Hyderabad, also called the ‘City of Pearls,’ is a beautiful city filled with modern structures and facilities while still maintaining its old-world charm.
Hyderabad has a long and storied history, and the recent IT boom has cemented its place as a hub for major IT companies. Here are a few little known facts about this charming city.
Did you know that Hyderabad used to have its own currency?
Hyderabad had its own currency
The Hyderabadi Rupee was the currency of the Hyderabad State from 1918 to 1959. It coexisted with the Indian rupee from 1950.
Like the Indian rupee, it was divided into 16 annas, each of 12 pai. Coins were issued in copper (later bronze) for denominations of 1 and 2 pai and ½ anna, in cupro-nickel (later bronze) for one anna and in silver for 2, 4 and 8 annas and 1 rupee.
Hyderabad was the only Indian princely state that was permitted to continue issuing its own notes after joining the Dominion of India in 1948 and the Republic of India in 1950.
Charminar was built for a cause
Most of the historical monuments in India were built by the kings, sultans, rulers, and emperors as mementos of their victory in battles.
The Charminar in Hyderabad is an exception to it. Plague broke out as an epidemic right after Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah transferred his capital from Golconda to Hyderabad.
He promised to consecrate a monument while offering prayers to the Almighty (Allah) in order to save his new capital from the plague. He kept the promise by having commissioned the construction of the Charminar in 1591, in honor of the Almighty.
A Cat’s head in the Charminar
How many of you know that there is a cat’s head designed in the apex of one of the arches on the eastern side of Charminar? It was perhaps meant to be a deterrent to rats, the cause of the plague. And when the epidemic ended, Charminar was raised to commemorate its riddance.
Hyderabad’s Irani Cafe culture
Hyderabad’s Irani café culture dates centuries back. Introduced by a group of settlers from Persia, Irani Chai (tea) became one with the taste of Hyderabad.
The people in Old City start their day with cups of Irani Chai in the morning. The variants of Irani Chai, including Khade Chammach ki Chai and Burke Wali Chai, are unique to Hyderabad.
The Clock at Chowmahalla Palace
The clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace is affectionately called as Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for around 250 years. An expert family of clock repairers winds the mechanical clock every week.
The people of the locality wait for its chimes and correct their own watches by the accuracy of this clock’s timing.
A Temple for Chitragupta
Have you ever heard of a temple for Chitragupta? According to Hindu mythology, Chitragupta is the prime associate of the god of death Yama and is assigned with the task of keeping records of an individual’s good and bad deeds to determine their afterlife.
There aren’t many temples on his name, as he is not considered as god. This rare temple Chitragupta Mahadeva Devalayam is found in Chatrinaka, inside the Old City complex of Hyderabad.
