Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. With approximately 6.1 million people (61lakh), it is India's 5th largest metropolis and the 41st largest metropolitan area in the world. Hyderabad has a twin city named Secunderabad which was formed when the British residency of the erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad had set up a military base near Hyderabad.

Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique characteristic of a meeting point for North and South India, and its multi-lingual culture, both geographically and culturally. Hence, Hyderabad is considered to be the gateway of southern India. Hyderabad has always been a place where Hindus and Muslims have co-existed peacefully for centuries.
Hyderabad and the surrounding areas of Telangana have a distinct dialect. The Telugu spoken here has assimilated many Urdu words into it. And the Urdu spoken here is also unique, with some Marathi words and a unique Hyderabad accent, giving rise to a dialect sometimes called as Hyderabadi Hindi.

Hyderabad is also one of the most developed cities in the country. It is the emerging information technology (or IT) and biotechnology hub of India. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities, separated by the Hussain Sagar (bound by the 'Tank Bund'), a manmade lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562. The Charminar (Urdu: "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.

Hyderabad was founded on the banks of the Musi river in the present day Andhra Pradesh by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1590; this relocation was intended to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golkonda. They ruled over the Telangana region and some parts of present day Karnataka and Maharashtra.[2]
Theories explaining the origins and etymology behind Hyderabad's name differ. A popular theory suggests that after founding the city, Muhammad Quli fell in love with and married a local Banjara girl known as Bhagamathi. He named this city after her as Bhagyanagaram. Upon her conversion to Islam, Bhagamathi changed her name to Hyder Mahal — and the new city's name was correspondingly changed to match it, resulting in the eponymous name "Hyderabad" (literally, "the city of Hyder").

When India gained independence in 1947, under the terms of independence from the British the State of Hyderabad headed by the Prime Minister, the cabinet and the Nizam opted for independence, either as a sovereign ruler or by acquiring Dominion status within the British Empire.

India then enforced an economic blockade. As a result Hyderabad state signed a Standstill Agreement with the Indian Union. On September 17, 1948, more than a year after India had gained independence, the Nizam signed the Instrument of Accession to the Indian Union.

On November 1, 1956, the states of India were reorganized on linguistic grounds. The terrorities of the State of Hyderabad were divided between newly created Andhra Pradesh, Bombay state (later Maharashtra), and Karnataka. Hyderabad and the surrounding areas were added to Andhra Pradesh, based on the Telugu speaking community. Thus, Hyderabad became the capital city of the new state of Andhra Pradesh.