The Old City, Hyderabad is a walled city of Hyderabad, India, located on the banks of the Musi River built by Qutb Shahi sultanMuhammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD. It remained the royal seat of the Nizam of Hyderabad until the end of the reign of the lastNizam, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (r. 1911–1948). Named after Hyder Mahal, wife of the ruler Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, Hyderabad takes pride in its possession of magnificent antiquated structures, domical mosques, and monuments (r. 1580–1611).[3]
Once a vibrant city teeming with palatial mansions of Nawabs and mosques, the old city of Hyderabad today is a little crowded but remains the symbolic heart of cosmopolitan Hyderabad.[4][5]
Language[edit]
The old city is one of the main places where the Urdu language flourished and became the official language of the Hyderabad State under the Nizams in 1884 AD.[6] The large Muslim population primarily speak a dialect of Urdu known as Dakkhani orDeccani (meaning "language of the Deccan"). Standard Hindi is also widely spoken and understood.
Landmark
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 Mecca Masjid (mosque), situated to the southwest of Charminar, is one of the oldest mosques in India. Begun by Muhammed Quli Qutub in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangaiah Choudhary, it was later completed during Mughal emperorAurangzeb in 1694. The mosque is built of granite and has a main hall 75 feet (23 m) high, 220 feet (67 m) wide and 180 feet (55 m) long, big enough to accommodate ten thousand worshippers at a time. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite.Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah commissioned bricks to be made from soil brought fromMecca and used them in the central arch and construction of the mosque, hence its name.[7][8][9] 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.
The Golconda Fort was the Seat of the Qutb Shahi kingdom and in the 15th century the centre of a flourishing diamond trade.
Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors.
Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma Palace is noted for its architecture and is the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior features works by Florentine sculptors and a 100-seat Dining Table.
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.
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 Salar Jung Museum contains the since augmented collections of the former Prime Ministers of Hyderabad. The museum is reputed to be the world’s largest one-man collection.[10]
The Tombs and Mosques of Qutb Shahi Tombs are the resting place of Qutub Shahi Sultans, while the Paigah Tombs contain 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are intricately carved and feature marble inlay work.
Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, a French mercenary, is interred in the Raymond Tomb. He was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam during 1786 AD and also his close friend. The black granite tomb is located in Saroornagar, and offers a panoramic view of the area.
Hyderabad is built around the Mir Alam Tank, the largest lake in the old city and the site of the Nehru Zoological Park, an 300 acres (1.2 km2) area filled with various species of birds and animals. The tank is named after its builder Mir Alam, Prime Minister of Hyderabad between 1804 and 1808, and comprises a one-mile bund with 21 semi-circular arches.[11]
Madina, near Charminar, is one of the oldest commercial suburbs in the city opened in 1947 on the premises of the Aladdin Wakf. 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.
Osman Sagar is a small dam built by the Nizams to provide drinking water and to check the floodwaters of the Musi River. An artificial lake off the river Musi.[clarification needed What is?] The site also has well-kept gardens and swimming pools.[4]
Madina, near Charminar, is one of the oldest commercial suburbs in the city opened in 1947 on the premises of the Aladdin Wakf. 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.
Osman Sagar is a small dam built by the Nizams to provide drinking water and to check the floodwaters of the Musi River. An artificial lake off the river Musi.[clarification needed What is?] The site also has well-kept gardens and swimming pools.[4]
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