Information technology industry

Hyderabad has established itself as the leading destination for IT and IT-enabled services, pharmaceuticals call centres and entertainment  industries. Many computer software companies, software consulting firms, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, dealing with IT and other technological services firms have established their offices and facilities in the city since the 1990s.
Microsoft R&D Campus in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

The development of a township with related technological infrastructure called HITEC City prompted several IT and ITES companies to set up operations in the city. An aggressive promotion of growth in this area has led civic boosters to call the city Cyberabad. There have been extensive investments in digital infrastructure within the city promoting the setting up of several campuses by a vast array of companies within the city. This list includes several multinational corporations having established their development centres in the city. Major areas where such campuses have been set up are Madhapur, Kondapur, Gachibowli and Uppal. TCS Deccan park is one of the active branches of TCS in hyderabad.
TCS Deccan Park, Hyderabad.
CA R&D Campus in Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

Several Fortune 500 corporations, mostly related to IT or BPO services industry. Microsoft (with its largest R&D campus outside the US), Oracle Corporation etc. have set up operations in Hyderabad. For a more comprehensive list of IT companies in Hyderabad, refer to Software industry in Andhra Pradesh.

                                                          

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The Hyderabad Palace is a worth exploring monument situated at Palace Guttahalli in Hyderabad.

It was built by Chamaraja Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1887. The Palace has turreted parapets, battlements, fortified towers and arches. The palace was constructed at a price of Rs. One lakh.

The king Chamaraja Wodeyar, during his visit to England had seen several structures of architectural importance but was greatly inspired by the Windsor Castle in London; hence he decided to build a palace in Tudor style.

The entire palace is spread over an area of about 430 acres; the Palace is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. It is surrounded by a garden all around, almost giving it a fairytale setting. The structure has fortified towers decorated with Gothic windows, battlements and turrets. Thanks to the king for his endeavor in bringing such a beautiful palace.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

Falaknuma Palace

The Falaknuma palace is a remarkable edifice which stands atop a 2000 feet high hillock. It is located 5kms from Charminar  Built by  NawabVikar - Ul - Ulmara,the Prime  Minister of Hyderabad,  it is a stupendous palace and connotes the "heavenly  abode". This exquisite  palace made of  Italian marble was built by one of the Paigah  nobles  Nawab Vicar Ul Umra  in 1892.A majesty   testimony
 to the glory of the Nizams, it stands atop a hill 2000 feet  high. It has often been referred to as the 'Mirror of  the  Sky'. The palace was  designed by a  Italian architect and follows  a  western architectural style. Falaknuma houses a large  collection of rare treasures collected by the Nizam including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts   and books. The Jade collection of the Palace is considered  to be unique in the world.

The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out  as  wings  on  the  north. The middle  part  is  occupied  by the main building and the kitchen and harem quarters stretch  to  the south. The Falaknuma palace is a rare blend of  Italian  and  Tudor architecture. Its  glass  stained  windows  throw  a  spectrum  of colors into the rooms. The palace has a library with a walnut  carved roof, a  replica  of  the one  at Windsor Castle.  The library had one of the finest collections of the holy Quran in India.

The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It   includes the   largest  Venetian  chandeliers. It is  said  that it  took  six months to clean a  138-arm  Osler   chandelier   and   the   palace   has   40  such  chandeliers  adorning  the  halls ! The  famed dining hall of the   palace could  seat  100   guests on a   single   table. The  furniture  is also very aesthetic. The  chairs  are  carved   rosewood   with     green      leather upholstery. The  tableware was made of  gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.

