Hyderabad: The Place

(This is first of the planned 3 part blog entry on Hyderabad – Hyderabad: The Place, The People, and The Provisions.)

Here are some amazing facts about the origin of names of various places in Hyderabad. Most of these interesting stories were shared by some amazing Hyderabadis (like Gurudutt Pai), during my weekly quiz sessions.

Hyderabad – The Place

The name Hyderabad itself has a bit of history and myth behind it. The city was founded by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of Qutb Shahi dynasti in 1591, the then ruler of Golkonda. He modeled the Hyderabad city on the then legendary city of Esfahan of Persia, in his words unparalleled in the world and a replica of heaven itself.

Legend says that the city was initially named as Bhagyanagaram after Bhagyamati, his lover. Bhagyamati was a local Banjara girl, and upon conversion to Islam, changed her name to Hyder Mahal, and hence the name – Hyderabad. The male name Hyder seems to be a bit unoriginal for a girl though.

Another theory suggests that the city is named City of Hyder after the title of forth Caliph Ali. The earlier name Bhaghyanagaram is explained as Bhagh Nagaram (City of Gardens; Bhagh = Garden).

Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad, gets its name from the third Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah (Asaf Jah III). During his time a British cantonment was established in a area of Hyderabad which was christened after Asaf Jah III, to be known as Secunderabad.

The places in and around Hyderabad carries such history and myth in it’s name itself. Let’s look at the interesting etymology of few of the places in Hyderabad.

Hussain Sagar (Tank Bund) – The name comes from the holy Pir Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali. There is a dargah of Pir Hussain, which lies just besides the Tank Bund Police station. The Pir had said that, as long as he was buried there, the bund would never break. And till date, it has not given way, even the most heavy flooding.

Mecca Masjid – The stones and the sand used to build Mecca Masjid came from Holy city Mecca. The legend is that being deemed the most holy site for Hyderabad, it was deemed fit that only THE MOST holy man should inaugurate it. For this, they wanted a man, who had never missed a single Namaaz (prayer) and Roza (fasting). There was no such holy man to be found. At this,a person came forth, and said: I have maintained all my Namaaz, Roza, and have practiced the Zakat to the best of my capabilities and proceeded to inaugurate this. The man was Aurangazeb.

Punjagutta – The now crowded area with flyovers and shopping malls, was once said to be holy, because it had the impression of the Hand of God. (Punja = Palm/Hand, Gutta = Hill).

Gunfoundry – This was the place where the Nizam and subsequently the English and the Indian Army used to get their cannon balls from. Now, people get some of the best education, clothes, mobiles and food from this place.

Mehdipatnam – A small township built at the (then) outskirts of the city, named after Mahdi, the Yet to come Prophet according to the Ahmadiyya Sect of Islam.

Tarnaka – Named after a check post tower, totally surrounded by barb wire. (Tar = Barb wire in Hindi/Urdu, Naka = Check post).

Naubat Pahad – This hill, which currently is the site of Birla Temple used to have two Nagada (Large drum) placed on it.These used to be played whenever there was any sign of trouble (Naubat).

AC Guards – Named after Nizam’s bodyguards African Corps Guards. The Nizam had to face many enemies, and hence, these African Soldiers who were tall, dark and very strong, and who looked different from the local population, were imported to work as the Nizam’s Bodyguards. These guards, with their families, were housed at a particular place, which still carries the trade mark name.

Moosaram Bagh – Named after the Frenchman, General Michel Joachim Marie Raymond (Monsieur Raymond). He loved his horse greatly, so much that, when it died, he had a memorial constructed for it in a beautiful garden, and ordered that he be buried nearby. This person was claimed to be a Hindu by the Hindu’s and a Muslim by the Muslim’s, so much that they eventually decided on calling his grave by a common name. Monsieur Raymond became Moosa Ram (Moosa = Prophet (in Islam); Ram = Vishnu’s Avatar (in Hinduism); Bagh = Garden).

Karmanghat – The village got its name following Aurangazeb’s attack on the temple in the 17th century. It is said that when Aurangazeb and his army annexed Golconda and began destroying everything in their path, that his soldiers came to the Dhyananjaneya temple. The army could not proceed their course of action due to divine intervention. Aurangazeb himself came to the temple and heard a loud voice which said, Oh King, if you want to break the temple, strengthen your heart first. Following this, when Aurangazeb demanded to see who was talking, a single streak of lightening flashed across the clear skies, and struck the ground. And in that flash, Aurangazeb saw a figure over 100 feet tall. (Kar = Make/Do; Mann = Mind/Heart; Ghatta = Hard) (A photo of the stone explaining the legend)

Moula Ali Dargah – Dargah was constructed in the retention of Hazrat Ali, who is the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, and the forth Caliph. This Dargah is incomparable in a sense since it does not have anybody’s mortal remains. Apparently, a courtier of the Nizam saw an apparition of the Moula on this hill and hence a dargah was constructed here. It has 400 steps leading up to it, and is visited by the Shia’s in the month of Moharram.

Begumpet – named after the daughter of the second Nizam, Basheer Ul-Unnisaa Begum, who received it as part of her wedding dowry.

Qutub Shahi tombs – This place is unique in the sense that the entire dynasty (except for the last ruler) lies together in one necropolis. All except the Last Nizam is buried here. The Last Nizam is buried in a mausoleum constructed by him opposite to the King Kothi Palace beside a Mosque.

Durgam Cheruvu – This lake was known and accessible to a very few people, as the Golkonda’s freshwater supply came from this lake. It was fiercely guarded because, in case of any attack by an enemy, the water could be poisoned and leave the entire population dead. Thus, the name “Secret Lake”. This is one of the most accessible places today, and definitely not a secret anymore.

HITEC City – Many mistook this for for Hi Tech City. In fact HITEC City stands for Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City.

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