Once one of India's richest princely states, Hyderabad is renowned as the source of the magnificent Koh-I-Noor diamond as well as its notoriously pleasure-loving nizams.
Char Minar
The Char Minar, a monumental gateway, straddled the crossroads of the great trade routes it controlled, and pearls and precious stones filled its markets.
History
In the early 20th century, British architects added a number of public buildings and one of these, the former British Residency, was the inspiration for William Dalrymple's White Moghuls.
Old and new city life
These days you will find the city a blend of old and new with burkha clad women scouring the markets for traditional lac bangles and rubbing shoulders with men in suits from the rapidly expanding IT industry.
Visiting Hyderabad
Hyderabad is well served by international and domestic flights as well as rail, making it an excellent gateway to the Deccan plateau.