Hyderabad (Listeni/hadrbd/ hy-dr--bad; often /hadrbd/) is the capital and largest city of

both the southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh[A] and Telangana. Occupying 650 square kilometres
(250 sq mi), along the banks of the Musi River, it has a population of about 6.8 million and a
metropolitan population of about 7.75 million, making it the fourth most populous city and sixth most
populous urban agglomeration in India. At an average altitude of 542 metres (1,778 ft), much of
Hyderabad is situated on hilly terrain around artificial lakes, including Hussain Sagarpredating the
city's foundingnorth of the city centre. Established in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Hyderabad
remained under the rule of the Qutb Shahi dynasty for nearly a century before the Mughals captured
the region. In 1724, Mughal viceroy Asif Jah I declared his sovereignty and created his own dynasty, also
known as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The Hyderabad State ultimately became a princely state during
British rule, and remained so for 150 years, with the city serving as its capital. The city continued as
capital of a new Hyderabad State after joining the Indian Union in 1948 and before attaining its current
status as the focal point of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. In 2014, Andhra Pradesh state was bifurcated and
the city became the capital and a part of newly formed Telangan state, while it will share the status of
joint capital along with the Andhra Pradesh for a limited time of ten years from then. Relics of Qutb
Shahi and Nizam rule remain visible today, with the Charminarcommissioned by Muhammad Quli
Qutb Shah himselfcoming to symbolise Hyderabad. Golconda fort is also a major landmark of
Hyderabad. That legacy is also evident in the city's distinctive cuisine, which includes Hyderabadi biriyani
and Hyderabadi haleem. The Qutb Shahis and Nizams established Hyderabad as a cultural hub,
attracting men of letters from different parts of the world. Hyderabad emerged as the foremost centre
of culture in India with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the mid-19th century, with artists migrating
to the city from the rest of the Indian subcontinent. While Hyderabad is losing its cultural pre-eminence,
it is today, due to the Telugu film industry, the country's second-largest producer of motion pictures.
Hyderabad was historically known as a pearl and diamond trading centre, and it continues to be known
as the City of Pearls. Many of the city's traditional bazaars, including Laad Bazaar, Begum Bazaar and
Sultan Bazaar, have remained open for centuries. However, industrialisation throughout the 20th
century has also attracted major Indian manufacturing, research and financial institutions, including the
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, National Geophysical Research Institute and the Centre for Cellular and
Molecular Biology. Special economic zones dedicated to information technology have encouraged
companies from across India and around the world to set up operations and the emergence of
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the 1990s led to the title of Genome Valley. With an
output of US$74 billion, Hyderabad is the fifth-largest contributor to India's overall gross domestic
product. Contents [hide] 1 History 1.1 Toponymy 1.2 Early and medieval history 1.3 Modern history 2
Geography 2.1 Topography 2.2 Climate 2.3 Conservation 3 Administration 3.1 Common capital of
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh 3.2 Local government 3.3 Utility services 3.4 Pollution control 3.5
Healthcare 4 Demographics 4.1 Ethnic groups, language and religion 4.2 Slums 5 Cityscape 5.1
Neighbourhoods 5.2 Landmarks 6 Economy 7 Culture 7.1 Literature 7.2 Music and films 7.3 Art and
handicrafts 7.4 Cuisine 8 Media 9 Education 10 Sports 11 Transport 12 See also 13 Notes 14 References
15 Further reading 16 External links