Information about Hyderabad, India

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Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh • India

Charminar, a famous monument and symbol of Hyderabad Charminar, a famous monument and symbol of Hyderabad

Hyderabad

Coordinates:

Area • Coastline| | 625 km (0 sq mi) •  km ( mi)

Climate • Precipitation Temperature • Summer • Winter| style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" |Aw (Kppen) •  mm ( in) 26.0 C (0 F) • 30.3 C (0 F) • 23.5 C (0 F)

Distance(s) • From Delhi • From Mumbai • From Chennai| style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" | • 1,499 km S (land) • 711 km SE (land) • 688 km N (land)

Region| | Telangana

District(s)| | Hyderabad

Language(s)| | Telugu, Urdu

Mayor| style="border-top: 2px dotted #DCDCDC;" | Election due

Commissioner| | Dr. C.V.S.K. Sharma

Founded| | 1592

Parliamentary constituency| | Hyderabad, Secunderabad

Planning Agency| | GHMC

Website: www.ghmc.gov.in/

1. ^ International Telugu Institute (Telugu: Antarjātīya Telugu Saṃstha). "Telugu Vāṇi": 12.  2. ^ Olson, JS and R Shadle (1996). Historical Dictionary of the British Empire. Greenwood, 544. ISBN 0-31329-366-X.  3. ^ Aleem, S (1984). Developments in Administration Under H.E.H. the Nizam VII. Osmania University Press, 243.  4. ^ Bansal, SP (2005). Encyclopaedia of India. Smriti, 61. ISBN 8-18796-771-4.  5. ^ The Genome Valley, Hyderabad. Retrieved on 2006-03-06. 6. ^ Report on IT exports of India. Retrieved on 2006-03-05. 7. ^ [1] 8. ^ Foundation Laid for Fab City. Cyberabad Times. Retrieved on 2006-03-05. 9. ^ "Vice Chancellor's Speech about Osmania University". Retrieved on 2007-1-15. 10. ^ GHMC comes into existence. The Hindu. Retrieved on 2007-04-17. 11. ^ APSRTC official web site APSRTC. Retrieved on 2006-08-29. 12. ^ Information about APSRTC AP State Road Transport Corporation. Retrieved on 2006-08-29. 13. ^ Hyderabad Growth Corridor - Outer ring road. Retrieved on 2006-08-29. 14. ^ Sister Cities International, Inc. (SCI) 15. ^ Hyderabad, Suwon enter `Sister city' pact

Coordinates:

Hyderabad pronunciation (helpinfo) or Haydarābād /haɪd̪əraːbaːd̪/ (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు,Urdu: حیدر آباد , Hindi: हैदराबाद) is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated in the region of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad has an estimated metropolitan population of 6.1 million (61 lakh), making it India's sixth-largest metropolitan area. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and its multilingual culture, both geographically and culturally. Hyderabad also called as- The City of Nawabs, is also one of the most developed cities in the country. It is now a hub of information technology (or IT), ITES (BPO) and biotechnology.

Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the twin cities, separated by the Husain Sagar (bound by the 'Tank Bund'), a man-made lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562.

The Charminar (Urdu/Hindi: "Four Minars") monument, built in the center of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, is a commemoration of the eradication of a plague in the region.

Etymology

Theories explaining the origins and etymology behind Hyderabad's name differ. A popular theory suggests that after founding the city, Muhammad Quli fell in love with and married a local Banjara girl known as Bhagamathi. He named this city after her as Bhagyanagaram. Upon her conversion to Islam, Bhagamathi changed her name to Hyder Mahal and the new city's name was correspondingly changed to match it, resulting in the eponymous name Hyderabad (literally, "the city of Hyder").^[1]

History

Main article: History of Hyderabad

Sultan Quli Qutb Mulk was the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the ruling family of the Golconda. The dynasty, previously a feudatory of Bahmani sultanate, declared independence in 1512. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a ruler of the dynasty, founded the city of Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River in 1591;^[2] this relocation was intended to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golconda.^[3] 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.^[4]

