Capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is the fifth largest city in India and has its own +distinct culture. Secunderabad is a twin city of Hyderabad and is separated by the Hussain Sagar, +an artificial lake constructed in 1562 A.D. The city is nearly 400 years old and is noted for its +natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and bridges, hills and lakes. It is perched on the +top of the Deccan Plateau, 1776 ft. above sea level, and sprawls over an area of 100 Sq. miles. +
+ +A multitude of influences have shaped the character of the city. Its palaces and buildings, houses +and tenements, gardens and streets have a history and an architectural individuality of their +own, which makes Hyderabad a city of enchantment. Hyderabad is also known as Cyberabad, +owing to the presence of large number of IT companies. All major IT companies from across the +globe have marked their presence in Hyderabad by having their offices, development centers or +research centers located there.
+ +Map
+ +A Google Map of Hyderabad with prominent places marked can be found here
+ + +http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116571751012231655985.00045ea3a3aa0272ecec3&ll=17.452566,78.373847&spn=0.013694,0.015235&z=16 + +Climate, Weather and Local time
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- Local Time-Indian Standard Time (+0530 GMT) +
- Summer Temperature-25oC to 40oC +
- Winter Temperature-11oC to 25oC +
- Annual Rainfall-400 mm to 2,500 mm +
Famous Historical Sites
+ +Golconda fort was founded originally by the Kakatiyas in the 13th +century, and was expanded by the Qutb Shahi kings into a massive fort of granite with walls. The +fortress city within the walls was famous for the diamond trade and the Koh-i-noor diamond is +said to have come from here. One of the most remarkable features of Golconda is its system of +acoustics. The sounds of hands clapped in the grand portico can be heard in the Durbar Hall, at +the very top of the hill.
+ +Charminar is the major landmark in Hyderabad, the massive arch built +by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah, in 1591 looming at a height of 56 m, is an impressive square +gateway with four minarets, to commemorate the end of the plague. The arch is illuminated daily +in the evening, an unforgettable sight indeed.
+ +Mecca Masjid is near Charminar, one of the largest in the state if not in +India, said to accomodate upto 10,000 worshippers. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building +it in 1617 and was completed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1694.
+ +A little away from Golconda fort are a cluster of tombs. Most of them +have intricately carved stonework and are the most authentic evidence of the Qutub Shahi +architectural traditions. The tombs erected in the memory of the departed kings of Golconda. +They stand a kilometer north of Golconda fort's Banjara Darwaza.
+ +Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, India built by Hazrat Hussain +Shah Wali in 1562, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. It was a lake of 24 kilometres +built on a tributary of the River Musi to meet the water and irrigation needs of the city. There is +a large monolithic statue of the Gautam Buddha in the middle of the lake which was erected in +1992.
+ +Birla Mandir is a magnificient temple built entirely in marble, with +great architectural significance. It was built by the Birla Foundation. The temple is dedicated to +Lord Venkateshwara. The granite image of the presiding deity is about 11 ft. tall and a carved +lotus forms an umbrella on the roof. The consorts of Lord Venkateswara, 'Padmavati' and 'Andal' +are housed in separate shrines. There is a brass flagstaff in the temple premises which rises to a +height of 42 ft. The temple manifests a blend of South Indian, Rajasthani and Utkal temple +architectures. In its entirety, it is made of 2000 tons of pure Rajasthani white marble. It is built on +a 280-feet high hillock called the Naovath Pahad in a 13 acres plot. The construction of the +temple took 10 years and it was consecrated in 1976. The temple complex overlooking the +southern side of Hussain Sagar, offers a magnificient panoramic view of the twin cities of +Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It presents a colorful spectacular sight when illuminated at night
+ +The following websites will be helpful to find more information about Hyderabad
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