The Old City of Hyderabad is a walled city of
Hyderabad, Telangana
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much of Hyderabad is sit ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, located on the banks of the
Musi River built by
Qutb Shahi sultan
Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD. There used to be
a wall surrounding the Old City, most of which is destroyed.
Mubariz Khan, the Mughal governor of Deccan Subah, had fortified the city in 1712 and was completed by Nizam of Hyderabad.
At the centre of Old City is the
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
, and region contains major neighbourhoods of the city including
Shah Ali Banda,
Yakutpura,
Dabirpura,
Afzal Gunj,
Moghalpura,
Malakpet and
Amberpet. Today,
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
has expanded far beyond the boundaries of the Old City, and the crowded Old City remains the symbolic heart of cosmopolitan Hyderabad along with
HITEC City
The Hyderabad Information Technology and Engineering Consultancy City (HITEC City) is an Indian business district, financial business district located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. HITEC City is spread across of land under the suburbs of Ma ...
.
The area is a tourism hotspot, and the heart of
Hyderabadi Muslim culture.
Wall of Hyderabad
There used to be a granite wall surrounding the old city. The wall was constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries, during the
Qutb Shahi,
Mughal and
Asaf Jahi periods. The wall had thirteen gateways called ''darwazas'' and thirteen smaller entrances called ''khirkis''.
Much of the wall was destroyed during the
Great Musi Flood of 1908, and also demolished by the Government in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, only two gates still stand – the ''Purana Pul Darwaza'' and the ''Dabeerpura Darwaza'', and nothing except a few portions remains of the wall.
Landmarks

As the historical region of Hyderabad, the old city contains many landmark buildings including
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
(literally "four minarets"), a structure built on the spot where
Quli Qutb Shah
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, more often though less correctly referred to in English as Quli Qutb Shah (1485 – 2 September 1543), was the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which ruled the Sultanate of Golconda in southern India from 1518 t ...
prayed for the end to a plague epidemic.
The
Qutb Shahi era structures surrounding the
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
include an ornamented granite mosque
Mecca Masjid to the southwest, and the
Gulzar Houz fountain to the north, which is surrounded by four arch-gateways called
Char Kaman.
Asaf Jahi monuments near the
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
include the
Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower and
Nizamia Hospital. The
Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat is the palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizams of Hyderabad State located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the seat of power of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (1720-1948) and was the official residence of the Niza ...
was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors.
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
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.
Madina building, a few hundred metres North of
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
, is one of the oldest commercial suburbs in the city opened in 1947 on the premises of the Aladdin Wakf. Abdul Boot House was one of oldest and renowned shops at Madina Market. Before the discovery of oil in that country, Hyderabad was richer than
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in West Asia. Located in the centre of the Middle East, it covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula and has a land area of about , making it the List of Asian countries ...
and the rents received from the area's buildings were sent to Saudi Arabia to help poor Muslims in
Medina
Medina, officially al-Madinah al-Munawwarah (, ), also known as Taybah () and known in pre-Islamic times as Yathrib (), is the capital of Medina Province (Saudi Arabia), Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ...
.
The
Salar Jung Museum
The Salar Jung Museum is an art museum located at Dar-ul-Shifa, on the southern bank of the Musi River, India, Musi River in the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is one of the List of museums in India, notable National Museums of India. ...
at the bank of the River
Musi contains the since augmented collections of
Salar Jung III former Prime Ministers of Hyderabad. The museum is reputed to be the world's largest one-man collection. Nearby are the historic
Hyderabad High Court (1920),
Osmania General Hospital (1919),
State Central Library (1936),
Aza Khana-e-Zohra (1930) and
City College (1921).
A few hundred metres east of the
Musi is
Malakpet. The
Hyderabad Race Course was shifted here in 1886, by
Asaf Jah VI near his palace, the
Mahbub Mansion. The
Asman Garh Palace and
Raymond's Tomb are also located at
Malakpet.
About six kilometres south of
Charminar
The Charminar () is a monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana. The Charminar's long history includes the existence of a m ...
, is the
Falaknuma Palace
Falaknuma is a former palace and currently a luxury hotel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It originally belonged to the Paigah (Hyderabad), Paigah family, and was later owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad. It is on a hillock and covers a area in F ...
. Built by
Viqar ul-Umra in 1872, the
Falaknuma Palace
Falaknuma is a former palace and currently a luxury hotel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It originally belonged to the Paigah (Hyderabad), Paigah family, and was later owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad. It is on a hillock and covers a area in F ...
is noted for its architecture and is the most opulent of the
Nizam's palaces.
