Excursion Heritage

Hyderabad

Hyderabad with its twin of Secunderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. It is famous as the former seat of the fabulously wealthy Nizams of Hyderabad. Muhammad Quli, the fourth of the Qutub Shahi kings, founded Hyderabad, India’s fifth-largest city, in 1590. They ruled this part of the Deccan from 1512 until 1687, when the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, defeated the last of their line. Before the founding of Hyderabad, the Qutub Shahi kings ruled from the forted city of Golconda, 11km to the west.

Built on the banks of the river Musi, and surrounded by huge prehistoric rock formations like petrified, gray elephants, Hyderabad is a blend of old and new and is an important centre of Islamic culture. For the past 50 years, a lot of water has flown under the Musi. The laid-back metropolis is now a science city.

The best-known landmark in the heart of the city of Hyderabad is the Charminar. Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah built it in 1591 by mixing Indian and Mughal styles to appease the forces of evil.

Charminar

Charminar is a 56 metres high triumphal arch with elegant balconies, stucco decorations and a small mosque. The four intricately carved minarets of this beautiful structure command the landscape for miles, rising 180 feet from the ground. An underground path is believed to connect ermine with the Golconda fort. Markets like Shahali Banda, Laad Bazar, Kali Kaman and Patthar Gatti grace this walled city structure.

Golconda Fort

Golconda fort is another of the most magnificent fortress complexes in India, built on a granite hill 120 metres high. It is located on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The strongly fortified outer wall surrounds the entire township of Golconda and is 11 km long. The fort has the massive iron spiked gates. About 2 kms from this fort, there are tombs of the seven Qutub Shahi rulers amidst the beautifully laid out gardens of Ibrahim Bagh.

After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Mughal control over this part of India rapidly waned and the Asaf Jahi viceroys established their own independent state. They conferred themselves with the titles of 'subadar' and 'Nizam'. They went on to form alliance with the French and embroiled themselves in the Anglo-French rivalry for control of India, which only contributed to their downfall.

Hyderabad is among the few Indian cities, which has a well-preserved cultural heritage with sophistication in manners like Nawab of Lucknow. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru described Hyderabad as a “microcosm of Indian culture” and the famous poet Faiz compared Hyderabad to the “Garden of Eden”.

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