My Hyderabad City
Facts and Figures of Hyderabad India
About Hyderabad India:
Hyderabad city is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, in the region of Telangana.
It lies on the Deccan Plateau, 541 meters (1776 ft) above sea level, over an area of 625 km² (244 mile²).
The city has an estimated population of around 8 million, making it 4th largest city in India , while the population of the metropolitan area was estimated above 9 million. Religiously and culturally, the city is united with Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Hyderabad city is known for its rich history, food and its multi-lingual culture, both geographically and culturally.
Founded in the year 1591 by fifth Qutb Shahi Ruler Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.
The original city of Hyderabad was founded on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historic old city, home to the Charminar, Falaknuma Palace, Chowmallah Palace and Makkah Masjid, it lies on the southern bank of the river.
Hyderabad and Secunderabad are 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.
Overview of Hyderabad India
From Mumbai - 711 km From Bangalore - 562 km From Chennai - 688 km From Kolkatta - 1516 km | |
Fifth Qutb Shahi Ruler | |
People
What makes Hyderabad such a special destination is its multi-cultural mix of people.Language
Hyderabad IndiaThere are four languages in Hyderabad: Hindi, Deccani-Urdu, Telugu and English. English is the language of business and administration, and is widely spoken and understood. Most Hyderabadis are bilingual, and speak their mother tongue as well as English.
Religion
With this mixture of people, Hyderabad is also a mixture of religions. Hyderabad’s skyline boasts the distinctive minarets of mosques, intricate figurines of Hindu temple gods, beautiful Churches and distinctive architecture of Gurudwaras. The main religions are Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism.Security & Safety
Hyderabad IndiaHyderabad has a well-founded reputation as one of the safest cities in the world. Crime rates are very low and the streets are safe to walk in any time of the day or night. However, I do recommend that visitors to my city take the normal precaution of keeping their valuables in a safe place at all times.
The Andhra Pradesh Government has and will continue to be vigilant in ensuring that Hyderabad remains safe. It has stepped up security measures at key installations and other sensitive places. The Government has also made it known that extremism originating from religion or race has no place in Hyderabad and it will not hesitate to take action against any extremist or terrorist groups or individuals.
Wine & Dine
Hyderabad’s multicultural population is reflected in the wide variety of excellent restaurants offering a diversity of cuisine from around the world.Tipping
Tipping is not encouraged as most hotels and restaurants in Hyderabad already levy a service charge on customers' bills. Tipping is not a way of life in Hyderabad and the practice is not encouraged.Driving
Minimum age is 18 years with a valid state/provincial driver's license. An international driver's license is required for visits beyond one month. Cars are right-hand drive; driven on the left-hand side of the road.Emergency Numbers
Hyderabad India- Police 100
- Fire 101
- Ambulance 102
These are the numbers in Hyderabad, but they are usually the same in other cities of India.
Passport
According to law, you must have your passport with you at all times. To check into a hotel you must show your passport to the hotel clerk and fill out a form with your passport and visa information. If the police ask to see your passport, you must show it to them. They have the right to ask you for it at any time, for no reason.Electric Current
Hyderabad IndiaStandard voltage is 220-240 volts AC 50 cycles per second. Most hotels are equipped with transformers for 110-120 volts AC, 60 cycles per second appliances. This is different from America and England, so to use your tape recorder, etc., you need a converter and an adapter for your plug, which you can get at certain Indian appliance stores in your own country. Socket sizes in India vary, so it is a good idea to get a universal adapter which is available at airports and at special travel stores. Sockets have three round pins, which is similar to the ones used in Europe. European plugs will go into the sockets, but the Indian pins are a little thicker and the plug will be a little loose, so the connection may not be so good.
NOTICE: There are many power failures in India. So it is a good idea to have a good flashlight (torch).
Smoking
Smoking is prohibited in public buses, elevators, theaters, cinemas, air-conditioned restaurants, shopping centers and government offices.What to Wear
Hyderabad has a moderate temperature ranging from 15 to 40 degrees. Light and summer clothing made from natural fabrics like cotton is best for everyday wear. Casual dress is acceptable for most situations and occasions but some establishments may require a more formal dress code. It is always advisable to check beforehand on dress regulations, if any.Acceptable Dress
In you are well dressed, you will usually be treated better in Hyderabad - India, especially when you are doing official business. When going to religious places you should dress very conservatively.Women Travelers
Hyderabad IndiaIt is best for women not to travel alone, especially if they have never been to India before. Many men in India think western women to be easy. Women are often subjected to being stared at, handled, peaked at through a hole in a hotel room door, and may receive obscene comments. These situations are not usually a serious threat.
It is important that women dress modestly. Women in India do not normally show their shoulders or knees, or wear tight fitting clothes, or shorts. It is best not to wear clinging, or low cut clothes. The bra-less look should be avoided.
Women usually do not shake hands with men, and certainly any physical contact beyond this is asking for trouble. Having a casual conversation with a man is considered a reason for a man to proceed further. Indian women and men who don’t know each other, unless they are highly educated, just don’t talk with each other in India. If you feel that a man is coming into your space, more than likely he is. Usually you can just request them to stay away from you. If someone touches you apparently innocently, it usually isn’t.
If you have a problem on a train or bus, approach the ticket collector and ask them politely to help you. If the ticket collector won’t help you, ask to see the conductor of the train. The conductor is usually a well-educated man, who you should speak to respectfully, and who will usually be helpful.Groping is a normal thing. It is standard for women to be groped (handled) on the local trains. That is why there are separate compartments for women. Even just walking in the station, women can be handled. If a woman goes into a very crowded situation with many men, such as a bus, especially if she is by herself, it is not unusual for her to be groped. This happens with Indian ladies too.
If you are a woman traveling alone, it could be a good idea to travel by air-conditioned or first-class. There are much less passengers on these carriages, and they usually have had more contact with foreigners, so they are easier to deal with.Women can request a ladies compartment in a 2nd class carriage of a train. Many trains have such a compartment. Also, most of the time there is a special ladies’ queue (line) for purchasing train tickets. This means that ladies can go to the front of a queue to purchase tickets for trains and no one will say anything. Most railway stations have ladies’ waiting rooms.
Begging
Hyderabad IndiaThere are beggars, and then there are sadhus or saintly persons who accept donations. I do not think it is a good idea to give anything to the average beggar, unless you give them food. Giving to a saintly person is actually to the benefit of the giver. The difficulty with giving to a saintly person is to know who is actually saintly.
One problem about giving to beggars by temples or holy places, especially if they are children, is that if you give to one, you may have a hundred persons surround you and ask you for money. Also, it is a bad policy to give any money to small children, because they usually give all the money to their parents or some other adult. In this way the parents do not have to work, nor is it profitable for the parents to give their children an education.
Indian Culture
Hyderabad India1. Don’t overload your plate, you are expected to finish everything.
2. Never put objects on a temple or someone’s personal altar in their home or on sacred items, such as a religious book.
3. Never point the soles of your feet towards an altar in a temple, other people, or holy sites.
4. Remove your shoes when entering someone’s home, even if they tell you it is all right to wear your shoes. It is almost never all right.
5. Don’t take photograph without permission.
Credit Cards
American Express, Diners Club, Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted.Banking & Money Changing
Hyderabad India
Banks throughout Hyderabad generally open at 9.30am and close at 3.30pm Mondays to Fridays, and 9.30am to 12.30am on Saturdays for transactions of travellers' cheques and other financial matters. For convenience, Automated teller machines (ATM) are open round-the-clock, offering the MAESTRO or CIRRUS network system. Apart from the convenience of exchanging money at all banks and hotels, money can also be exchanged wherever the sign "Licensed Money Changer" is displayed. Most shopping complexes have a licensed money changer. Visitors are discouraged from changing money with unlicensed money changers.Office Hours
Business / government offices are usually open from Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm and Saturday, 9am - 1pm. Offices and shops are usually closed on Sunday, but can be closed on a different day depending on the town.Shopping Hours
Hyderabad IndiaShops open from 10am to 9pm daily. You needn't keep a sharp eye on your watch when you're shopping in Hyderabad. Our city also enjoys the reputation of being one of the safest places to be in, so provided basic precautions are taken, you can have peace of mind to shop and walk around well into the night.
Communications / Mobile Phones
Hyderabad is the center of telecommunications in India with 24-hour telex, international direct dial (IDD) telephone, telegram and facsimile services. Telephone country code is +91 and city code is 040. There are many telephone service providers – AirTel, Idea, Reliance, Vodafone and BSNL.Travel and Health Insurance
I strongly recommend that you take out insurance policies to cover medical and travel expenses. If necessary, consult your travel agent.Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is viewed seriously in Hyderabad. Illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is strictly prohibited.Hitech Hyderabad India
Hyderabad is one of the most developed city in India. It is an emerging information technology (or IT) and biotechnology hub of India.Hyderabad has witnessed a remarkable growth in the real estate business, thanks to a predominantly information technology-driven boom in the 1990s and the retail industry growth over the last few years which have spurred hectic commercial activity. A number of mega malls have come up and are being built in the city.
The rapid growth of the city, along with the growth of Secunderabad and neighboring municipalities has resulted in a large metropolitan area.
Hyderabad is the financial and economic capital of the state. The city is the largest contributor to the state's gross domestic product, state tax and excise revenues.
The infrastructural facilities for basic research in Hyderabad are some of the best in the country, hosting a large academic population from all over the country and beyond.
Subscribe To
This Site's Feed
Postcards For You |
