Old City (Hyderabad, India) Explained

Old City
Settlement Type:Walled city
Nickname:City of Pearls, City of Minars,[1] City of Lakes[2]
Pushpin Map:India Hyderabad#India Telangana#India
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Old City, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Coordinates:17.366°N 78.476°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name1:Telangana
Subdivision Name2:Deccan
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1592
Leader Title:Member of Parliament
Leader Name:Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM
Governing Body:GHMC, HMDA
Leader Title1:Mayor
Leader Name1:Gadwal Vijayalakshmi, TRS
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:260
Elevation M:536
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:500 xxx
Area Code:91–40, 08413, 08414, 08415, 08418, 0845
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Registration Plate:TS 07,08,09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24
Blank1 Name Sec1:Planning agency
Blank1 Info Sec1:GHMC, Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority
Blank1 Name Sec2:Climate
Blank1 Info Sec2:Aw (Köppen)
Leader Title2:Commissioner
Leader Name2:M. Mahender Reddy, IPS
Demographics1 Info1:Telugu, Urdu
Blank2 Name Sec2:Precipitation
Blank2 Info Sec2:603mm
Blank3 Name Sec2:Avg. annual temperature
Blank3 Info Sec2:26°C
Blank4 Name Sec2:Avg. summer temperature
Blank4 Info Sec2:35.9°C
Blank5 Name Sec2:Avg. winter temperature
Blank5 Info Sec2:23.5°C

The Old City of Hyderabad is a walled city of Hyderabad, Telangana, India, located on the banks of the Musi River built by Qutb Shahi sultan Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD. There used to be a wall surrounding the Old City, most of which is destroyed.[3] Mubariz Khan, the Mughal governor of Deccan Subah, had fortified the city in 1712 and was completed by Nizam of Hyderabad.[4]

At the centre of Old City is the Charminar, and region contains major neighbourhoods of the city including Shah Ali Banda, Yakutpura, Dabirpura, Afzal Gunj, Moghalpura, Malakpet and Amberpet. Today, Hyderabad has expanded far beyond the boundaries of the Old City, and the crowded Old City remains the symbolic heart of cosmopolitan Hyderabad along with HITEC City.[5] [6] [7] The area is a tourism hotspot, and the heart of Hyderabadi Muslim culture.

Wall of Hyderabad

See main article: Wall of Hyderabad. There used to be a granite wall surrounding the old city. The wall was constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries, during the Qutb Shahi, Mughal and Asaf Jahi periods. The wall had thirteen gateways called darwazas and thirteen smaller entrances called khirkis.

Much of the wall was destroyed during the Great Musi Flood of 1908, and also demolished by the Government in the 1950s and 1960s.[8]

Today, only two gates still stand – the Purana Pul Darwaza and the Dabeerpura Darwaza,[9] [10] and nothing except a few portions remains of the wall.[11] [12]

Landmarks

As the historical region of Hyderabad, the old city contains many landmark buildings including Charminar (literally "four minarets"), a structure built on the spot where Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end to a plague epidemic.

The Qutb Shahi era structures surrounding the Charminar include an ornamented granite mosque Mecca Masjid to the southwest, and the Gulzar Houz fountain to the north, which is surrounded by four arch-gateways called Char Kaman.

Asaf Jahi monuments near the Charminar include the Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower and Nizamia Hospital. The Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors.

H.E.H The Nizams Museum, Purani Haveli. Home to the famous wardrobe of Mahbub Ali Pasha, who is said never to have worn the same thing twice, it is the world's longest wardrobe, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift. The device occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace.

The Purani Haveli was originally the palace of the Nizam's Parents, later renovated to become the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-story building in the European style.

Madina building, a few hundred metres North of Charminar, is one of the oldest commercial suburbs in the city opened in 1947 on the premises of the Aladdin Wakf. Abdul Boot House was one of oldest and renowned shops at Madina Market. Before the discovery of oil in that country, Hyderabad was richer than Saudi Arabia and the rents received from the area's buildings were sent to Saudi Arabia to help poor Muslims in Medina.

The Salar Jung Museum at the bank of the River Musi contains the since augmented collections of Salar Jung III former Prime Ministers of Hyderabad. The museum is reputed to be the world's largest one-man collection.[13] Nearby are the historic Hyderabad High Court (1920), Osmania General Hospital (1919), State Central Library (1936), Aza Khana-e-Zohra (1930) and City College (1921).

A few hundred metres east of the Musi is Malakpet. The Hyderabad Race Course was shifted here in 1886, by Asaf Jah VI near his palace, the Mahbub Mansion. The Asman Garh Palace and Raymond's Tomb are also located at Malakpet.

About six kilometres south of Charminar, is the Falaknuma Palace. Built by Viqar ul-Umra in 1872, the Falaknuma Palace is noted for its architecture and is the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces.

Other mosques in the region include the 300-year-old Toli Masjid renowned for its architecture, and Pahaday Sharif, where 400 stairs brings visitors to a place of worship built by the Nizams. There is a 400 year old Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Ranganatha Ranganathaswamy Temple, which is located on the banks of the Musi River at Jiyaguda in Old City, Hyderabad.

At the far east of Old City is Mir Alam Tank, the largest lake in the old city and the site of the Nehru Zoological Park, a 300acres area filled with various species of birds and animals. The tank is named after its builder Mir Alam, Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and comprises a one-mile bund with 21 semi-circular arches.[14]

University

Built during the period of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Osmania University has an imposing facade. After the Independence of India, the city has seen rapid growth in educational institutions, providing many facilities for their students. It also has a number of engineering colleges with proper facilities for the students.

Culture

The city has a distinct culture showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence resulting from its period as the capital of the Nizams, which is more evident in the Old City.

Cuisine

The Old City has many restaurants offering Hyderabadi cuisine which is noted for its use of spices and herbs. The food is prepared using different types of spices, in which each spice adds a special taste to the food with a modern touch, while preserving the traditional quality of the food. The most famous dishes of Hyderabad are Hyderabadi Biryani and Hyderabadi Haleem.

Language

Urdu is the primary language spoken in the Old City area, and was the official language of the Hyderabad State under the Nizams in 1884 AD.[15] The most common dialect of Urdu spoken by the largely Muslim population is known as Dakkhani or Deccani (meaning "language of the Deccan"). Telugu is also widely spoken and understood.

Demographics

See main article: Demographics of Hyderabad. Old Hyderabad City is 65% Muslim .[16] 30% are Hindus.[17] As per 2011 Census, Christians number 9,687 while Sikhs number 7,166 in The Old Hyderabad City.[18] As per 2011 Census,[16] [17] [18] The overall population of Hyderabad district was 39.43 lakhs, where Hindus at 20.46 lakhs (51.89%) and Muslims at 17.13 lakhs (43.35%).[19] [20]

Transport

The old city is well connected by railway, road, and air. Auto rickshaws are available for getting around the city at reasonable rates while TSRTC city buses circulate within the city and also travel to the nearby towns and villages. The eastern parts of the old city have access to the Hyderabad metro via the Malakpet metro station.[21] Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station is in Old City, Hyderabad and the nearest railway station is Hyderabad Deccan Station, which offers good connections with the rest of India. The newly developed Shamshabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport lies 6to from the old city.

Bazaars

Sarojini Naidu describes the Bazaars of Hyderabad in her poem In The Bazaars of Hyderabad.[22] Hyderabad has been a trading center for centuries and the bazaars of the old city are world-renowned for their pearls, diamonds, and bangles.

The street leading from Charminar to the square on the west is known as Laad Bazaar and is the bridal wear shopping market of the old city. Hyderabadi glass bangles known as Sona Bai are available here. This colourful shopping market of the old city is tucked away in one of the streets leading off from the Charminar. Bangles, bridalwear, pearls, Attar (perfume) and the traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone studded bangles are all sold here.[23] [24] [25] The Madina Market also known as Madina, Hyderabad is known for its wholesale cloth market providing goods from the regions of Telangana, northern Karnataka, and Maharashtra.[26]

The markets of Charminar's Gulzar House are favoured for the gold, diamonds, and pearls with which Hyderabad is synonymous. Cultured pearls studded in gold and silver jewellery of intricate design are a speciality. Pearls come in many shapes and of particular interest is the 'rice-pearl' – a tiny variety. There is also the precious "Basra"; a pearl unmatched in lustre, colour, and price which is available in select stores. The pearls are sold in strings or raw by weight.[27]

Problems

As the Old City is the oldest part of Hyderabad, it is known for being neglected. It has a crumbling infrastructure, and faces issues such as heavy traffic,[28] [29] water scarcity,[30] poor waste management[31] and poor maintenance of buildings. Many heritage structures in the area are also dilapidated and in need of restoration.[32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: An African Indian community in Hyderabad: Siddi identity, its maintenance. cuvillier verlag. 1. Ababu Minda Yimene. 3-86537-206-6. 2004. 5 October 2011.
  2. Book: Urban changes in different scales: systems and structures. University Santiago de Compostela. 611. Rubén Camilo Lois González. 84-9750-639-1. 2006. 5 October 2011.
  3. News: Tracing the Wall Around Hyderabad Which Took 4 Centuries to Build. The Quint. 2018-07-30.
  4. Book: Urban Redevelopment: A Study of High-rise Buildings. K. Narayan Reddy. 1 March 2018.
  5. Web site: The Old City . Hyderabad, India . 9 June 2011.
  6. http://www.india-seminar.com/2008/585/585_rani_sarma.htm 585 Rani Sarma, Diwan Deodi
  7. Web site: Hyderabad: Colossal Gloss in City of Boom.
  8. News: The vanishing walls of Hyderabad. Singh. T. Lalith. 2015-08-31. The Hindu. 2018-07-30. 0971-751X.
  9. News: Dabeerpura Darwaza freed of encroachments - Times of India. The Times of India. 2018-07-30.
  10. News: Dabeerpura Darwaza: a sentinel of the past. Khan. Asif Yar. 2014-08-04. The Hindu. 2018-10-13. 0971-751X.
  11. News: Doorways to a rich past. Varma. Dr. Anand Raj. Telangana Today. 2018-10-13.
  12. Web site: The "Khidki" and "Darwaza" of Hyderabad The Siasat Daily. archive.siasat.com. 2018-10-13.
  13. Web site: The glorious city of Hyderabad » Extraordinary Experiences. 18 February 2009. Experienceindiatravel.com. 9 June 2011.
  14. Web site: Mir Alam Tank Hyderabad – Mir Alam Tank in Hyderabad India – Tour to Mir Alam Tank of Hyderabad . Hyderabad.org.uk . 9 June 2011.
  15. http://www.india-seminar.com/2008/585/585_narendra_luther.htm 585 Narendra Luther, Bridging two cultures
  16. Web site: The Hyderabad Lok Sabha, with all of seven assembly segments, has an electorate of which 65 per cent belong to the minorities—Muslims chiefly..
  17. Web site: In Hyderabad, a tale of two cities.
  18. Web site: Christians third largest community in Old City after Muslims, Hindus.
  19. Web site: 'Muslim population 'stabilizing' in Hyderabad'.
  20. Web site: Christian women outnumber men: study.
  21. Web site: Lack of funds, poor planning: Residents of Hyderabad’s old city cut off from the metro.
  22. Web site: In The Bazaars of Hyderabad: English Poems: English Poems for Kids . English-for-students.com . 9 June 2011.
  23. Web site: Hyderabad on the Net: Other Attractions . Hyderabad.co.uk . 9 June 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130107073802/http://www.hyderabad.co.uk/attractions.htm . 7 January 2013.
  24. Web site: Lad Bazar..the bangle market near Charminar . Hyderabadspider.com . 15 December 2009 . 9 June 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130125091635/http://www.hyderabadspider.com/resources/2289-Lad-Bazar-the-bangle-market-near-Charminar.aspx . 25 January 2013 . dead .
  25. Web site: asiarooms.com . Lad Bazar Hyderabad Shopping in Hyderabad India Shopping Malls in Hyderabad . https://web.archive.org/web/20100817034641/http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/india/hyderabad/things-to-do-in-hyderabad/where-to-shop-in-hyderabad/lad-bazar-hyderabad.html . usurped . 17 August 2010 . Asiarooms.com . 9 June 2011.
  26. Web site: Top 10 Hyderabad Shopping Destinations – Hyderabad City Visitors Guide – Tourism . Hyderabadcityhotels.com . 9 June 2011.
  27. Web site: One Of The Greatest Jewellery Shop – Gold Jewelry,hyderabad,India Classifieds 5241052 . Clickindia.com . 9 June 2011.
  28. News: Traffic slowdown due to Ramzan in Old city. 2018-06-10. Deccan Chronicle. 2018-07-30.
  29. News: Peak-hour jams frustrate commuters in Old City - Times of India. The Times of India. 2018-07-30.
  30. News: Hyderabad: Water scarcity haunts Old City. 2018-04-27. Deccan Chronicle. 2018-07-30.
  31. News: Stink alert: Residents in Old City say street corners are dumpyards - Times of India. The Times of India. 2018-07-30.
  32. Web site: Facelift for heritage structures in Old City. The Hans India. 2018-07-30.