About Hyderabad::

Hyderabad  is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated in the region of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad has an estimated metropolitan population of 6.1 million (61 lakh), making it India's sixth-largest metropolitan area. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and its diverse culture, both geographically and culturally. Also known as The City of Nizams, Hyderabad is one of the most developed cities in the country. It is now a hub of information technology (or IT), ITES (BPO) and biotechnology.

Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the twin cities, separated by the Husain Sagar (bound by the 'Tank Bund'), a man-made lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562.
 

The Charminar (Urdu, Hindi: "Four Minars") monument, built in the center of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, is a commemoration of the eradication of a plague in the region.

Geography::

The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historic "Old City", home to the Charminar and Mecca Masjid, it lies on the southern bank of the river. The city center saw a shift to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Husain Sagar lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the growth of Secunderabad and neighboring municipalities has resulted in a large and populous metropolitan area.

Hyderabad has a tropical wet and dry climate, with hot summers from March to June, the wet monsoon season from July to October and a mild, dry winter from November to February. Annual precipitation is around 79 cm.

Hyderabad has been the meeting place of many different cultures and traditions. Historically, Hyderabad has been the city where distinct cultural and linguistic traditions of North India and South India meet. It is thus considered as the gateway to the South or gateway to the North.

Telugu, Urdu and Hindi are the principal languages spoken in Hyderabad. Both Urdu and Telugu have linguistically impacted on each other in this region. The Telugu spoken here has assimilated many Urdu words into it. And the Urdu spoken here is also unique, with influences of Telugu and Marathi, giving rise to a dialect sometimes called Hyderabadi Urdu or Deccani.

Hyderabad's most popular public carnival is the annual immersion of Lord Ganesh idols after the 10 day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations on Ananta Chaturdashi. (Locally known as the Ganesh Nimajjnanam). Bonalu is another festival which is celebrated with great fervour.

Women of all cultures and faiths in Hyderabad typically wear either the traditional Indian dress, the sari, or, increasingly, the Shalwar Qamis especially among the younger population. A large percentage of Muslim women in the city wear either the burqa or the hijab. The traditional Hyderabadi garb for females are the Khara Dupatta and the Shalwar Qamis, and for the males, it is the Sherwani. This is one of the more visible cultural attributes of Hyderabad. Hyderabad has got a mixed set of people forming a base from all regions of India. In fact Hyderabad is considered to be a transit place for the North and South of the Whole of India, with Sikhs, Gujaratis, Marathis, Bengalis, and others. While Muslim people are concentrated more towards the old city like Charminar, Secunderabad has got a more contemporary look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians. In general, Hyderabadi people are considered to be very friendly and hospitable. In fact hospitality is the other name of Hyderabadis. They take pride in talking in their local, typical, and vibrant Hyderabadi language which is a mix of Telugu, Hindi, and Urdu.

Hyderabadi cuisine::

The city's cuisine is a blend of Mughal, Persian and Telugu cuisine. Hyderabadi Biryani is an iconic dish of the region. Other culinary delights include Qubani ka Mitha, Double Ka Mitha (a sweet made with bread), Pheni (a sweet vermicelli delicacy eaten during the festival of [[Deepawali]], Nahari Kulche also known as paya and Haleem (a meat dish traditionally eaten during the holy month of Ramzan).

Indian Mithai (sweet) shops are popular for their ghee sweets. Mau'zzam Jahi Market, Nampally, is known for its fruit biscuits and the sweet Dil Khush. A family residing in Azeez Bagh palace in the old part of the city is famous for the preparation of Badaam Ki jaali (Almond lattice confection). Also widely found on street-corners are cafes that offer Irani chai, Irani samosa and Osmania biscuit.

The average temperature during the months of summer is anywhere around 40 'C and in the months of winters the average temperature is about 16 'C. Best time to visit the state of Hyderabad is during the months of September to March.