Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hyderabad owes its existence to a water shortage at Golconda in the late 16th century,
when the reigning Qutb Shahis were forced to abandon Golconda Fort. They relocated to
the banks of the Musi River. The new city of Hyderabad was established, with the brand-
new Charminar as its centrepiece.
In 1687 the city was overrun by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and subsequent rulers
of Hyderabad were viceroys installed by the Mughal administration in Delhi.
In 1724 the Hyderabad viceroy, Asaf Jah, took advantage of waning Mughal power and
declared Hyderabad an independent state with himself as leader. The dynasty of the
nizams of Hyderabad began, and the traditions of Islam flourished. Hyderabad became a
focus for the arts, culture and learning, and the centre of Islamic India. Its abundance of
rare gems and minerals - the world-famous Kohinoor diamond is from here - furnished
the nizams with enormous wealth. (William Dalrymple's
White Mughals
is a fascinating
portrait of the city at this time.)
When Independence came in 1947, the then-nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan,
considered amalgamation with Pakistan, then opted for sovereignty. Tensions between
Muslims and Hindus increased, however, and military intervention saw Hyderabad join
the Indian union in 1948.
The city continues to fall victim to tensions and violence: several bombings in 2007, in-
cluding at Mecca Masjid, killed 55 people, and two bombs in market areas killed at least
16 commuters and shoppers in 2013. Anger over plans to expand a Hindu temple on the
side of Charminar, the city's iconic Islamic monument, resulted in injuries, cars set on
fire, and a police blockade of the old city for several days in late 2012.
Sights
Charminar
(Indian/foreigner ?5/100; 9am-5pm)
Hyderabad's principal landmark was built by Mohammed
Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the founding of Hyderabad and the end of epi-
demics caused by Golconda's water shortage. The dramatic four-column, 56m-high struc-
ture has four arches facing the cardinal points. Minarets sit atop each column. The 2nd
floor, home to Hyderabad's oldest mosque, and upper columns are not open to the public.
The structure is illuminated from 7pm to 9pm.
MONUMENT, MARKET
