Hyderabad is India’s fifth-largest city and one notable for its fascinating past but also its modern character. As a tourist destination, it’s definitely among the country’s most popular; and as a city with prosperity and good employment prospects, it’s a highly attractive destination for India citizens looking to relocate.

Having been established in 1590, there is little doubt of Hyderabad’s wealth of history and rich heritage; and from a visual perspective, visitors have plenty of opportunity to see this. Attractions capturing the cultural depth of the city abound and include magnificent palaces, museums, temples and mosques.

Holidays need to be planned strategically around the seasons as the weather in the summer can be unbearably hot; while the levels of precipitation in the monsoon season can be quite disruptive if outdoor activities of any description are on the itinerary.

Food is another great reason to visit the city, with the Hyderabad biryani being its most famous dish and one which is known by Indian food lovers across the globe. Chances to sample this delicious creation are plentiful with everything from cheap and cheerful local eateries to the restaurants of popular hotels featuring it on their menus.

Some interesting festivals spread across the year can help visitors decide exactly when to visit the city. January alone has the Annual Music & Dance Festival, Makara Sankranti and the Kite Festival of Hyderabad. The weather in January is on the cooler and drier side.

Hyderabad is easy to get to, having its own international airport that can be reached direct from some overseas destinations or by a domestic transfer following a flight to Delhi. Once in the city, getting around is made easy by a good bus service, an abundance of moto-rickshaws and a large number of reliable taxi companies.

Accommodation options are plentiful and include international hotel chains as well as a large number of reputable domestic hotel companies.  Hyderabad’s citizens are welcoming of tourists and the city is a safe one to stay in with little in the way of threats to personal safety.

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb Shahi dynasty was responsible for founding the city of Hyderabad in 1591. The city was established for the purpose of providing an alternate capital to Golconda, a city that had begun to suffer from water shortages. Quli Qutb was also responsible for building the city’s greatest landmark, the Charminar, which was erected as a tribute to a deity for stopping a plague that had threatened to destroy the city.

The dynasty’s prosperity and rise to power in the 16^th and early 17^th centuries brought the city much of its wealth, generated by its significant role in the region’s diamond trade. Indo-Persian and Indo-Islamic culture was introduced by the Qutb Shahi and saw a rapid development of art and literature featuring these influences. 

In the 16^th century, Hyderabad also began to absorb some of the population overspill from neighbouring Golconda and this established it firmly as the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The city was highly favoured by the elite on account of its scenic gardens and pleasant climate.

The city was captured by Emperor Aurangzeb of the Mughals in 1687 and in the period it was besieged, its prosperity suffered significantly. Mughal control was retained on an autonomous level until 1724 when Asaf Jah I took control over the city as a Nizam (governor). It marked the beginning of the lengthy Asaf Jahi dynasty, which remained in power India’s declaration of independence from the British Empire.

After Asaf Jah I passed away, his successors were also granted the titles of Nizam and awarded the appropriate powers. A total of seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad during which time the city was returned to its formers glory, bringing great economic and cultural growth. Golconda was meanwhile left in a state of abandonment and there was little doubt that Hyderabad had then become the official capital.

Following the country’s establishment of independence from British rule, the State of Hyderabad also opted for independence; however, this was met with political aggression from India, eventually forcing Hyderabad to join the Indian Union – which it did officially on 17 September 1948, by signing the Instrument of Accession.

The country set about reorganising its states based on languages spoken. On 1 November 1956, official shifts and divisions were made that saw the city of Hyderabad added to the newly created Andhra Pradesh and becoming that state’s capital city.