EastNews

City of the Month

India is diverse so are the experiences. Language, climate, cuisine, culture and celebrations, all vary from North to South. This issue of Eastnews endeavors to present the rich heritage and culture of Hyderabad, along with an insight into Hyderabad today. A city where distinct culture and the linguistic traditions of south India and North India meet. Hyderabad is known as the city of pearls, lakes and lately has developed into a major hub for the Information technology industry in India.

1. Hyderabad over the years

The city is nearly 400 years old and is noted for its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and lakes. The capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, it is the fifth largest city in India with an ancient civilization and culture. Hyderabad Founded on the River Musi by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. In the 16th century the city grew. Hyderabad was under the Mughal Empire till 1724. The rule of the Nizam’s saw the growth of Hyderabad both culturally and economically. Hyderabad, under the Nizam’s, was the largest princely state in India. Area wise it was as big as England and Scotland put together. The State had its own currency, railways, and postal system. The Nizam’s of Hyderabad were known to be one of the wealthiest royal’s of the past.

2. Cuisine of Hyderabad

The Hyderabadi cuisine, like its culture, stood high and unmatched by any other state in India. The feast usually contained a selection of Mughlai dishes which would be decorated with varq -a very fine pure silver leaf. The most famous of all is the Biryani, which is an aromatic assortment of rice, meat and seasonal vegetables. There is also a wide range of Kebabs to choose from which include Chicken korma, Sheer korma, Sheekh Kebab, Shammi Kebab etc Some of the ingredients of the traditional recipes are kept secret and are only known to the subsequent generations of the royal cooks. Click here to know more..

3. Best Historical Monuments.

Charminar

A major landmark in the city of Hyderabad, Charminar was build in 1591 A.D by the founders of the city in memory of the eradication of Plague, reflecting the fighting spirit of human kind. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. Constructed with granite and lime-mortar, the Charminar is a fine example of the Cazia style of architecture. The conjoined arches and domes are typical of the Islamic architecture.
The Charminar is a renowned holy place for Muslims and is also known as Mecca of south. Charminar is visited by very dedicated muslims and it reflects the perfect Muslim culture which has been here since 400 plus years. If you go to Charminar you can find 99 percent of Muslims there alike we see around Mecca.

Golconda Fort

One of the most magnificent fort complexes in the country, Golkonda, meaning shepherd hill, was built consecutively by three dynasties, the Kakatiyas, the Bahmanis and the Qutub Shahis, the major contribution coming from the latter. It betrays the confluence of Hindu and Muslim architectural perceptions of the times. It was the capital of the Bahmani kings first and the Qutub Shahis later for sometime, before they shifted the capital to what is now the old city of Hyderabad. The fort has now become a symbol of the composite cultural heritage of the 400-year-old city.
The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur.

4. Bidriware

Bidriware is the most well known of Andhra’s handicrafts – a metal craft that derives its name from ‘Bidar’, the hometown of this exquisite craft. It is an art of inlaying silver on black metal and it is believed that this ancient and eye-catching craft entered India more than 4000 years ago from the culture-rich Persians, Syrians and Iranians. It is an important export handicraft of India and is prized as a symbol of wealth. The most important ingredient of Bidri articles is the soil from the bottom of ancient buildings inside the Bidar Fort. This soil, which has not been exposed to rain or sunlight for centuries, has chemicals that give a lustrous black colour to Bidriware

5. Pearls

Hyderabad was a rich princely state. The imperial patronage ensured affluence of arts, crafts and cuisine. This prosperous lifestyle demanded and attracted many craftsmen from distant parts of the world, especially the Arabian Gulf where the rare original pearls are found in profusion. The royal families demanded that these pearls be brought to India in abundance. Hence, Hyderabad became the one-stop-destination for pearls. There is an entire street consisting of pearl shops named – Patther Gatti.

6. Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex at over 2,000 acres of land It is also a popular tourism and recreation centre, containing both natural and artificial attractions including an amusement park .The Film City’s infrastructure includes custom-designed locations & mock-ups, set construction, properties & costumes, shooting stages, cameras and equipment, audio post-production, digital-post-production as well as film processing. Twenty international films and forty Indian films can be produced simultaneously in the complex. It has attracted not only filmmakers from the country, but also producers from Hollywood