Getting Around Hyderabad By autovala

Auto rickshaws are a good mode of transport in Hyderabad for places close by. The auto rickshaws cannot be missed, as they are found everywhere and can be recognised by the yellow colour and its three wheels. It is commonly referred to as just ‘auto'. It has a canopy for cover and the driver sits in the front. There is usually a three seater at the back for passengers, though sometimes more people can be accommodated.

The auto runs by metre and the passenger is charged by the kilometre. Autos are available at airports, railway stations and bus stands. They are found even in shopping areas and in residential localities in and around Hyderabad. Autos are popular as they are cheaper than taxis in Hyderabad.

Sometimes the auto driver (auto wallah) will also play his favourite tracks on his music system. The auto metre starts from a minimum amount and after the minimum distance travelled, it starts ticking, adding the extra fare till you reach your destination.

Note: If you take a ride after 10:00 pm, the auto driver will demand an extra fare of ‘half return'. This means that if the meter displays Rs 50, then an additional half amount, i.e. Rs 25 will be added and you will have to pay the driver Rs 75.

Most autos have a place at the back where you can keep some luggage. Make sure you do not leave anything behind when you get down.

Getting Around Hyderabad By Bus

Buses are a good mode of transportation in Hyderabad. APSRTC currently has more than 4000 buses running within the city. You can use these services anywhere in Hyderabad, but you need to check on the timings and schedules. There are various bus services such as the ordinary service, Metro Express and Veera. The latter two are semi luxury and luxury buses in Hyderabad that have fewer halts between any two points. These services are faster than the ordinary bus service which stops at all designated stops.

Boarding the Bus - As you see the bus approaching the bus stop, stand up so that it is clear to the driver that you want to board the bus. To hop on to the right bus, look at the destination sign which is above the front wind shield, to check the route number and destination. If it is not clear, then do not hesitate to ask either the conductor or the bus driver. Generally, the entry and exit for ladies is through the front door and men get in through the rear door. Front seats are reserved for women and men can occupy the rear seats.

It is a good idea to keep the exact change ready to buy the ticket. The ticket conductor will issue a ticket specific to your destination and the cost of the ticket will depend on the distance. Keep the ticket carefully till you disembark from the bus.

Get Off at Your Stop - During your ride be alert so that you do not miss your stop. If you are in doubt, it is best to ask the conductor to tell you when your destination is approaching.
By Auto Rickshaw (Auto)

Getting to Hyderabad By Road

Hyderabad is well connected to several important cities of India such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Warangal, Nagpur, and Vijaywada amongst other cities. The highway network linking Hyderabad to other places in India is also very good. Three National Highways - NH 7, NH 9 and NH 202 - pass through the city. The city will also be part of the North-South Corridor. Hyderabad is also located in the heart of the Telengana region and is hence well connected to cities and towns in this region.

The city also boasts of one of the best laid out internal road systems. There are several flyovers in city which has helped decongest traffic to an extent. Many important roads in Hyderabad are three-lane on each side. The inner ring road and the yet to be constructed outer ring road will ease some of the city's traffic problems, as now most of the heavy vehicles are directed through these roads to reach the national highways, bypassing the city.

However, as it is with most Indian cities, the city traffic is still chaotic due to the increase in vehicles and lack of lane discipline. Driving in Hyderabad is no longer a pleasure and has become a stressful experience for vehicle owners. Added to traffic snarls is the increase in number of road accidents, common among two-wheelers and auto rickshaws.
Alternative Transportation in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is linked to various parts within the city by a good MRT system (mass rapid transit system), which is a blessing for commuters who can now reach their destination fast and in comfort.

But if you want to get the feel of the city, you can try out the 3-seater and 7-seater autos. If you prefer comfortable rides, you can hire air-conditioned cabs which are just a phone call away and make getting around Hyderabad easy.
Bus Service

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is the main bus service in Hyderabad. It was established in 1932, with just 27 buses as part of the Nizam State Railways-Road Transport Division. However, today it has a fleet of nearly 19,000 buses and has the honour of being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest state transport undertaking in the world. APSRTC connects various parts of the city and has a good frequency of buses, enabling passengers to commute between locations easily.
Getting Around Hyderabad

Getting to Hyderabad By Rail

The commuter rail system in Hyderabad - the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) - was opened to the public in August 2003. It is a light rail transportation system, which connects different parts of the city such as Secunderabad, Faluknama and Lingampally. Hyderabad is also slated to get a Metro system, which should ease urban traffic congestion. Hyderabad and, in particular, Secunderabad is considered to be an important railway city in the India.

