Enshrined phonemically as HY-dər-ə-bad, Hyderabad boasts its distinction as the capital and the most expansive urban sprawl in the Indian state of Telangana. It stretches over a vast 650 km2 (250 sq mi) across the Deccan Plateau, nestled along the banks of the Musi River in the northern precinct of Southern India. Positioned at an average elevation of 542 m (1,778 ft), a substantial portion of Hyderabad extends over undulating terrain surrounding artificial reservoirs, including the venerable Hussain Sagar lake, predating the city’s inception in the northern realms of the city center.

Per the 2011 Census of India, Hyderabad stands as the fourth-most populous city in India, boasting a resident populace of 6.9 million within the city’s confines. Moreover, its metropolitan region accommodates an additional 9.7 million inhabitants, solidifying its status as the sixth-most populous metropolitan area in the country. Remarkably, with an economic output totaling a staggering US$74 billion, Hyderabad lays claim to the distinction of possessing the fifth-largest urban economy in India.

The genesis of Hyderabad can be traced back to 1591 when Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a luminary of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, envisioned its establishment as an expansion of the capital beyond the fortified Golconda. However, it wasn’t until 1687 that the city found itself assimilated by the Mughals. Subsequently, in 1724, Asaf Jah I, the Mughal viceroy, declared his sovereignty and initiated the Asaf Jahi dynasty, commonly known as the Nizams.

A pivotal epoch in Hyderabad’s annals unfolded as it functioned as the imperial capital of the Asaf Jahis from 1769 to 1948. During its tenure as the capital of the princely state of Hyderabad, the city housed the British Residency and cantonment until the advent of Indian independence in 1947. Following annexation by the Indian Union in 1948, Hyderabad endured as the capital of Hyderabad State from 1948 to 1956. The subsequent enactment of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 led to Hyderabad being denoted as the capital of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh.

A significant juncture arose in 2014 when Andhra Pradesh underwent a bifurcation, resulting in the emergence of the state of Telangana. Hyderabad subsequently assumed the mantle of the joint capital of the two states, governed by a transitional arrangement slated to conclude in 2024. Since 1956, the city has accommodated the Rashtrapati Nilayam, serving as the winter abode for the President of India.

Echoes of the Qutb Shahi and Nizam eras linger in contemporary Hyderabad, with the iconic Charminar encapsulating the city’s essence. With the wane of the Mughal Empire in the Deccan by the denouement of the early modern era, the Nizam’s patronage beckoned men of letters from across the globe. This cultural amalgamation, rooted in the collaboration of indigenous and migrant artisans, gave rise to a distinctive fusion of painting, craftsmanship, jewelry, literature, vernacular, and attire, which continues to leave an enduring imprint today. UNESCO extols Hyderabad for its culinary acumen, designating it as a creative city of gastronomy. The city’s Telugu film industry, headquartered within its confines, proudly lays claim to the accolade of the highest-grossing film industry in India as of 2021.

Historically celebrated as the “City of Pearls” owing to its thriving pearl industry until the 19th century, Hyderabad served as the singular global trading hub for Golconda diamonds. Many of the city’s historical and traditional bazaars persist in operation. Geographically situated between the Deccan Plateau and the Western Ghats, coupled with industrialization in the 20th century, Hyderabad attracted substantial Indian research, manufacturing, educational, and financial institutions.