Salarjung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum on the southern bank of the Musi river in the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The museum opened to the public on December 16, 1951; it houses the collection of the
Salar Jung family, who were important nobles in the courts of the Nizams , Muslim rulers of Hyderabad. The collection of Islamic art from all over Asia includes a variety of illuminated Korans,astrolabes, jewelled swords and daggers, and Persian carpets
The museum also houses fine examples of European painting and sculpture, most famously the "Veiled Rebecca" of Italian sculptor Giovanni Maria Benzoni, as well as Chinese and Japanese pieces. The collection was mostly acquired by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, also known as Salar Jung III. Some of the items he inherited were collected by his father, Nawab Mir Laiq Khan (Salar Jung II) and his grandfather, Nawab Mir Turab Ali Khan (Sir Salar Jung I).
Situated on the southern bank of the river Musi ,the Salar Jung Museum is not far from the other important monuments of the old city. The historic Charminar, Juma Masjid, High Court, State Central Library and the Osmania General Hospital are all within a radius of one mile from the
Salar Jung Museum.
The museum houses the largest and greatest collection of antiques and artifacts by a single person, Nawab Salar Jung III, Prime Minister of the court of Nizam. From minia- tures of Mewar to modern art of Europe; from the daggers of Nur Jehan and Emperor Jahangir the museum houses priceless gems of art A place that will leave you dazed with the dazzle of time-less art.
There are 38 galleries in the Museum spread on two floors. The ground floor has 20 galleries, and the first floor has 18 galleries. Even then, the total exhibited art objects constitute a little over 25% of the entire collection. The Indian Parliament has declared the museum an Institution of National Importance

Buddha Statue

 Buddha Statue: Located in the centre of Tank Bund , the Buddha statue is known to be the largest single monolithic statue in the whole world. The statue, a brain child of former chief minister of A.P, Mr.N.T.R., has been carried from a hill rock at Raigir in Nalgonda district. In fact, it has caused mighty ripples, literally speaking, when it plunged in Tank Bund's muddy water while on its way to get shipped to the centre of the Tank Bund.  The statue is major attraction to south Asians who come to visit Buddhist sites.

Birla Temple

Birla Temple: Dedicated to the Lord Venkateshwara, this beautiful modern temple is built on a rocky hill which overlooks the south end of   HussainSagar. It is built in White marble and provides an excellent view over the city from the summit, especially at the sunset. The inner shrine is the replica of Tirupati Temple's  Lord Venkateshwara. Build on the 280 feet high Kala Pahad overlooking the picturesque, this temple is build with 2000 tones of white marble.

Hussain Sagar

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali in 1562, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Wali. It was built on a tributary of the Musi river to meet the water and irrigation needs of Hyderabad, India.It is now popularly known as Tank Bund, and has become a tourist destination as well as a local attraction. Once the source of drinking water for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the Hussain Sagar lake's current condition is far from desirable. Since the 1980s and 1990s the immersion of Ganesh idols during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi has led to the further pollution of the lake. Currently there are numerous environmentalist groups and government agencies that are trying to improve the condition of the lake.

Main attractions

An 18- meter- high statue of the Buddha is located on the Gibraltar rock in the center of the lake. The statue, which took 200 sculptors and 2 years to complete, was erected in 1992. Boat rides are provided by the tourism department.

On one side of the Hussain Sagar lake is the Necklace Road, which indeed twinkles like a necklace. On the other side is the Tank Bund, that narrates the history of Andhra Pradesh in granite through the imposing statues of men and women, who have done their motherland proud. Dotting the lake on all sides are parks shimmering with greenery and bustling with life under the glitter and glory of city lights

Mecca Masjid

  Mecca Masjid: Adjacent to the Charminar is the grand Mecca Masjid, reputed to be one among the largest in the world. It can accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time. The hall is 67 meters long, 54 meters wide and 23 meters high. The Mecca Masjid roof is supported by 15 arches, and the colonnades and entrance arches are made up of a single slab of granite.  According to few historical records these massive stone lots were carried 11 blocks away, and dragged to the site by a team of 1400 bullocks!  Construction of mosque started in 1614 by Abdullah Quli Qutub Shah, but was completed by Aurangazeb when he annexed Golconda in late 17th Century. The Tombs of Asaf Jahi rulers, the Nizams of Hyderabad, are in a roof enclosure to the left of the court yard of the mosque

