Hyderabad: The City of The Nawabs


The city of Hyderabad is named after the Persian / Urdu word “Haydar” which means a lion and “abad” which means abode or the city. Thus Hyderabad translates to the Hyder’s abode or the lion’s city. This city was named in honour of Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib, who was also known by the name Hyder owing to his lion-like valour in the battlefield, as believed by John Everett Heath. One theory also says that the city was named after the name of Hayder, the son of Quli Qutb. Yet another theory suggests that Muhammad Quli Qutb was the founder of this city and he named it as Bhaganagar after the name of Bhagmati, a local girl with whom he fell in deep love. She converted to Islam later and thus adopted the title “Hyder Mahal”. So the city was renamed in her honour. The city of Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Telangana and it lies along the banks of the Musi river. It is ranked as the fourth most populous city of the country. It is situated at an average altitude of 1780 feet. There are a large number of hotels in Hyderabad that offer their guests utmost comfort and the best of facilities.

Hyderabad has a rich and vivid history and it is also home to several natural wonders such as hills and artificial lakes. This includes the magnificent Hussain Sagar that even predates the founding years of the city and is located in the north region of the city’s center. It is however an established fact that the city was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and remained under the rule of Qutb Shahi dynasty for over a century until the arrival of the Mughals. The relics and remains of Qutb Shahi dynasty as well as the Nizam rule later on is still evident in the buildings and monuments of the city. The impact of Mughal rule is also quite visible in the distinct cuisine of the city, notably the Hyderabadi biryani and the hyderabadi haleem. The city was established as a cultural hub during the Qutb Shahi rule as well as the rule of the Nizams. It attracted a large number of visitors even during the ancient times. 

Hyderabad is also known around the world for its pearl and diamond trading centre. In fact it is also known as the city of Pearls for the same reason. While you can shop for the same in its traditional bazaars such as Sultan Bazaar, Begum Bazaar, and Laad Bazaar, you can also visit the numerous malls for the same as well. THe industrialisation that has undertaken the city in the past decades has also led to a large number of industries established here. This includes National Geophysical Research Institute, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and a lot more. Apart from this, there are a large number of prestigious hotels such as Hotel Maya Deluxe Hyderabad that give a value for money stay with the best of services.

Author Dimpy Roy is and travel writer working with an Online Travel Guide. She helps people to find good hotels in Hyderabad

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