NTR Gardens

 NTR Gardens is a small public, urban park of 15 hectares 36 acres adjacent to Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad, where earlier a thermal power station building stood until 1995. It is named after the former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. T. Rama Rao. Constructed in several phases since 1999, the area that is predominantly a park is geographically located in the centre of the city, and is close to other tourist attractions such as Birla Mandir, Necklace Road and Lumbini Park. It is maintained by the Buddha Purnima Project Authority of the Government of Telangana.

History

Beginnings

The NTR Gardens is among the gardens in the vicinity of Hussain Sagar lake serving as a recreation park.

The land for the garden was cleared in 1995 after demolishing Hussain Sagar Thermal Power Station. In 1999, a land of 2.0 hectares 5 acres from a 22 hectares 55 acres plot was utilised for erecting a memorial for N. T. Rama Rao, the former Chief Minister of unbifurcated Andhra Pradesh. It was inaugurated by N. Chandrababu Naidu. It was planned to further expand this area, which has since been referred to as NTR Gardens, by constructing a museum about N. T. Rama Rao. This memorial was a part of the Buddha Purnima Project that was being handled by Hyderabad Urban Development Authority HUDA for the beautification and development of the Hussain Sagar lake and its surroundings as a major tourist attraction.

In 2000, the Government of Andhra Pradesh expressed its plans to develop this area with several projects such the NTR Gardens itself, a rock garden and an IMAX theatre. A few days later, a government official firstly said that the rock garden will be taken up by Dubai-based NRIs at a cost of 270 million equivalent to 1.1 billion or US13 million in 2023. Secondly the IMAX theatre project, which was said to cost ₹520 million equivalent to 2.1 billion or US25 million in 2023 was allotted to a private firm. Both these projects were to be executed in the same 22-hectare 55-acre plot which housed the memorial.

Birla Mandir, Hyderabad

 Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple built on a 280 feet 85 m high hillock called Naubath Pahad also known as Mohabat Pahad in early days on a 13 acres 53,000 m2 plot in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The construction took ten years and was opened in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission. The temple was constructed by the Birla Foundation, which has also constructed several similar temples across India, all known as Birla Mandir.

Architecture

Birla Mandir at night

The temple manifests a blend of Dravidian, Rajasthani and Utkala architectures. It is constructed of 2000 tons of pure white marble. The granite idol of presiding deity Lord Venkateswara is about 11 ft 3.4 m tall, and a carved lotus forms an umbrella on the top. A brass flagstaff in the temple premises rises to a height of 42 ft. 13 m. The temple does not have traditional bells, as Swami Ranganathananda wished that the temple atmosphere should be conducive to meditation.

About the temple

Apart from the main shrine, the consorts of Lord Venkateswara, Padmavati and Andal are housed in separate shrines. The temple also has separate shrines for various Deva and Devi, including Shiva, Shakti, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Saraswati and Lakshmi. Selected teachings of men and Gurbani are engraved on temple walls. Birla temples are open to all, as identified by Mahatma Gandhi and other Hindu leaders.

Transport

Birla Mandir is near to Lakdi-ka-pul and Assembly Hyderabad metro station. Birla Mandir is well connected by TSRTC buses and MMTS. The nearest MMTS station is Lakdi ka pul.

Bus No: 5K,5S,5 From Secunderabad to Mehdipatnam any bus no. 113 from Uppal to Mehdipatnam.

Parking

Due to its immense popularity, the temple's car parking facilities are often full, leading to a parking shortage near the temple. To avoid parking hassles, local travel guides advise parking cars at the foot of Naubat Pahad near the Assembly and reaching Birla Mandir on foot over a 2-minute walk. 

Ramoji Film City

 Ramoji Film City is an integrated film studio facility located in Hyderabad, India. Spread over 2,000 acres 810 ha, it is recognized as the world's largest film studio complex by the Guinness World Records. Established in 1996 by Telugu media proprietor Ramoji Rao, it has been described as a city within a city by The Guardian.