CHARMINAR

Charminar is one of the most important landmarks of the city. The monument was built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 to commemorate the eradication of plague, shortly after he had shifted his capital from Golconda to what now is known as Hyderabad. Legends tell that the emperor Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end of plague and took the vow to build a mosque on that very place. He ordered the construction of the mosque which became popular as Charminar because of its four characteristic minarets. The top floor of the four-storeyed structure has a mosque which has 45 covered prayer spaces and some open space to accommodate more people in Friday prayers

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah ,sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, ruled from Hyderabad. The Charminar is a beautiful and impressive square monument, with each side measuring 20 meters, and each of the edges having a pointed high minaret.It derives its name from these four gracefully carved minarets which soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground, commanding the landscape for miles around.
Charminar literally means 'Four Minars'. Each minaret has four stories, each looking like a delicately carved ring around the minaret. Every side opens into a plaza through giant arches, which overlook four major thoroughfares and dwarf other features of the building except the minarets. Each arch is 11 m wide and rises 20 m to the pinnacle from the plinth. Once upon a time each of these arches led to four royal roads. Each of the four arches has a clock which were put up in 1889.

There are two galleries within the Charminar, one over another, and above those a terrace that serves as a roof, bordered with a stone balcony. It is vaulted underneath and appears like a dome. There is a large table raised seven or eight feet from the ground with steps to go up to it. Nothing in the town seems so lovely as the outside of that building

A thriving market still lies around the Charminar attracting people and merchandise of every description. In its heyday, the Charminar market had some 14,000 shops, a unique conglomeration of a grand oriental bazaar.The whole market around the Charminar is crowded with shops which sell glass bangles in rainbow colours.

Unlike Taj Mahal, the fluted minarets of Charminar are built into the main structure. Inside the four-storied minarets 149 winding steps  guide the visitor to the upper floor, the highest point one can reach, and providing a panoramic view of the city. There are 45 prayer spaces with a large open space in front to accommodate more for Friday prayers.

Built with granite and lime mortar, Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The Charminar looks spectacular particularly in the nights when it is illuminated

GOLKONDA FORT

Golkonda is a ruined city and fortress 11 km west of the city of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh state, India. The city and fortress are built on a granite hill that is 120 meters high and is surrounded by massive crenellated ramparts. The beginnings of the fort date to the 1143,when the Hindu

Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area. The Kakatiyas were followed by the state of Warangal, which was later conquered by the Muslim Bahmani Sultanate. Golkonda consists of four distinct forts with a 10 km long outer wall having 87 semi circular bastions; some still mounted with cannons, eight gateways, four drawbridges and number of royal apartments & halls, temples, mosques, magazines, stables etc, inside. The lowest of these is the outermost enclosure into which we enter by the 'Fateh Darwaza' ( Victory gate, so called after Aurangzeb’s triumphant army marched in through this gate ) studded with giant iron spikes ( to prevent elephants from battering them down ) near the south
-eastern corner.
 At Fateh Darwaza can be experienced the fantastic acoustic effects, characteristic of the engineering marvels at Golkonda. A hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometre away. This acted as the warning note to residents in case of danger.

The tombs of the Qutb Shahi sultans lie about one kilometer north ofGolkonda's outer wall. These graceful structures are made of beautifully
carved stonework, and surrounded by landscaped gardens. Golkonda fort overlooking HyderabadThe fortress city within the walls was famous for its diamond trade, and many famed diamonds including the Koh-i-noor, the Regent Diamond and the Hope are said to have come from here. The wealth of the Golkonda mines enriched the ruling Nizams of  Hyderabad, which ruled the area from their independence from the Mughals in1724 to1948 ,when Hyderabad was annexed by India to become an Indian state. Hyderabad state was broken up in 1956, and Golkonda became part of Andhra Pradesh state.

