About Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. With approximately 6.1 million people (61lakh), it is India's 6th largest metropolis [1] and the 41st largest metropolitan area in the world. Hyderabad has a twin city named Secunderabad which was formed when the British residency of the erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad had set up a military base near Hyderabad. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique characteristic of a meeting point for North and South India, and its multi-lingual culture, both geographically and culturally. Hence, Hyderabad is considered to be the gateway of southern India. Hyderabad has always been a place where Hindus and Muslims have co-existed peacefully for centuries.

The dialect spoken in Hyderabad and the surrounding areas of Telangana is distinct from the dialect of the coastal Andhra region. Hyderabad and the rest of Telangana have a unique culture of their own in comparison to the coastal and Rayalseema regions of Andhra Pradesh. The Telugu spoke here has assimilated many Urdu words into it. And the Urdu spoken here is also unique, with some Marathi words and a unique Hyderabad accent, giving rise to a dialect sometimes called as Hyderabadi Hindi.

Hyderabad is also one of the most developed cities in the country. It is the emerging information technology (or IT) and biotechnology hub of India. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities, separated by the Hussain Sagar (bound by the 'Tank Bund'), a manmade lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562. The Charminar (Urdu: "Four Minars") monument, built in the center of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, is a commemoration of the eradication of a plague in the region.