As Qutb Shahi power and fortune rose during the 16th and early 17th centuries, Hyderabad became a center of a vibrant diamond trade. Golconda diamond mines are the birth place of the most famous diamonds in the world viz. Darya-ye Noor, Hope Diamond, Koh-i-Noor,the crown jewel in the crown of Queen Elizabeth. They contributed to the growth and development of Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic literature and culture in Hyderabad. Some of the sultans were known as patrons of local Telugu culture as well. In the 16th century the city grew to accommodate the surplus population of Golconda and eventually became the capital of the Qutb Shahi rulers. Hyderabad became known for its gardens (called baghs) and its comfortable climate.

Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured Hyderabad in 1687. During the short Mughal rule, the fortune of Hyderabad declined. Soon, the Mughal-appointed governors of the city gained more 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 would rule Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain. Asaf Jah's successors ruled as 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, the former capital, was all but abandoned. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar, Tungabhadra, Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, and others were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time; the actual work was completed by the Government of India in 1969.

The Nizams one of the welathiest in their time, looking at the fabled Jewels of The Nizams shows the magnitude of wealth and grandeur.

After the Indian independence in 1947, under the terms of independence from the British, the State of Hyderabad headed by the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the Nizam opted for independence, either as a sovereign ruler or by acquiring Dominion status within the British Empire.

India then enforced an economic blockade. As a result Hyderabad state signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian Union. On September 17, 1948, more than a year after India had gained Independence, the Nizam signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union.

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 Telugu speaking community. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital city of the new state of Andhra Pradesh. Lately, the city has been subject to severe social tensions, as revealed in the aftermath of the 18 May 2007 Mecca Masjid bombing which soon was followed by the 25 August 2007 Hyderabad bombings.

Geography

Topography

The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historic Old City, home to the Charminar and Mecca Masjid, it lies on the southern bank of the river. The city center saw a shift to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Husain Sagar lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the growth of Secunderabad and neighboring municipalities has resulted in a large and populous metropolitan area.

Climate

• Summer (May): Average maximum Temperature: 40 degrees Celsius. Average minimum: 25 degrees Celsius.
• Winter (December): Average maximum Temperature: 28 degrees Celsius. Average minimum: 13 degrees Celsius.
• Highest ever recorded: 45.6 degrees Celsius; Lowest ever recorded: 6.1 degrees Celsius.
• Annual precipitation: About 79 cm.
• Geological system: Archean.
• Soil: Red Sandy, with areas of Black Cotton soil.
• Surrounding terrain: Rocky/hilly. (The region around Hyderabad is known for its beautiful rock formations. There are many rock formation enthusiasts in the city.)
• Climatic: Tropical Wet and Dry (Koppen).

Culture

Hyderabad has been the meeting place of many different cultures and traditions. Historically, Hyderabad has been the city where distinct cultural and linguistic traditions of North India and South India meet. It is thus considered as the gateway to the South or gateway to the North. One can also perceive the strong fusion of the Muslim culture of Hyderabad with south Indian traditions of the region.

Hyderabad is a cosmopolitan city and home to people practicing many religions. Hyderabadis, as residents of the city are known, have developed a distinctive culture which is a mixture of ancient Hindu traditions of Telugu people and the centuries old Islamic Culture.