History

Although Hyderabad was founded less than 500 years ago, archaeologists have unearthed Iron Age sites near the city that could date back to 500 BC. Approximately over 1000 years ago this region was ruled by Kakatiyas. Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty (the ruling family of the Golconda, previously a feudatory of Bahmani sultanate that declared independence in 1512) founded the city of Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River in 1591  to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at its old headquarters at Golconda.  He also ordered the construction of the Charminar.
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured Hyderabad in 1687 and, during this short Mughal rule, Mughal-appointed governors of the city soon gained autonomy. In 1724, Asaf Jah I, who was granted the title Nizam-ul-Mulk ("Governor of the country") by the Mughal emperor, defeated a rival official to establish control over Hyderabad. Thus began the Asaf Jahi dynasty that ruled Hyderabad until a year after India's independence from Britain. Asaf Jah's successors ruled as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The rule of the seven Nizams saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad became the formal capital of the kingdom and Golkonda was almost abandoned. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar, Tungabhadra, Osman Sagar, and Himayat Sagar, were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time; the actual work was completed by the Government of India in 1969. The wealth and grandeur of the Nizams is demonstrated by the fabled Jewels of The Nizams, which is a tourist attraction. The state was the richest and the largest among the princely states of India. The land area of the state was 90,543 mi²; its population in 1901 was 50,073,759. It enjoyed an estimated revenue of £90,029,000.The Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizam.

Before 1947, Hyderabad was under the suzerainty of the British Crown but was not part of British India. In 1947, at the time of the independence of British India and its Partition into the Union of India and the new state of Pakistan, the British abandoned their claim to suzerainty over the Princely states and left them to decide their own future. The Nizam, because of Islamic leanings, wished either to remain independent or to accede to Pakistan. However, for the Indian Union, this was unacceptable from a strategic perspective. The Nizam's efforts also triggered the largest agrarian armed rebellion in modern Indian history. To deter the Nizam, Indian union chose to implement an economic blockade, which forced the state of Hyderabad to sign a Standstill Agreement with it. Eventually the Indian Union used military force against the landlocked princely state of Hyderabad. This operation, termed Operation Polo, was successful and on 17 September 1948, the Nizam signed an Instrument of Accession to the Union of India.
Tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in Hyderabad, India.

In 1955, Ambedkar was so impressed with amenities of Hyderabad that he argued to make Hyderabad a second capital of India. He said, "Hyderabad has all the amenities which Delhi has and it is a far better city than Delhi. It has all the grandeur which Delhi has. Buildings are going cheap and they are really beautiful buildings, far superior to those in Delhi. The only thing that is wanting is a Parliament House which the Government of India can easily build."
On 1 November 1956, the states of India were reorganized on linguistic grounds. The territories of the State of Hyderabad were divided between newly created Andhra Pradesh, Bombay state (later Maharashtra), and Karnataka. The Telugu speaking area of Hyderabad state, also known as Telangana, was merged with the Telugu speaking state of Andhra state to create Andhra Pradesh. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital city of the new state of Andhra Pradesh.
Since liberalisation in the 1990s, Hyderabad has become one of the major hubs of the IT industry. The growth in the IT sector and opening of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport attracted activity in other economic sectors like real estate in the 2000s. However, the Global financial crisis of 2008–2009 has had a significant impact on construction activity.

         

Intruduction

Hyderabad is the capital of the state Andhra Pradesh, India. It also goes by its sobriquet City of Pearls.  As of 2010 it is the sixth most populous city  and sixth-most populous urban agglomeration  in India. Hyderabad was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 on the banks of Musi. Today the city covers an area of approximately 650 km².  The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad come under the ambit of a single municipal unit, The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Hyderabad has developed into one of the major hubs for the information technology industry in India which has earned it the additional sobriquet "Cyberabad". In addition to the IT industry, various biotechnology and pharmaceutics companies have set up their operations in Hyderabad owing to its established Public sector in Life Science Research and Genome Valley. The city houses the most expensive residential real estate in Andhra Pradesh in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills. The city is home to the Telugu Film Industry, the second-largest in India, known popularly as Tollywood. Residents of Hyderabad are generally called Hyderabadis. Located at the crossroads of North & South India, Hyderabad has developed a unique culture that is reflected in its language and architecture.

Clockwise from top Charminar, Hussain Sagar, Birla