Every tourist visiting India, must make a trip to Hyderabad city in India, where you can see an astonishing blend of ancestral heritage with the modern IT sector. Hyderabad, also known as City of Nizams, is a city that was named after a queen Hyder Mahal. Hyderabad literally means the ‘city of Hyder’. The city of Hyderabad has its own individual character, which is evident in the beautiful, ancient palaces and the equally modern, and state-of-the-art offices and buildings. The IT sector has made such a deep impact on the ancestral Hyderabad city that the city is often called as ‘Cyberabad’. Hyderabad is famous world over for its fabulous Diamond markets, glass embedded bangles and the delectable Hyderabadi cuisine. It has a Hindu - Muslim culture with a number of monuments of historical importance. Legend says that in 1589 Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutub Shahi dynasty founded a new city along the banks of river Musi for his ladylove, Bhagmati. The city was then called Bhagyanagar. Later when Bhagmati entered the royal family, she was honored with the title Hyder Mahal. And Bhagyanagar became Hyderabad. There are no forests in this district, and this district is the Smallest district in Andhra Pradesh and the densest one in the whole State.
History
When India became independent on August 15, 1947, the Muslim Nizam refused to accede to the Indian Union, although it entirely surrounded his territory, demanding the right as ruler of 18 million (overwhelmingly Hindu) subjects to rule a separate state. The resulting standoff ended with the state’s occupation by Indian troops between September 13-17, 1948 and its incorporation as a state of India the next year.
Charminar
Charminar is the symbol of Hyderabad and was built by the ruler Quli Qutab Shah in honour of his Hindu wife. A very busy market place surrounds this commanding structure of Hyderabad. Mecca Masjid lies next to Charminar. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite.
Birla Temple
Hussain Sagar lake radiates in the night the reflection of the Shri Venkateswara temple built by the Birlas on a hillock close to the Secretariat. The temple is a quarter century old and built of white marble and represents several schools of architecture. Though the South Indian school is prominent in the construction of the rajagopuram. Utkal styles of temple architecture marks the tower over the main shrine called the Jagadananda vimanam. The towers over the temples for the Lord’s consorts Padmavathi and Andal are again in the South Indian style. The temple has a 42-feet high flagstaff and the main idol of the Lord is 11 feet tall.
Shopping In Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the most preferred destination for shopping in Andhra Pradesh. The city gives you a unique and glittering shopping experience in the many splendid markets. There are probably none places better than Hyderabad to shop for natural pearls and diamonds. The main markets for shopping for jewelery include Basheerbagh, Abids and Nampally. Some of the biggest showrooms of jewelery, textiles and handicrafts are found here. Close by is another market which is called Begum Bazar which is famous for Brassware items.
Hyderabad Fair & Festivals
Deccan Festivals :- The Deccan festival highlights Hyderabad’s arts, crafts, culture and cuisine. This festival also includes a Pearls and Bangles fair and a food fair. Cultural programs, food stalls arts and craft shops etc. is also organized.
Lumbini Festival :- This festival is organized to celebrate the Buddhist Heritage of Andra Pradesh. The festival is celebrated in Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad for three days from 2nd Friday of December every year.
