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17-Nights A Portrait of India - Land Journey

Price: $9,990 - # of Days: 17 days
A Portrait of India Live like a maharajah at some of the world's top-rated hotels - including a two-night stay at the award-winning The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, featuring views of the Taj Mahal, and three nights in Udaipur at The Oberoi Udaivilas... You'll be amazed by all that's include...

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Overview

Introduction

Hyderabad is the only southern Indian city where Islamic influences in architecture, history and culture predominate. It was under Muslim rule for centuries, and about 40% of the city's population is Muslim. Hyderabad is architecturally distinct from other Mughal-founded cities, and its unique atmosphere makes it an interesting city to explore. Wildlife, heritage, arts and crafts, and a plethora of mosques and temples combine to make this region a special place to visit.

Hyderabad has moved into the high-tech age with the development of HITEC City (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City), a burgeoning technological park rivaling Bangalore, another booming Indian tech center. Many IT and multinational companies have opened offices there. The city also has a state-of-the-art convention center and a new international airport.

Geography

Located 400 mi/645 km southeast of Mumbai, Hyderabad has an area of 85 sq mi/217 sq km and consists of five zones—north, south, east, west and central—and each zone is represented by circles and wards.

The city is at an altitude of 1,760 ft/536 m. The old city, formed hundreds of years ago, is crisscrossed with narrow lanes. The suburbs are better planned with broader roads that are easier to navigate.

The new city is located toward the north, and it houses the Secretariat where the present-day government functions.

History

Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. He was fifth in the line of succession of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The first king, Quli Qutub Shah, wrested power from the Bahamani Kingdom in 1512. He also founded the city of Golconda and built the fort, which stands to this day. The same year, the city faced acute scarcity of water and frequent outbreaks of the deadly plague and cholera. The worried king set about building the Charminar, a structure with four minarets, to ward off any evils that might cause damage to the city.

The city then became prosperous and grew in all four directions. The sultan who ruled Hyderabad then was very rich, and the legendary city of Golconda and its posh surroundings and diamond mines attracted Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor who held sway over most of India north of Hyderabad and ruled from Delhi. Aurangzeb and his army laid siege and captured Golconda in 1687. The city then lost its charm, and parts of the city fell to ruins. Subsequently the Mughal empire at Delhi also fell, and Hyderabad got a new ruler. Asaf Jah I became the self-proclaimed Nizam and established a new rule.

The Asaf Jahi dynasty was powerful, successful and prosperous, and Hyderabad regained its lost glory. The city later merged with the Union of India in 1948 after the country gained independence. The twin city of Secunderabad was established in 1798 when a treaty was signed between the Nizam and the British East India Company. The city was named after the ruling Nizam Sikander Jah. During the rule of the Jahis, the state minted its own coins, and the currency flourished. The railways and the postal system were also state-owned and functioned efficiently.

Hyderabad is the joint capital of the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; the states split in 2014. The city is the de jure capital of Andhra Pradesh and will remain so until 2024. Together, these states make up a region that has been ruled by numerous dynasties and embraced different civilizations, a kind of India in miniature.

Potpourri

Because of the excellent pearls found there, Hyderabad is nicknamed "The City of Pearls."

Hyderabad is known for its biryani rice and its traditional way of cooking meat, slowly, over a low flame, for several hours, lending it a unique flavor.

At the Laad Bazaar, or bangle market, you can have lacquered bangles custom-made to exactly your size and color preference.