Hyderabad - Its History & Heritage

Early Life and Arrival in India Michel Joachim Marie Raymond was born on 25 September 1755 in Sérignac, Gascony, France, to a merchant family. In 1775, at the age of 20, he and his younger brother, William Jean Raymond, set sail for Pondicherry, India, with aspirations of establishing a merchant enterprise. However, the allure of military service soon captivated him, leading to a distinguished career as a soldier. Monsieur Raymond's French Tomb at Malakpet Military Career in India Following the British capture of Pondicherry in 1778, Raymond joined the army of Hyder Ali in Mysore, enlisting in the Corps of Chevalier de Lasse as a sub-lieutenant. His tenure here provided him with invaluable military experience. After Hyder Ali's death, Raymond served under French General Bussy as his aide-de-camp, holding the rank of captain. This period further honed his military acumen and deepened his understanding of the complex political landscape of the Deccan. In 1786, Raymond...

Ameenpur Lake is a man‑made water body located on the northwestern fringe of Hyderabad in the Sangareddy district of Telangana ( Wikipedia ). It was constructed over 300 years ago , during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah (1550–1580 AD) of the Golconda Sultanate by his courtier  Abdul Qadir Amin Khan.  ( Wikipedia ). Its primary purpose was to irrigate his gardens , which no longer exist but the lake remains ( Wikipedia ). Ameenpur Lake originally spanned over 300 acres , though now it covers around 93 acres due to encroachment ( Wikipedia ). It is recognized today as the first Biodiversity Heritage Site in India , and uniquely the first in an urban area ( Wikipedia ). The lake supports a rich variety of wildlife, including 166 bird species and numerous reptiles, mammals, fish, and invertebrates documented by 2017 ( Wikipedia ). Its terrain includes undulating rocky outcrops , situated amidst urban sprawl, factories, and villages ( Wikipedia )....

1. Introduction The archaeological landscape of the Deccan region was indelibly marked by the contributions of Ghulam Yazdani, whose pioneering work in the early to mid-20th century remains a benchmark for heritage documentation and conservation. Serving as the first Director of Archaeology in the Hyderabad State under the Nizam’s dominion, Yazdani not only spearheaded detailed surveys and excavations but also established methodological standards that influenced generations of archaeologists. His investigative rigor and commitment to preserving historical monuments provided a comprehensive record of the ancient cultural and architectural practices prevalent in the region[^Y1]. In an era when systematic research in the Indian subcontinent was still in its formative stages, Yazdani played a pivotal role in integrating scientific methods with traditional conservation techniques. His work, ranging from the meticulous documentation of the Ajanta Caves to the evaluation of Qutb Shahi fortifi...

Life History of Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III) Early Life and Family Heritage Nawab Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, later renowned as  Salar Jung III , was born in June 1889 in Poona (modern Pune) into the illustrious Salar Jung family of Hyderabad.           The young Salar Jung III The Salar Jungs were among the Deccan’s great noble families, with five members serving as prime ministers to the Nizams of Hyderabad over generations. Yousuf Ali Khan’s father,  Nawab Mir Laiq Ali Khan (Salar Jung II) , tragically died when the infant was only a few weeks old.  Mir Laiq Ali Khan - Salar Jung II -Prime Minister of 6th Nizam Mahbub Ali Pasha and Father of Salar Jung III. His mother, Zainab Begum, brought the baby back to Hyderabad, where the young Nawab was raised under careful guardianship.  At the age of ten, the seventh Nizam formally bestowed upon Yousuf Ali Khan the  family title  of “Salar Jun...

Hyderabad State Before Accession to the Indian Union (pre-1948) Before its accession to the Indian Union in 1948, Hyderabad State under the Asaf Jahi Nizams was the largest and wealthiest princely state in British India. Governed independently under British suzerainty, Hyderabad was a cosmopolitan, multi-lingual, and economically progressive state , often considered ahead of many contemporary princely states in terms of infrastructure, education, and administration. Economic Development Currency & Railways : Hyderabad had its own currency , Hyderabadi Rupee , and an extensive railway network managed by the Nizam's Guaranteed State Railway (NGSR) —one of the few princely states to have such autonomy. Public Institutions : The Nizam established Osmania Bank (1919), which later merged with the State Bank of India, and was the first bank in India to issue credit notes . Industry : Flourishing textile mills, diamond trade (Golconda), and handicrafts suppo...

Shapur Wadi: A Lost Jewel of Hyderabad's Architectural Past Introduction Once standing gracefully on Saifabad Road, facing the serene waters of Hussain Sagar Lake, Shapur Wadi was among the most charming villas in Hyderabad during the late 19th century.  This post revisits its history and architectural elegance, offering a glimpse into a forgotten legacy. The Builder and the Location Shapur Wadi was built in 1878–79 by Mr. Shapurjee Eduljee Chenoi, a respected official who served as Secretary to Sir Khurshed Jah Bahadur.  The villa was located to the northwest of the Black Rocks, nestled under majestic granite outcrops and surrounded by a flourishing garden of flowers, shrubs, and palm trees.   Architecture and Layout Residential Quarters The villa was a stylish, single-story building, split into two main sections connected by a verandah. The main section served as the residential quarters. Its entrance featured a grand portic...