Telugu, Urdu and Hindi are the principal languages spoken in Hyderabad. Both Urdu and Telugu have linguistically impacted on each other in this region. The Telugu spoken here has assimilated many Urdu words into it. And the Urdu spoken here is also unique, with influences of Marathi and Telugu, giving rise to a dialect sometimes called Hyderabadi Urdu or Deccani. Hyderabad has always had one of the largest Urdu speaking populations in India, and the famous Osmania University here was the first Urdu medium university in India. The Telugu dialect spoken in Hyderabad and rest of Telangana prior to formation of the present state of Andhra Pradesh was very distinct from the one spoken in coastal Andhra. A large percentage of the population is also well-versed in English. Women of all cultures and faiths in Hyderabad typically wear either the traditional Indian dress, the sari, or, increasingly, the Shalwar Qamis especially among the younger population. A large percentage of Muslim women in the city wear either the burqa or the hijab. The traditional Hyderabadi garb for females are the Khara Dupatta and the Shalwar Qamis, and for the males, it is the Sherwani. This is one of the more visible cultural attributes of Hyderabad.Hyderabad has got a mixed set of people forming a base from all regions of India. In fact Hyderabad is considered to be a transit place for the North and South of the Whole of India, with Sikhs, Gujaratis, Marathis, Bengalis, and others. While Muslim people are concentrated more towards the old city like Charminar, Secunderabad has got a more contemporary look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians. In general, Hyderabadi people are considered to be very friendly and hospitable. In fact hospitality is the other name of Hyderabadis. They take pride in talking in their local, typical, and vibrant Hyderabadi language which is a mix of Hindi, Urdu, and Telugu.

Hyderabad's most popular public carnival is the annual immersion of Lord Ganesh idols after the 10 day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Ananta Chaturdashi.(Locally known as the Ganesh Nimajjnanam). Bonalu is another festival which is celebrated with great fervour.

Not to forget the mighty, breathtaking procession of Muharram which takes place every year 10th Muharram (1st month of Islamic calender). While this event is celebrated throughout the Muslim world, the old city of Hyderabad is known for it's 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).

Hyderabadi cuisine

Main article: Hyderabadi cuisine

The city's cuisine is a blend of Mughal, Persian and Telugu cuisine. Hyderabadi Biryani is an iconic dish of the region. Other culinary delights include Qubani ka Mitha, Double Ka Mitha (a sweet made with bread), Pheni (a sweet vermicelli delicacy eaten during the festival of Diwali), Nahari Kulche also known as paya and Haleem (a meat dish traditionally eaten during the holy month of Ramzan).

Indian Mithai (sweet) shops are popular for their ghee sweets. Mau'zzam Jahi Market, Nampally, is known for its fruit biscuits and the sweet Dil Khush. A family residing in Azeez Bagh palace in the old part of the city is famous for the preparation of Badaam Ki jaali (Almond lattice confection). Also widely found on street-corners are cafes that offer Irani chai, Irani samosa and Osmania biscuit.

Economy

Hyderabad is the financial and economic capital of the state. The city is the largest contributor to the state's gross domestic product, state tax and excise revenues. The workforce participation is about 29 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.

Hyderabad is known as the city of pearls, lakes and, lately, for its IT companies. The pearl market known as Laad Bazaar is situated near Charminar. Ornaments made with Rice Pearls can be bought from Char Kaman or the General Bazaar market. Products such as silverware, saris, Nirmal and Kalamkari paintings and artifacts, unique Bidri handcrafted items, lacquer bangles studded with stones, silk-ware, cotton-ware and handloom-based clothing materials are made and traded through the city for centuries.

Andhra Pradesh inherited from the State of Hyderabad great academic institutes and research labs, both public and private institutes with very diverse areas of interest. The infrastructural facilities for basic research in Hyderabad are some of the best in the country, hosting a large academic population from all over the country and beyond.

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 and Vimta Labs being housed in the city. Initiatives such as Genome Valley and the Nanotechnology park are expected to create extensive infrastructure in bio-technology.^[5]

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.

Information Technology industry

Main article: Information Technology industry in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad city is today known for its IT and IT Enabled Services, Pharmaceuticals and Entertainment industries. Many 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 hub 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 has also been referred to as the second Silicon Valley of India next to Bangalore.^[6] 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 include Madhapur and Gachibowli.

Hyderabad is home to some of the best Fortune 500 Corporations. Microsoft has its development centre in Hyderabad which is its largest Product Development Centre outside the headquarters in Redmond, USA. GE, IBM, Motorola, Deloitte, Oracle, Google, Dell, Franklin Templeton, Ness Technologies, Qualcomm, Agilent, ADP, Bank of America, CSC, Verizon, Convergys are some of the other Fortune 500 companies that have significant presence in Hyderabad. Honeywell plans to open up a new R&D centre at Nanakramguda, outskirts of the city.

Indian IT Giants such as Satyam, Infosys, Wipro, TCS, Polaris, Infotech, Apollo Health Street, Zavata Inc. and Mayur's group of industries also have set up their development centres in the city. Sonata Software plans to open its new development centre at Gachibowli.^[7] Another mega project is the proposed semiconductor fabrication facility to be built by a consortium of companies, Intellect Inc and Semindia, called Fab City.^[8]

Demographics

The city's population in 2006 was estimated to be 5.7 million, while the population of the greater metropolitan area was estimated at over 8.3 million. Hinduism and Islam are the most widely practiced religions in the city. The main languages spoken are Telugu, Urdu, Deccani, and Hindi. English is widely used in business, commerce and governance. In recent years, people of tribal origin, called Banjaras, have immigrated to the city in search of work in and brought in their own distinct culture and language called Gorboli which is spoken among banjaras only.

Education and research

Main article: Education in Hyderabad, India

Hyderabad is an important seat of learning in southern India. It is a city with the most Educational Institutions in India. The city is home to three central Universities, two deemed Universities, and six state Universities. Among them is the flagship, Osmania University, established in 1917, which is the seventh oldest University in India and the third oldest in South India.^[9] Many institutes for technical education like Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, International Institute of Information Technology, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, ICFAI Business school, and medical colleges such as the Gandhi Medical College, Osmania Medical College and several other private medical colleges such as Deccan Medical College, Mediciti Institute of medical sciences and Shadan Medical College are located here. Also based here is the world-class Indian School of Business, Hyderabad Central University and the National Academy of Legal Studies & Research.

Hyderabad has various research institutes such as the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL, which was accorded Central University status recently and subsequently renamed as the English and Foreign Languages University). It is the home of Maulana Azad National Urdu University as well as BR Ambedkar Open University. This educational infrastructure attracts students from all over the country and some beyond, especially from Africa and the Middle East. Due to the rising IT boom in the state, a new Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani campus is being set up new campus in Shamirpet area of Ranga reddy district an area in the outskirts of Secunderabad. A new IIT has been proposed by the central government in Medak District which is just an hour's drive from Hyderabad. Recently Georgia Institute of Technology signed an MOU for setting up its offshore campus in the city.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) had set up Defence Electronics Research Laboratory (DLRL) in 1962, to work on the design and development of communication and radar systems. Currently, DLRL is involved in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) of DRDO. Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) was setup by DRDO, which has diversified into the missile complex at present. It is developing strategic weapons for defence. Nuclear energy sector has a strong presence with three organisations under Department of Atomic Energy (India) such as Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), located here for conducting basic research and providing the much needed materials and technology required for carbon free energy generation.

Civic administration

The city is administered by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC),^[10] whose titular head is the Mayor 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 Municipal corporation of Hyderabad Act 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 it's full term and elections are due to the GHMC and for the post of Mayor.

Most 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. The infrastructure and civic administration in these areas is controlled by SCB which comes under the ministry of defence of the union government of India. The President of the board is the incumbent Secunderabad area Indian army commander, who is of the rank of Brigadier, an one-star General officer. The executive powers are vested in the civilian Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the cantonment board who is appointed by the defence ministry.

The GHMC is in charge of the civic needs and the infrastructure of the metropolis. Hyderabad is divided into 100 municipal wards, each overseen by a corporator. The corporators of the administration are elected through a popular vote, and almost all the field candidates.

The metropolitan area of Hyderabad covers two districts, Hyderabad and Rangareddi. The administration of each district is headed by a District Collector who is in charge of property records and revenue collection for the Central government. The district collector also oversees the national elections held in the city.

The Hyderabad Police comes under the state Home Ministry and is headed by a Police Commissioner, an IPS officer. 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 Police.

Hyderabad is the seat of the State High Court and also has two lower courts - the Small Causes Court for civil matters, and the Sessions Court for criminal cases.

Hyderabad elects two members to the Lok Sabha, the lower-house of the Indian parliament, who represent the constituencies of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In addition, parts of the city overlap two other Lok Sabha electoral districts. Hyderabad elects thirteen representatives to the State's Legislative Assembly.

Transportation

Main article: Transport in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad is connected to the rest of the country by National Highways—NH-7, NH-9 and NH-202. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation^[11] established in 1932 started as a unit of the Nizam State Railways-Road Transport Division with 27 buses. It consists of about 19,000 strong bus fleet currently. Hyderabad has the third largest bus station facility in Asia, with 72 platforms for 72 buses to load passengers at a time. Officially named as the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, it is locally known as the Imlibun Bus Station. The APSRTC operates point to point bus services which connect important places within the city. There are more than 4000 buses in the city running the point to point service.^[12] The yellow coloured Auto Rickshaw usually referred to as an "auto", is the most widely used taxi. Recently other automobiles like motorcycles and cars were introduced as taxi.

Hyderabad has a combination of light rail transportation system known as the MultiModal Transport System (MMTS) and suburban railway system which offer connectivity between rail and road transport for the facility of the commuters. The South Central Railway headquarters are located at Secunderabad. The three main railway stations are Secunderabad Railway Station, Hyderabad Railway Station (Nampally) and Kachiguda Railway Station. The Begumpet Airport has domestic and international terminals. A new international airport is under construction at Shamshabad. Like other Indian cities, Hyderabad suffers from traffic congestion. One of the main problems is the extremely high number of two-wheelers (scooters, bikes, etc.) being used by the people in the city, as opposed to cars and/or public transport. Many a time, it has also been noticed that the drivers of auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers and buses drive quite recklessly, endangering not only themselves and other motorists, but also the growing reputation of the city. Several flyovers have been built to ease the congestion, but their impact on the poor traffic situation seems to be minimal, especially because an improvement in the traffic situation is dependent on, more than anything else, a change in the attitude of the drivers and motorists. An inner ring road going around Hyderabad within the city limits and outer ring road. The Andhra Pradesh Government has Sanctioned for the construction of a Metro to ease up the bustling traffic in the City.^[13] outside the city limits have also been planned.

Media

Main article: Media in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Cinema

Hyderabad is home to the second largest film industry in India, Telugu cinema, also known as Tollywood which produces approximately one hundred movies every year. Saradhi Studios, Annapurna Studios, Ramanaidu Studios, Ramakrishna Studios, Padmalaya Studios, Ramoji Film City are some of the notable film studios in the city. Hyderabad also has the most cinema halls in the country.

The first Hyderabad International Film Festival (HIFF) was organised in 2007 by the Hyderabad Film Club and Andhra Pradesh Film Directors Association. The festival included a competition section for short and documentary films and Golden Pearl was given away for the awardees. Prasads IMAX at Hyderabad has the world's largest 3D IMAX screen.

In 2006, a local film The Angrez is based on the Hyderabadi culture, language and people.

Radio, television and print

The FM radio channels broadcast in the city include AIR Vividh Bharathi FM (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-owned Doordarshan transmits two terrestrial television channels and one satellite television channel from Hyderabad. Many private regional television channels broadcast from Hyderabad, including ETV, Gemini, Teja, Maa TV, ETV Urdu,4Tv News urdu, Vissa, ETV2, TV9, Zee Telugu, Gemini Music, Gemini News Channel, NTV, TV 5 4TV. There is another channel joining this list very soon and thats from the family of Asianet communications.The channel will be called Sitara and would start operations from October this year. Hyderabad has three print media groups that publish several newspapers and magazines in English, Telugu and Urdu. The major Telugu dailies include the Eenadu, Vaartha, Andhra Jyothi, Praja shakti, Andhra Bhoomi and Andhra Prabha. The major English dailies are The Deccan Chronicle, Business Standard, The Hindu, The Times of India, The Indian Express and The Economic Times.

