Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is known by the sobriquet City of Pearls. The city is one of the largest metros in India with an area of 650 square kilometres (250 sq mi) having a population of 6,809,970 in the city and 7,749,334 in the metropolitan area, making it the fourth most populous city and the sixth-most populous urban agglomeration in the country.

Hyderabad was established in 1591 AD on the banks of the Musi River on the northern tip of the Deccan Plateau by Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad come under the ambit of a single municipal unit, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Hyderabad was once a global center of the diamond and pearls trade. The city has emerged as a major global center for the information technology (IT) industry, as well as Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, due to which it is known as the "Genome Valley of India". The Telugu film industry, known as Tollywood, is located in the city.

As of March 2012, Hyderabad is the "Best Heritage City of India", and home to many historical sites, including the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage site of Chowmahalla Palace. The city is a regular tourist hotspot and carries many places of interest. Situated on the crossroads of North and South India, Hyderabad has been noted for its unique culture, art and architecture.