In addition to serving as a major hub for film production, Ramoji Film City is a popular thematic holiday destination, featuring a mix of natural landscapes, artificial sets, and an amusement park. Around 15 lakh 1.5 million tourists visit the place every year.

History

Ramoji Film City, located in Abdullapurmet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, was conceived by Ramoji Rao, a businessman, media proprietor, and film producer. Drawing inspiration from the grandeur of Hollywood studios, it was envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility for film production and a thematic destination for visitors.

Following the acquisition of land, Ramoji Rao commissioned art director Nitish Roy to design the complex. The site, which originally featured jungles and rugged terrain, was developed with a focus on preserving its natural environment and ecological features.

The first film to be entirely shot at Ramoji Film City was Maa Nannaku Pelli 1997. According to legends, this film city is built on the war ground of the Nizams and is haunted by the spirits of the soldiers who died here many years before.

Studio facilities

Ramoji Film City Entrance

The film city encompasses a wide range of sets and production facilities designed to cater to various filmmaking requirements. The site includes permanent sets such as forests, gardens, mansions, apartment blocks, hotels, a railway station, and an airport, as well as 47 sound stages for indoor filming. Additional infrastructure include a central kitchen to support film crews.

The facility is equipped with six hotels and provides internal transportation via vintage buses and air-conditioned coaches. Employing approximately 1,200 staff members and 8,000 agents, Ramoji Film City handles around 400–500 film productions annually across multiple Indian languages. It can accommodate up to 15 simultaneous shoots.

Tourism

Beyond its role in film production, Ramoji Film City is a major tourist destination, featuring both natural and artificial attractions. Key elements include an amusement park, gardens, and film sets from notable productions such as Baahubali 2015 and Baahubali 2 2017. Attracting nearly 15 lakh 1.5 million visitors annually, the facility offers a range of experiences, including tours of film sets and thematic zones. The site is designed to provide a blend of entertainment and insight into the filmmaking process. 

Golconda

 Golconda is a fortified citadel and ruined city located on the western outskirts of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparudra in the 11th century out of mud walls. It was ceded to the Bahmani Kings from Musunuri Nayakas during the reign of the Bahmani Sultan Mohammed Shah I, during the first Bahmani-Vijayanagar War. Following the death of Sultan Mahmood Shah, the Sultanate disintegrated and Sultan Quli, who had been appointed as the Governor of Hyderabad by the Bahmani Kings, fortified the city and made it the capital of the Golconda Sultanate. Because of the vicinity of diamond mines, especially Kollur Mine, Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds known as Golconda Diamonds. Golconda fort is currently abandoned and in ruins. The complex was put by UNESCO on its tentative list to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with other forts in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate despite there being a number of different sultanates.

History

Ruins of the fort

View of the Baradari at the Golconda Fort

The origins of the Golconda fort can be traced back to the 11th century. It was originally a small mud fort built by Pratāparudra of the Kakatiya Empire. The name Golconda is thought to originate from the Telugu గొల్లకొండ Gollakoṇḍa for Shepherd's hill. It is also thought that Kakatiya ruler Ganapatideva 1199–1262 built a stone hilltop outpost — later known as Golconda fort — to defend their western region. The fort was later developed into a fortified citadel in 1518 by Sultan Quli of the Qutb Shahi Empire and the city was declared the capital of the Golconda Sultanate.

The Bahmani kings took possession of the fort after it was made over to them by means of a sanad by the Rajah of Warangal. Under the Bahmani Sultanate, Golconda slowly rose to prominence. Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk r. 1487–1543, sent by the Bahmanids as a governor at Golconda, established the city as the seat of his governance around 1501. Bahmani rule gradually weakened during this period, and Sultan Quli Quli Qutub Shah period formally became independent in 1518, establishing the Qutb Shahi dynasty based in Golconda. Over a period of 62 years, the mud fort was expanded by the first three Qutb Shahi sultans into the present structure: a massive fortification of granite extending around 5 km 3.1 mi in circumference. It remained the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty until 1590 when the capital was shifted to Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahis expanded the fort, whose 7 km 4.3 mi outer wall enclosed the city.  

Hyderabad

 This article is about the city in India. For other uses, see Hyderabad disambiguation.

Hyderabad

Haidarābādu

Metropolis

Nanakramguda skyline

Charminar

Birla Mandir

HITEC City Main Road

Buddha Statue at Hussain Sagar

Qutb Shahi tombs

Falaknuma Palace

Map

Wikimedia |  OpenStreetMap

Interactive Map Outlining Hyderabad

A map showing the location of Hyderabad in Telangana, India.A map showing the location of Hyderabad in Telangana, India.Hyderabad

Location in Hyderabad

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Coordinates: 17 21 42 N 78 28 29 E

Country India

State Telangana

Districts

Hyderabad

Medchal–Malkajgiri

Ranga Reddy

Sangareddy

Established 1591 434 years ago

Founded by Muhammad Qutb Shah

Named after Ali

Government

 • Type Municipal corporation

 • Body

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority

 • Parliament of India Asaduddin Owaisi AIMIM

G. Kishan Reddy BJP

Konda Vishweshwar Reddy BJP

Etela Rajender BJP

 • Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi INC

Area

 • City

650 km2 250 sq mi

 • Urban 1,225.59 km2 473.20 sq mi

 • Metro 7,257 km2 2,802 sq mi

Elevation 536 m 1,759 ft

Population 2011

 • City

6,809,970 4th

 • Estimate 2018

9,482,000

 • Density 10,477/km2 27,140/sq m

 • Urban 7,677,018 6th

 • Metro 9.7 million 6th

Demonym Hyderabadi

Time zone UTC+5:30 IST

PIN s

500xxx, 501xxx, 502xxx

Area codes +91–40, 8413, 8414, 8415, 8417, 8418, 8453, 8455

Vehicle registration TG-07 to TG-15

Official languages

TeluguUrdu

International airport Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)

Rapid transit Hyderabad Metro

Website www.ghmc.gov.in

Hyderabad[a] is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies 650 km2 250 sq mi on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of 536 m 1,759 ft, much of Hyderabad is situated on hilly terrain around artificial lakes, including the Hussain Sagar lake, predating the city's founding, in the north of the city centre. According to the 2011 census of India, Hyderabad is the fourth-most populous city in India with a population of 6.9 million residents within the city limits, and has a population of 9.7 million residents in the metropolitan region, making it the sixth-most populous metropolitan area in India. With an output of US$ 95 billion, Hyderabad has the sixth-largest urban economy in India.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty's Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah established Hyderabad in 1591 to extend the capital beyond the fortified Golconda. In 1687, the city was annexed by the Mughals. In 1724, Asaf Jah I, the Mughal viceroy, declared his sovereignty and founded the Asaf Jahi dynasty, also known as the Nizams. Hyderabad served as the imperial capital of the Asaf Jahis from 1769 to 1948. As the capital of the princely state of Hyderabad, the city housed the British Residency and cantonment until Indian independence in 1947. Hyderabad was annexed by the Indian Union in 1948 and continued as a capital of Hyderabad State from 1948 to 1956. After the introduction of the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Hyderabad was made the capital of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh. In 2014, Andhra Pradesh was split to form the state of Telangana, and Hyderabad became the joint capital of the two states until 2024. Since 1956, the city has housed the Rashtrapati Nilayam, the winter office of the president of India.

Chandigarh

 Chandigarh is a city and union territory in northern India, serving as the shared capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana. Situated near the foothills of the Shivalik range of Himalayas, it borders Haryana to the east and Punjab in the remaining directions. Chandigarh constitutes the bulk of the Chandigarh Capital Region or Greater Chandigarh, which also includes the adjacent satellite cities of Panchkula in Haryana and Mohali in Punjab. It is located 260 km 162 miles northwest of New Delhi and 229 km 143 miles southeast of Amritsar and 104 km 64 miles southwest of Shimla.

Chandigarh is one of the earliest planned cities in post independence India and is internationally known for its architecture and urban design. The master plan of the city was prepared by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, which built upon earlier plans created by the Polish architect Maciej Nowicki and the American planner Albert Mayer. Narinder Singh Lamba, in the capacity of Chief Town Planner, brought this vision to life. Most of the government buildings and housing in the city were designed by a team headed by Le Corbusier, Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry. Chandigarh's Capitol Complex—as part of a global ensemble of Corbusier's buildings—was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO at the 40th session of the World Heritage Conference in July 2016.

Chandigarh has grown greatly since its initial construction, and has also driven the development of Mohali and Panchkula; the tri-city metropolitan area has a combined population of over 1,611,770. The city has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country. The union territory has one of the highest Human Development Index among Indian states and territories. In 2015, a survey by LG Electronics ranked it as the happiest city in India on the happiness index. In 2015, an article published by BBC named Chandigarh one of the few master-planned cities in the world to have succeeded in terms of combining monumental architecture, cultural growth, and modernisation.

Etymology

The name Chandigarh is a compound of Chandi and Garh. Chandi refers to the Hindu goddess Chandi and Garh means fortress. The name is derived from Chandi Mandir, an ancient temple devoted to Chandi near the city in Panchkula District.

The motif or sobriquet of The City of Beauty was derived from the City Beautiful movement, which was a popular philosophy in North American urban planning during the 1890s and 1900s. Architect Albert Mayer, the initial planner of Chandigarh, lamented the American rejection of City Beautiful concepts and declared, "We want to create a beautiful city...The phrase was used as a logo in official publications in the 1970s and is now how the city describes itself.

Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)

 Jammu and Kashmir abbr. J&K is a region administered by India as a union territory and consists of the southern portion of the larger Kashmir region, which has been the subject of a dispute between India and Pakistan since 1947 and between India and China since 1959.

The Line of Control separates Jammu and Kashmir from the Pakistani-administered territories of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan in the west and north respectively. It lies to the north of the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and to the west of Ladakh which is administered by India as a union territory. Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir has persisted in protest over autonomy and rights. In 2019, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed, re-constituting the former state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories: Ladakh in the east and the residuary Jammu and Kashmir in the west.

Srinagar and Jammu jointly serve as the capital of the region, which is divided into two divisions and 20 districts. The area holds substantial mineral deposits, including sapphire, borax, and graphite. Agriculture and services drive the economy, with major contributors being horticulture, handicrafts, and tourism. Apple cultivation is one of the largest industries, employing 3.5 million people and producing 10% of the gross state domestic product. Despite these activities, over 10% of the population are under the national poverty line.

Terminology

Jammu and Kashmir is named after the two regions it encompasses – the Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley. As per Government of India, Kashmir region encompasses the region under Indian control and the territory under Pakistan control known as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir POK. While Pakistan considers the Indian controlled territory as a part of Indian-occupied Kashmir IOK or Indian-held Kashmir IHK, neutral sources use Indian-administered Kashmir/Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Indian-controlled Kashmir/Pakistan-controlled Kashmir to demarcate the areas.

History

For the 1954–2019 history, see Jammu and Kashmir state.

For the pre-1954 history, see Kashmir § History.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir was accorded special status by Article 370 of the Constitution of India. In contrast to other states of India, Jammu and Kashmir had its own constitution, flag, and administrative autonomy. Indian citizens from other states were not allowed to purchase land or property in Jammu and Kashmir under Article 35A of the Constitution of India.

Jammu and Kashmir had three distinct areas: Hindu-majority Jammu region, Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, and Buddhist-dominated Ladakh.Unrest and violence persisted in the Kashmiri Valley and, following a disputed state election in 1987, an insurgency persisted in protest over autonomy and rights.

The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP came to power in the 2014 Indian general election and five years later included in their 2019 election manifesto the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, to bring Jammu and Kashmir to equal status with other states.