Moula-Ali

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Moula-Ali is a locality, about 15 Kilometers from Secunderabad Railway Station, which comes under the Malkajgiri Circle of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The name of the area comes from the hills so named. There is a railhead in the area and it is called the Moula-Ali railway station. Moula-Ali is an important landmark in the city's topography.

Moula-Ali has got a great importance for the Shia Muslims, it has two huge hills Moula-Ali Hills, one of which is the Moula-Ali Darga. The altitude of the hill on which the Darga is located is 2017 feet above the sea level. There is an annual event Moula-Ali Urs that takes place during the month of Rajab. The long climb of nearly 500 steps to the Moula-Ali Darga takes you to a place of worship built during the period of the Asif Jahis. Atop the hill it is very tranquil, clean and breezy. The Moula-Ali darga draws people from all over the country and abroad too. Even Hindus visit the shrine in large numbers. The environs have become an enjoyable picnic spot as well. The rows of arches on the hill leading to the top is a wonderful sight. The Moula-Ali 'Darga' or mortuary was built in the memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of prophet Muhammad. Legend has it that Yakoob, a eunuch in the court of Ibrahim Quli went to the hill after he saw Hazrat Ali seated on it. To his surprise, he saw the impression of Hazrat Ali's palm on a stone - which he had already seen in his dream. He had the impression hewn out and shrined, then built an arch over the spot. Ibrahim Shah later built a mosque beside the darga. An ashurkhana , a baradari or pavilion and a naqqar khana or place for beating drums were added during the Qutb Shahi period. Every 1st Thursday in a month is important for a visit to the Darga. Devotees who like to stay atop and prepare their own food are supplied utensils free of any rental by the shrine authorities.