda became one of the leading markets in the world for diamonds, pearls, steel for arms, and also printed fabric." Seeing the city of Golconda may be said to be the city of Diamonds" Jeans de Then ends describes Hyderabad.

               The glory of Golconda kingdom ended in 1687, after a valiant struggle. Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughal rulers, captured Golconda after a siege that lasted eight months. Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last king of the Golconda, was imprisoned at Daulatabad, where he died after twelve years captivity.After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Deccan was administered by a subedar or viceroy of the Mughal Emperor. Mir Qamaruddin Khan, the Governor of the Deccan, who bore the title Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asaf Jah, established his supremacy in 1724. he thus became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

               Asaf jah 1 continued to maintain Aurangabad, which had been founded by Mughal rulers, as the capital of his new state. In 1763,Nizam Ali Khan Jah II shifted the capital to hyderabad. The seven Nizams of the Asaf Jahi dynasty ruled the deccan for nearly 225 years, right upto 1948.When the British and the French spread their hold over the country, the Nizam soon won their friendship without bequething his power. The title "Faithful Ally of the British Government" was bestowed on Nizam VII. The British stationed a resident at Hyderabad, but the state continued to be ruled by the Nizam.

             The rule of the seven Nizams saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad, under Nizams, was the largest princely state in India. Area wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together. The State had its own currency, mint, railways, and postal system.

              Soon after India gained independence, Hyderabad state was merged with the union of India. On November 1, 1956 the map of India was redrawn into linguistic states, and Hyderabad became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

              Today Hyderabad is well known as the capital city for IT Industry and apart from that the city has molded itself as a tourist place where we have lots and lots of must visit places, lets us see one after the other..