The major Urdu dailies are The Siasat Daily, The Munsif Daily, The Etemaad Urdu Daily, The Rahnuma-i Deccan and The Daily Milap. Besides these major newspapers, there are a number of neighbourhood newspapers that cater to several localities. Magazines published from Hyderabad include Swati, Navya, Andhra Prabha, Andhra Jyoti, Vipula,Chatura, Vanita and Chandamama. Movie magazines include Sitara, Superhit , Chitranjali, Santosham and Jyoti Chitra.

Communications

Hyderabad is covered by a large network of optical fibre cables. The city's telephone system is serviced by four landline companies: BSNL, Tata Indicom, Reliance and Airtel. There are six mobile phone companies: GSM players include BSNL, Vodafone, Idea, Airtel and CDMA is offered by BSNL, Tata Indicom and Reliance.

Several companies like BSNL, Tata Indicom, Bharati, Hathway, Reliance, Sify Ltd. and YOU Telecom offer broadband Internet access.

Sports

Cricket and Hockey are the most popular sports in the city. Hyderabad Sultans won the inaugural Premiere Hockey League championship in 2005. Cricket is the favorite sport among kids and the youth, and is played in all varieties such as home cricket, street cricket, ground cricket etc. The game of Badminton is loved by adults and veterans, and is usually played in the locality parks.

Sporting icons of Hyderabad===



Karanam Malleshwari the olympic bronze medalist in weight lifting

Stadium

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 was played here was on November 19, 1955. With the construction of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium at Uppal, it is unlikely that any more cricket matches will be held here.

The city also houses the Swarnandhra Pradesh Sports Complex, the G.M.C. Balayogi Athletic Stadium and the Velodrome. The Aquatics Complex Stadium with a capacity of 2000 spectators hosts swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised events. Kotla Vijay Bhaskar Reddy Indoor Stadium is multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 2000 spectators and a world class wooden flooring with temperature control. SAAP Tennis Complex has a central court that holds 4000 spectators and has seven courts with synthetic surface. City also has about five Go-Karting tracks and a Paint Ball Field.

Attractions

• Charminar - the major landmark in Hyderabad with four graceful minarets.
• 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.
• Golconda Fort - located on the outskirts of the city, Golconda Fort is one of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India.
• Chowmahalla Palace- It was the seat of Asaf Jahi dynasty, where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors. Built in 1750 by Nizam Salabat Jung and designed along the lines of the Shah's palace in Isfahan, this actually consists of a group of palaces each used as a Durbar Hall.