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
Nizam
Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State ( part of the Indian state of Telangana, and the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka). ''Nizam'' is a shortened form of (; ), and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I ...
s. There is a 400 year old Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha
Ranganathaswamy Temple, which is located on the banks of the Musi River at Jiyaguda in Old City, Hyderabad.

At the far east of Old City is
Mir Alam Tank, the largest lake in the old city and the site of the
Nehru Zoological Park, a area filled with various species of birds and animals. The tank is named after its builder Mir Alam,
Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and comprises a one-mile bund with 21 semi-circular arches.
University
Built during the period of the last Nizam,
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the
Osmania University
Osmania University is a collegiate university, collegiate Public university, public State university (India), state university located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, issued a ''firman'' calling f ...
has an imposing facade. After the Independence of India, the city has seen 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.
Culture
The city has a distinct culture showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence resulting from its period as the capital of the
Nizams, which is more evident in the Old City.
Cuisine
The Old City has many restaurants offering
Hyderabadi cuisine
Hyderabadi cuisine (native: ''Hyderabadi Ghizaayat''), also known as Deccani cuisine, is the cooking style characteristic of the city of Hyderabad and its surrounding area in Telangana, India.
Hyderabadi cuisine is an amalgamation of South A ...
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 are
Hyderabadi Biryani and
Hyderabadi Haleem.
Language
Urdu
Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
is the primary language spoken in the Old City area, and was the official language of the
Hyderabad State
Hyderabad State () was a princely state in the Deccan region of south-central India with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and the ...
under the
Nizam
Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State ( part of the Indian state of Telangana, and the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka). ''Nizam'' is a shortened form of (; ), and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I ...
s in 1884 AD. The most common dialect of
Urdu
Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...
spoken by the largely Muslim population is known as
Dakkhani or Deccani (meaning "language of the Deccan").
Telugu is also widely spoken and understood.
Demographics
Old Hyderabad City is 65% Muslim .
30% are Hindus.
As per
2011 Census, Christians number 9,687 while Sikhs number 7,166 in The Old Hyderabad City.
As per
2011 Census,
The overall population of
Hyderabad district was 39.43 lakhs, where Hindus at 20.46 lakhs (51.89%) and Muslims at 17.13 lakhs (43.35%).
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. The eastern parts of the old city have access to the
Hyderabad metro
The Hyderabad Metro is a rapid transit system, serving the city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is the Urban rail transit in India#List of systems, third longest operational metro network in India after Delhi Metro and Namma Metro (Bengalur ...
via the
Malakpet metro station.
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
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. The newly developed Shamshabad
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport lies from the old city.
Bazaars
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu (Birth name, née Chattopadhyay) (; 13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949) was an Indian political activist and poet who served as the first Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Governor of United Provinces, after Independence Day (India), Indi ...
describes the
Bazaar
A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, North Africa and South Asia. They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets th ...
s of Hyderabad in her poem ''In The Bazaars of Hyderabad''.
Hyderabad has been a trading center for centuries and the bazaars of the old city are world-renowned for their pearls, diamonds, and bangles.
The street leading from Charminar to the square on the west is known as
Laad Bazaar and is the bridal wear 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
Attar, also known as ittar, is an essential oil derived from botanical or other natural sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydrodistillation or steam distillation. Attar can also be expressed by chemical means but generally n ...
(perfume) and the traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone studded bangles are all sold here. The
Madina Market also known as
Madina, Hyderabad is known for its wholesale cloth market providing goods from the regions of
Telangana
Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
, northern
Karnataka
Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...
, and
Maharashtra
Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
.
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, colour, and price which is available in select stores. The pearls are sold in strings or raw by weight.
Problems
As the Old City is the oldest part of
Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
, it is known for being neglected. It has a crumbling infrastructure, and faces issues such as heavy traffic,
water scarcity
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity. One is ''physical.'' The other is ''economic water scarcity''. Physic ...
, poor waste management and poor maintenance of buildings.
Many heritage structures in the area are also dilapidated and in need of restoration.
Gallery
File:Magnificent Chowmahalla Palace.jpg, Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat is the palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizams of Hyderabad State located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was the seat of power of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (1720-1948) and was the official residence of the Niza ...
File:Osmania hospital..JPG, Osmania General Hospital
File:AsmanGharPalast Hyderabad-Mallapet ca1900.jpeg, Asman Gadh Palace of Paigah Nawab
File:Market Hyderabad.jpg, Mir Alam Mandi, a vegetable market
File:Laad Bazaar2.jpg, Copper household utensils shop in Laad Bazaar
See also
*
Hyderabad state
Hyderabad State () was a princely state in the Deccan region of south-central India with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and the ...
*
List of tourist attractions in Hyderabad
*
List of million-plus cities in India
References
External links
{{Commons category, Old City (Hyderabad, India)
History of Hyderabad, India