H is for Hyderabad and Secunderabad (Twin Cities) Our Beautiful Cities

Charminar, Hyderabad

H is for Hyderabad and Secunderabad (Twin Cities) Our Beautiful Cities

Though I am born and brought up in Kerala one of the southern states in India, I am replanted to this city almost 30 years back.  Now I am part and parcel of this big city.  Thirty years after now when I look back, I can see the tremendous  developments taken place in the city in recent past.

Here is a glance of this city’s history: 

Until it became a state of India in 1950 it was an independent nation.  In 1956 India reorganized its states and divided Hyderabad  among the states of Bombay (Gujarat and Maharashtra), Mysore (Now Karnataka), and Andhra Pradesh. 

Golconda Fort

Hyderabad was part of the Mogul Empire from 1687 to 1724. Then a Mogul viceroy (governor) made it independent.  During 1800 Britain gained control of Hyerabad’s foreign affairs.  The NIzam’s (rulers) of Hyderabaad were  famous for being among the richest person in the world.  Though they were Muslims, four fifths of their subjects were Hindus.

When India was partitioned in 1947 Nizam refused to join either Pakistan or India. Clashes followed between Muslim and Hindus.  In 1948 India set up a military government in Hyderabad.  When Hyderabad state was partitioned, Hyderabad City became the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Mecca Masjid

It has several historical monuments, 

and Charminar is one among them 

and it was built in 1591.The building 

has four minarets (towers) and four 

arches through which the main 

streets of the city pass.

It is one of the biggest trading centers, for textiles, guns, glassware, paper, flour, railway cars etc.

Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies 650 square kilometres on the banks of the Musi River. According to 2011 census its Population is 6,809,970

Founded: 1591

A Road side fruit vendor Pic by P V A

Though Hyderabad and Secunderabad  are two cities and is  known as twin cities.  The name Seunderabd is rarely used outside it is known or called as twin cities.  Secunderabad’s  history runs parallel to that of Hyderabad, with some scholars claiming that its origin was technically established back to the time when Hyderabad was also formed.   Hussain Sagar,  a manmade beautiful lake built during the reign of  Qutub

Some of the scenes captured from Secunderabd/Hyderabad City

Pic by P V A

Pic by P V A

Pic by P V A

Shahis in 16th century, separates Secunderabad from Hyderabad.  In spite of the close connections between the two, though, both cities have a  mixture of cultures, with Secunderabad having fully developed under a direct British rule while Hyderabad has been a princely state ruled by the Nizams.

Pic by P V A

Pic credit Google.com

Pic by P V A

Secunderabad  was established in the 18th century, when Hyderabad was under the reign of the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Sikandar Jah. It was founded in order to station the French and, subsequently, the British troops back when the British and the French established their hold over India. Secunderabad holds one of the chief British military stations in India and as of now is the headquarters of the 9th Division of the Southern Army.  It also includes Bolaram, the former military station of the Hyderabad contingent which has now been merged in the Indian army, and Trimulgherry, the artillery military station that, today, is now a well-developed suburban part of the city.  In 2007, Secunderabad celebrated its 200th year of formation.

The Muslim community  in Hyderabad constitute  about  40% of the total population.  In the whole of Andhra Pradesh State Hyderabad has the largest Muslim population, their presence is felt strongly in the old city of Hyderabad.

Pic by P V A

Hyderabad population is also constituted of Christian groups of different denominational are found in the city, though at a very small scale,  you can see a good number of  churches throughout the city. The prominent ones are situated in Hyderabad’s  Abids area  and Secunderabad.  Also there are a good number of  Christian education institutions are scattered all over Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities.  Apart from Telugu speaking people a large number of the population is Tamilians (or Mudaliars) and they have managed to maintain their distinct identity across the centuries.  Malayalees (Keralites) Bengalees, Kannadigas, the business communities of Marwaris  and parsies are also settled in these cities.  

The headquarters of the Indian Railways’ South Central Railway is situated in Secunderabad. The oldest and largest railway station in the Twin Cities, the Secunderabad Railway Station, is in this city. Telugu, Hindi, Urdu and English are the main languages of communication of the Hyderabad population.

Watch this video The Glory of Hyderabad

Another video A Visit to Hyderabad City:  You can watch the historical places, business centers, high tech cities and one of the world’s largest studio complex (Ramoji Film City)  etc in this video

.Video Credit YouTube/ kiltedprogrammer

Though Hyderabad’s glory is in its high peak there is a sad part too.  The traffic system in this city is one of the worst; one can find a most terrible traffic system here in Hyderabad and Secunderabad. 
Watch this sample video for your reference;

The latest report says that,  “The population under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits is all set to cross the one crore mark by this year end of which the electorate will be around 70 lakh. This was disclosed by election commissioner H S Brahma on recently.   

As per the 2011 census, the urban population of Hyderabad city was more than 77 lakh. The population of Greater Hyderabad urban conglomeration was estimated to be above 91 lakh. The population of the state is 8.7 crore and is set to cross the 9 crore mark by the end of this year with 5.81 crore voters. (A news report form The Times of India).

Source:

World Book,

History of India,

Wikiepedia, 

Times of India,

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