• Salar Jung Museum - The museum houses the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world. Collections include "The Vieled 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 - Located near Golconda, built by a Qutb Shahi sultan, this place is a must visit.
• Mecca Masjid - a stone-built mosque, immediately southwest of Charminar. Remarkable for its architecture, size and its royal splendour. This is one of the most beautiful mosque in Hyderabad.
• Birla Mandir (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh) - a Hindu temple made of white marble located on top of a hill overlooking the city.
• Purani Haveli - The official residence of the Nizam.
• King Kothi Palace - The last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan lived here.
• Qutb Shahi Tombs - Home for various Tombs dedicated to Rulers of Qutb Shahi dynasty, located at Shaikpet, near Golconda Fort.
• Birla Planetarium - located in the heart of the city on the panoramic hillock of Nawbat Pahad, the Birla Planetarium is a tribute to the advances made in science and technology.
• 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.
• Botanical gardens - These gardens are spread across a sprawling area of 120 acres, housing different varieties of herbs, plants, trees etc. These gardens provide a complete visual treat to the eyes with water bodies, meadows, rich grasslands - nature at its best.
• Chilkur Balaji - Temple of Lord Sri Venkateshwara. Around 23 km from Mehdipatnam. (This temple locally caught the name of "Visa Balaji" temple, as most of USA visa aspirants believe in Visa interview success after visiting this temple)
• Nehru Zoological Park - This zoo is among the largest in India, houses a large variety of animals, birds, nocturnal species, aquatic and amphibian species etc. Located close to this is the Mir Alam lake, which is proposed to be converted into an Aquarium along the lines of Sentosa, Singapore.
• 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 - A lake close to Gandipet.
• Hussain Sagar - A man-made lake that separates the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is famous also for the 18-metre tall Buddha statue on a platform island called "Rock of Gibraltar" in the middle of the lake, and for the Tank Bund that is the main road between the twin cities. Boating and water sports are a regular feature here.
• 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, a popular restaurant located on this strip is a must to visit. The latest addition to this strip is the Jal Vihar, a mini water world designed to soothe your senses.
• NTR gardens - This leisure spot is located beside the IMAX theatre. Situated on 36 acres of land adjoining the Hussain sagar, these gardens provide every kind of entertainment and recreation. It also houses a memorial of Late Shri N.T.Rama Rao, former Chief Minister, with an exemplary piece of architecture.
• 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 of Hyderabad. It is also home to a few rare species of birds.
• Paigah Tombs
• Sanghi Temple - A temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara graces a promontory overlooking Sanghi Nagar.
• Ramoji Film City (RFC) is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex, at nearly 2,000 acres (8 km²). It is also one of Asia’s most popular tourism and recreation centres. Opened in 1996, it is located about 25 km from Hyderabad on Vijayawada National Highway(NH-9).

Theme Parks and Resorts

• Snow World - Situated close to lower Tank bund road, it is India's first Snow Theme Park. This has become a popular attraction with tourists who can enjoy temperatures of -5°C, with a special snow fall. This is the place-to-be for those who really want to chill out.
• Ocean Park - This theme park is located at Gandipet, around 15km from Hyderabad. This place is loaded with a number of water amusements, amusement rides, restaurants etc. This place is enjoyed best in the summer.
• Treasure Island - This resort is located at Gandipet on a sprawling 60 acres of land. It offers a variety of leisure and entertainment activities such as go-karting, horse-riding, swimming pools etc.
• Dream Valley Resorts - This is also located at Gandipet amidst lush green environments, includes leisure actvities such as a water theme park, 9 hole golf course, go-karting etc.
• Dhola-ri-Dhani - This resort is a typical setting recreated with the entire rustic ambience and charm of an ethnic Rajasthani village, situated at Kompally on Medchal Road. Camel rides, puppet shows, folk dances and authentic Rajasthani cuisine give you the taste of the desert State. A large swimming pool, a lake to go boating, an amphitheatre for plays and entertainment programmes add to the ambience.
• Durgam Cheruvu - This place is famously known as Lovers Point. A Famous Partying place.
• Ramoji Film City - The famous film studio complex has a theme park inside for the visitors.
• Mount Opera - It is located at Batasingaram, (Hyderabad-Vijaywada Highway) NH-9 Ranga Reddy District. It is famous for its amusement rides, like oasis zone.

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Hyderabad going Hightech

Lot of new changes in the infrastructure is going on in hyderabad

the following are under construction and will be ready in the near future

1. A world class international airport is under construction making use of cutting edge technology.

2. A 11.5 Km express way (flyover) from mehadipatnam to the international airport.An outer ring road which would reduce the traffic inflow from the high ways. In and around outer ring road would house many software companies and other industries.

3. An underground Aquarium is being constructed at mir-alam tank.

4. A 100 floor building (APIIC tower) is under construction which will be a part of the financial district , total investment of this project is about 6800 crore rupees. APIIC tower is going to the tallest building in the country when its construction is expected to finish in about four years

5. A high class residencial complex (90 floors)along with star hotels, entertainment resources and other appartments is under construction.This is named as "LANCO HILLS"

6. A huge investment is made for constructing FAB city which would be housing electronic companies. This is the highest private investment in the country ( probably).

