India GOInteresting facts about Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of Telangana, a state in South India, and lies on the Deccan Plateau along the Musi River. Until 2014 it was the capital of Andhra Pradesh; when Telangana was formed, the city went with it and served as the joint capital of both states for the next ten years. It should not be confused with Hyderabad in Sindh, Pakistan. Below: where the city is, how it got here, and what it is known for.
Hyderabad is in the state of Telangana (South India).
Charminar built1591The City of Pearls blends Nizami grandeur with a booming tech scene: the Charminar and old-city bazaars on one side, glassy HITEC City on the other, and the mighty Golconda Fort above. Pearls, palaces, and one of India's great old-and-new capitals.
Where Hyderabad is
The city lies on the Deccan Plateau in the northern part of South India, at an average altitude of about 536 m. Much of it sits on hilly granite country around artificial lakes, among them Hussain Sagar, which is older than the city and separates it from its twin, Secunderabad, the former British cantonment to the north. The 2011 census counted about 6.9 million people within city limits and about 9.7 million in the metropolitan region.
Hyderabad is also the name of a district, but the city has outgrown it: the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was formed in 2007 from the old municipal corporation and twelve municipalities of the Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak districts, covering about 650 km² at the time.
The other Hyderabad, in Sindh, Pakistan, is a separate city on the Indus about 150 km from Karachi, founded in 1768. Both names mean the city of Haydar, after the caliph Ali.
Why Hyderabad is in Telangana
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah founded Hyderabad in 1591 on the Musi, to take the capital beyond the fortified Golconda, and built Charminar. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb took Golconda in 1687. In 1724 the Mughal viceroy Asaf Jah I declared his own rule and founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty, the Nizams, and from 1769 to 1948 Hyderabad was their capital.
At independence in 1947 the Nizam declared that he would remain independent rather than join India or Pakistan; in September 1948 the Indian Army took control of the state in an operation codenamed Polo, and Hyderabad became part of India. Hyderabad State lasted until 1956, when the states were redrawn by language and its Telugu-speaking districts joined Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad as capital. The Telangana movement campaigned for decades for a separate state, and Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014, with Hyderabad as its capital and, for no more than ten years, the capital of Andhra Pradesh too.
Where the name comes from
Hyderabad means the city of Haydar, the lion, a title of the caliph Ali; the city was originally called Baghnagar, the city of gardens, and 17th-century European travellers found both names in use. A popular legend says the founder named it Bhagya-nagar after Bhagmati, a dancer he married, who took the title Hyder Mahal. The founder's prayer at the laying of Charminar is still quoted: "Fill this my city with people, as Thou hast filled the river with fishes, O Lord."
What Hyderabad is famous for
Seven things the city is known for.
- Charminar and the Old City — The four-minaret arch of 1591 is the city's symbol, surrounded by the Laad Bazaar bangle lanes, the Makkah Masjid and the Nizams' Chowmahalla Palace.
- The City of Pearls — Until the 19th century Hyderabad was known for its pearl industry and was the only trading centre in the world for Golconda diamonds; the Koh-i-Noor is said to have come from the Kollur mines of Golconda. Pearls are still sold around Charminar and in Punjagutta.
- Biryani and haleem — Hyderabad is a UNESCO creative city of gastronomy, and Hyderabadi haleem carries a geographical indication. More on what to eat in Hyderabad.
- The Nizams' collections — The Salar Jung Museum is one of the largest one-man art collections in the world; the Nizam's Museum keeps the jubilee gifts of the seventh Nizam.
- Ramoji Film City — In 2005 Guinness World Records named it the world's largest film studio. Hyderabad is the home of the Telugu film industry.
- HITEC City — Since the 1990s Hyderabad has become one of India's hubs for IT, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, around HITEC City in the west.
- Two official languages — Telugu and Urdu are both official, and most Hyderabadis speak both; the local Urdu is called Deccani. English is widely used in business and in tourist places. More on languages in Hyderabad.
FAQ
Hyderabad is in which state?
Telangana. Hyderabad is the state capital and its largest city.
Is Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh?
Not any more. It was the capital of Andhra Pradesh from 1956; since Telangana was formed on 2 June 2014 the city has been in Telangana, and for the next ten years it was also the joint capital of both states.
Where is Hyderabad?
In South India, on the Deccan Plateau along the Musi River. It is not the same city as Hyderabad in Sindh, Pakistan.
What is Hyderabad famous for?
Charminar and the Old City bazaars, pearls and the history of Golconda diamonds, biryani and haleem, the Nizams' palaces and collections, Ramoji Film City and the IT district of HITEC City.
Were the Nizams Mughals?
They began as Mughal governors: Asaf Jah I was the Mughal viceroy of the Deccan who declared his own rule in 1724 and founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
Why is Hyderabad called the City of Pearls?
Because until the 19th century it was known for its pearl industry; pearls are still drilled, strung and sold here.
How many people live in Hyderabad?
The 2011 census counted about 6.9 million in the city and about 9.7 million in the metropolitan region.
Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
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