Sights and Sounds of Pakistan: Hyderabad

Sights and Sounds of Pakistan: Hyderabad

Hyderabad – the second major city of Sind province, situated on the east bank of the Indus River. The site of Hyderabad was occupied before the 8th century, when it was a small fishing village. Its history goes back to pre-Islamic times,
when Ganjo Taka (barren hill), a nearby hilly tract, was used as a place of worship. Hyderabad became the capital of Sindh when the Indus changed its course from Khuda Abad in the time of the Kalhora rulers.

The fort was in possession of the Buddhists at the time of the conquest of Sindh by Mohammad Bin Qasim in 712 A.D. But the modern city was founded in 1768 by Kalhoro of the Kalhoro Dynasty, with his fort and palace as important features. He named the city
as "Neroon Kot" and built a fort on the three hillocks to defend the city.

The fort since then is called the "Pacco Qillo" or the Strong (Pacco) fort (Qillo). Hyderabad was once also known as the city of perfumes and Paris of India (before partition of the British India), for its roads used to be washed with perfume every day.

The city was the capital of Sind until the province was captured by the British in 1843. The marching armies demolished most of the buildings to accommodate their troops and their military stores – thus Hyderabad lost its glory and city of perfumes decayed.

In 1857, when the First War of Indian Independence raged across the sub-continent, the British held most of their regiments and ammunition in this city.

Hyderabad – some 150 kilometres away from Karachi, besides the second largest city of Sindh, is the 8th largest in Pakistan and 209th largest city of the world with respect to population. Its population estimates to 1,348,288.

Two of Pakistan’s largest highways, the Indus Highway and the National Highway join at Hyderabad. Hyderabad is a hot and humid city, but has a cool wind blowing from the Arabian Sea in the evenings.

Hyderabad is a major commercial centre for the agricultural produce of the surrounding area, including millet, rice, wheat, cotton, and fruit.

There is a thermal power station nearby. Industries include textiles, cement, glass and soap, pottery, tanneries, and film; handicraft industries, including silver and gold work, ornamented silks, and embroidered leather saddles, are also well established. Hyderabad
is famous for its bangles and takes pride to be the largest bangle producer in the world.

When visiting Hyderabad, besides visiting the Pacco Qila and graves of the Kalhoros and the Talpurs, one should also visit the Institute of Sindhology’s museum at the University of Sind. The museum has on its display all facets of history of Sind and Sindhi,
music and culture and artfully depicts the lifestyles of the desert tribes. 

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Posted by Naveed A Bari on May 28 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry