Old City (Hyderabad, India)

Old City, Hyderabad ఓల్డ్ సిటీ حیدر آباد
Suburb
400 Years old Makkah Masjid of Hyderabad (1885)
Nickname(s): City of Pearls, City of Minars,[1] City of Lakes[2]
Old City, Hyderabad Location in Telangana, India
Coordinates: 17°21′58″N 78°28′34″E / 17.366°N 78.476°E / 17.366; 78.476Coordinates: 17°21′58″N 78°28′34″E / 17.366°N 78.476°E / 17.366; 78.476
Country	India
State	Telangana
Region	Deccan
Founded	1592
Government
• Body	GHMC, HMDA
• Mayor	Majid Hussain
• Commissioner	Anurag Sharma, IPS
• Member of Parliament	Asaduddin Owaisi
Area
• Total	260 km2 (100 sq mi)
Elevation	536 m (1,759 ft)
Languages
• Official	Telugu, Urdu
• Other	{{{demographics1_info2}}}
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	500 xxx
Telephone code	91–40, 08413, 08414, 08415, 08418, 08453
Vehicle registration	TS 07,08,09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24
Planning agency	GHMC, QQSUDA
Climate	Aw (Köppen)
Precipitation	603 millimetres (23.7 in)
Avg. annual temperature	26.0 °C (78.8 °F)
Avg. summer temperature	35.9 °C (96.6 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	23.5 °C (74.3 °F)
Website	www.ghmc.gov.in

The Old City, Hyderabad is a walled city of Hyderabad, India, located on the banks of the Musi River built by Qutb Shahi sultan Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD. It remained the royal seat of the Nizam of Hyderabad until the end of the reign of the last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (r. 1911–1948). Named after Hyder Mahal, wife of the ruler Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, Hyderabad takes pride in its possession of magnificent antiquated structures, domical mosques, and monuments (r. 1580–1611).^[3]

Once a vibrant city teeming with palatial mansions of Nawabs and mosques, the old city of Hyderabad today is a little crowded but remains the symbolic heart of cosmopolitan Hyderabad.^[4][5]

Language

The old city is one of the main places where the Urdu language flourished and became the official language of the Hyderabad State under the Nizams in 1884 AD.^[6] The large Muslim population primarily speak a dialect of Urdu known as Dakkhani or Deccani (meaning "language of the Deccan"). urdu is also widely spoken and understood.

Landmarks

Charminar at Old City

As the historical region of Hyderabad, the old city contains many landmark buildings including, Charminar (literally "Four minarets"), a structure built on the spot where Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end to a plague epidemic.

The Mecca Masjid (mosque), situated to the southwest of Charminar, is one of the oldest mosques in India. Begun by Muhammed Quli Qutub in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangaiah Choudhary, it was later completed during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1694. The mosque is built of granite and has a main hall 75 feet (23 m) high, 220 feet (67 m) wide and 180 feet (55 m) long, big enough to accommodate ten thousand worshippers at a time. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite. Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah commissioned bricks to be made from soil brought from Mecca and used them in the central arch and construction of the mosque, hence its name.^[7][8][9] Other mosques in the region include the 300-year-old Toli Masjid renowned for its architecture, and Pahaday Sharif, where 400 stairs brings visitors to a place of worship built by the Nizams.

The Golconda Fort was the Seat of the Qutb Shahi kingdom and in the 15th century the centre of a flourishing diamond trade.

Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors.

Falaknuma Palace

Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma Palace is noted for its architecture and is the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior features works by Florentine sculptors and a 100-seat Dining Table.

The Purani Haveli was originally the palace of the Nizam's Parents, later renovated to become the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-story building in the European style.

The Salar Jung Museum is reputed to contain the world’s largest one-man collection

H.E.H The Nizams Museum, Purani Haveli. Home to the famous wardrobe of Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice, it is the world's longest wardrobe, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift. The device occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace.

The Salar Jung Museum contains the since augmented collections of the former Prime Ministers of Hyderabad. The museum is reputed to be the world’s largest one-man collection.^[10]

The Tombs and Mosques of Qutb Shahi Tombs are the resting place of Qutub Shahi Sultans, while the Paigah Tombs contain 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are intricately carved and feature marble inlay work.

Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, a French mercenary, is interred in the Raymond Tomb. He was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam during 1786 AD and also his close friend. The black granite tomb is located in Saroornagar, and offers a panoramic view of the area.

Hyderabad is built around the Mir Alam Tank, the largest lake in the old city and the site of the Nehru Zoological Park, an 300 acres (1.2 km²) area filled with various species of birds and animals. The tank is named after its builder Mir Alam, Prime Minister of Hyderabad between 1804 and 1808, and comprises a one-mile bund with 21 semi-circular arches.^[11]
Madina, near Charminar, is one of the oldest commercial suburbs in the city opened in 1947 on the premises of the Aladdin Wakf. Before the discovery of oil in that country, Hyderabad was richer than Saudi Arabia and the rents received from the area's buildings were sent to Saudi Arabia to help poor Muslims in Medina.
Osman Sagar is a small dam built by the Nizams to provide drinking water and to check the floodwaters of the Musi River. An artificial lake off the river Musi. The site also has well-kept gardens and swimming pools.^[4]

Hyderabadi Biryani

University

Built during the period of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Osmania University has an imposing facade. After the Independence of India, the city has seen a rapid growth in educational institutions, providing many facilities for their students. It also has a number of engineering colleges with proper facilities for the students.

Cuisine

The old city has many restaurants offering Hyderabadi cuisine which is noted for its use of spices and herbs. The food is prepared using different types of spices, in which each spice adds a special taste to the food with a modern touch, while preserving the traditional quality of the food. The most famous dishes of Hyderabad is Hyderabadi Biryani and Hyderabadi Haleem, which are served with great delight. Pista House, Shah Ghouse cafe are popularly known for Haleem

Transport

The old city is well connected by railway, road, and air. Auto rickshaws are available for getting around the city at reasonable rates while TSRTC city buses circulate within the city and also travel to the nearby towns and villages. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station is in Old City, Hyderabad and the nearest railway station is Hyderabad Deccan Station, which offers good connections with the rest of India. The newly developed Shamshabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport lies 6 to 8 kilometres (3.7 to 5.0 mi) from the old city.

Madina near Charminar

Bazaars

Sarojini Naidu describes the Bazaars of Hyderabad in her poem In The Bazaars of Hyderabad.^[12] Hyderabad has been a trading center for centuries and the bazaars of the old city are world-renowned for their pearls, diamonds, and bangles.

A store at Laad Bazaar selling bangles and jewellery. The Laadbazar and the Charminar market area are well known for pearls.

The street leading from Charminar to the square on the west is known as Laad Bazaar and is the bridalwear shopping market of the old city. Hyderabadi glass bangles known as Sona Bai are available here. This colourful shopping market of the old city is tucked away in one of the streets leading off from the Charminar. Bangles, bridalwear, pearls, Attar (perfume) and the traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone studded bangles are all sold here.^[13][14][15] The Madina Market also known as Madina, Hyderabad is known for its wholesale cloth market providing goods from the regions of Telengana, northern Karnataka, and Maharashtra.^[16]

The markets of Charminar's Gulzar House are favoured for the gold, diamonds, and pearls with which Hyderabad is synonymous. Cultured pearls studded in gold and silver jewellery of intricate design are a speciality. Pearls come in many shapes and of particular interest is the ‘rice-pearl’ – a tiny variety. There is also the precious "Basra"; a pearl unmatched in lustre, color, and price which is available in select stores. The pearls are sold in strings or raw by weight.^[17]

Culture

The city has a distinct culture showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence resulting from its period as the capital of the Nizams. This is more evident in the old city.This city is Undeveloped due to political reasons, many people in this region don't pay electricity bills and water bills to government properly.^[18]

Gallery

• 

  Heritage structures in Hyderabad

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  Tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in Hyderabad, India.

• 

  Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad

• 

  Hyderabad High Court, Constructed on 31 March 1919 by Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII.

• 

  Asman Gadh Palace of Paigah Nawab.

• 

  Mir Alam Mandi, A vegetable market in Old City Hyderabad.

• 

  A view of Old City from the top of Charminar.

• 

  Gate to the walled city of Hyderabad

• 

  Copper household utensils shop in Laad Bazaar

See also

• List of tourist attractions in Hyderabad
• Hyderabad state
• List of million-plus cities in India

References