7. Many flyovers are going to be ready by 2008 which would ease the traffic flow in the city.

8. IIT hyderabad is going to be functional soon.

9. American consulate is going to be opened at paigah palace to cater to the needs of the huge crowd of hyderabadis who make their way to USA.

10. A metro rail network and sky buses network is proposed, but this will take atlest 5-6 years to complete.

Sister cities

Hyderabad has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International.^[14]

Riverside, California, USA Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan Suwon, South Korea [15]

References

External links

• Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad
• Hyderabad Urban Development Authority
• Heritage buildings of Hyderabad
• Photos on Columbia University website
• Osmania University
• Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh at the Open Directory Project
• City Development Plan
• New York Times - A Graceful City of Two Cultures
  

•  • [ e] Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh related topics
History	History of Hyderabad, Nizams of Hyderabad, Hyderabad State
Monuments	Charminar, Falaknuma Palace, Golconda fort, Chowmahalla Palace, Paigah Tombs
Localities	Ameerpet, Begumpet, Secunderabad, Abids, Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills, Panjagutta, Kothi, Hyderabad
Government	The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation,
Buildings	Salar Jung Museum, Birla Planetarium, Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, HITEC City
Landmarks	Laad Bazaar, Nehru Zoological Park
Education	List of institutions based in Hyderabad, India, Hyderabad Public School, Saint Ann's High School
Higher Education	Osmania University, Osmania Medical College, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, International Institute of Information Technology, Gandhi medical college, Maulana Azad National Urdu University
Hospitals	List of Hospitals in Hyderabad, Osmania General Hospital
Industry	Defence Research and Development Organisation, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Electronics Corporation of India Limited, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Information Technology industry in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Transport	Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Begumpet Airport, MMTS Hyderabad, South Central Railway
Culture	Muslim culture of Hyderabad, Hyderabadi Urdu, Deccani, Hyderabad biryani,
Places of worship	Makkah Masjid, Birla Mandir (Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh), Chilkur Balaji, Sanghi Temple,
Water Bodies	Osman_Sagar, Husain Sagar, Lotus Pond,
Other topics	Famous people from Hyderabad, List of cities in India, List of cities by population, List of technology centers,

•  • [ e] State and Union Territory capitals of India
Agartala Aizawl Bengaluru (Bangalore) Bhopal Bhubaneswar Chandigarh Chennai (Madras) Daman Dehradun Delhi Dispur Gandhinagar Gangtok Hyderabad Imphal Itanagar Jaipur Jammu Kavaratti Kohima Kolkata (Calcutta) Lucknow Mumbai (Bombay) Panaji Patna Puducherry Port Blair Raipur Ranchi Shillong Shimla Silvassa Srinagar Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

•  • [ e] Metropolitan cities of India
Ahmedabad • Bangalore • Chennai • Delhi • Hyderabad • Kolkata • Mumbai

•  • [ e] Million plus cities in India
Agra Ahmedabad Allahabad Amritsar Asansol Bangalore Bhopal Chennai Coimbatore DelhiDhanbad Guntur hubli Hyderabad Indore Jabalpur Jaipur Jamshedpur Kanpur Kochi Kolkata Lucknow Ludhianamadurai Meerut Mysore Mumbai Nagpur Nashik Patna Pune Rajkot Surat Vadodara Varanasi Vijayawada Visakhapatnam warangal

	•  • [ e]  State of Andhra Pradesh | History | Politics | Telugu people
Capital	Hyderabad
Districts	Adilabad • Anantapur • Chittoor • East Godavari • Guntur • Hyderabad • Kadapa • Karimnagar • Khammam • Krishna • Kurnodistrict|Vizianagaram • Warangal • West Godavari
Major cities	Hyderabad • Secunderabad • Tirupati • Vijayawada • Visakhapatnam •