There are three main railway stations in Hyderabad, namely Hyderabad Railway Station (Nampally), Secunderabad Railway Station and Kachiguda Railway Station.

Getting to Hyderabad By Air

Hyderabad is well connected to many parts of the world and the rest of the country by air. It has had an airport since 1930 at Begumpet, which catered to both domestic as well as international flights in its two terminals. Today this is closed and a new state-of-the-art airport is now functional at Shamshadabad, which is in the outskirts of the city. The Hyderabad International Airport, also known as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, began its commercial operations in March 2008. In its final stages of completion, the airport is expected to handle 40 million passengers. To reach the airport you can avail of the ‘Aero Express', the airport shuttle which runs through the day every 30 minutes.
By Rail

Transportation in Hyderabad

With so many famous tourist attractions in Hyderabad, the city rates high on the tourist circuit of India. It is also quite beautiful and certainly worth a visit. It is not difficult to reach Hyderabad as it is well connected by various domestic airlines, trains and roadways.
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Tourist taxis (including pre-paid service) and auto-rickshaws are easily available. Driving time to most hotels in Hyderabad is less than 30 minutes. Auto-rickshaws are metered and the fare to a similar distance will come to about Rs. 40-60.

Location of Hyderabad

The city of Hyderabad in India is located on the Deccan Plateau in the southern part of India. Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh, which is the largest state in the south of India. The geographical location of Hyderabad is 17.20 N Latitude and 78.30 E Longitude. It is situated at an altitude of 536 meters above sea level. Located on the East coast of India, the state of Andhra Pradesh stretches along the coast of Bay of Bengal.

The tour to South India usually begins from this part and proceeds further down south. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are called as 'Twin cities' as they are closely linked with each other. A man made lake, known as the Hussain Sagar Lake, separates the two cities. The city is a developed one though it maintains its traditional essence. The Hyderabad city has a population of almost 4 million.

History of Hyderabad

The history of Hyderabad city is a rich and an intriguing one. While touring the city of Nizams, you might want to know the history behind certain places. Thus it is always better to have some primary information about the ancestral past and origin of Hyderabad so that you get an idea as to how the place used to be and how has it evolved into the present city that it is now.

The Hyderabad city has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties. It was during the rule of the Qutub Shahis that the city flourished and many palaces and beautiful monuments and forts were built, which added to the beauty of the city. Hyderabad was previously known as Golconda. Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah of the Shahi Dynasty named it Hyderabad. It is said that he fell in love with a humble courtesan named Bhagmati. He named the city Bhagyanagar after her. After they got married, she changed her name to Haider Mahal and that is how the city was named Hyderabad. Literally translated, Hyderabad means the "city of Haider". Hyderabad flourished during his reign extensively as it became an important trading zone for all the merchants coming from Asia and Europe.

The fame and abundant prosperity of the Hyderabad city reached the ears of the powerful Mughal ruler Aurangazeb who captured and plundered the wealth of the flourishing Hyderabad city. Aurangazeb then ruled the city of Hyderabad with his newly appointed Prime Minister Asaf Jah. When the Mughal rule came to an end, Asaf Jah became the ruler of the whole Deccan region, which undoubtedly includes Hyderabad city. In 1798 Nizam II, the second Asaf Jahi ruler signed a pact with the British and East India Company that made the British troops stay nearby. The British chose a place near the Hussain Sagar Lake and became involved in building Secunderabad, the twin city of Hyderabad. It was named after the Nizam Sikander Jah.

As India gained independence, the state got its first democratic government and the representatives of its 18 million people were initiated to the Constituent Assembly drafting a constitution for free India. For the following eight years, Hyderabad continued to be a separate state within the union of India. On November 1st, 1956, the states of India were restructured on linguistic basis. Accordingly, the territories of the state of Hyderabad were separated between newly created Andhra Pradesh, Bombay (later Maharashtra), and Karnataka. Hyderabad and the surrounding areas were added to Andhra Pradesh based on Telugu linguistic majority and that is how Hyderabad became the capital of the new state of Andhra Pradesh.
Culture of Hyderabad

The culture of Hyderabad is a diverse one. Not only does it have an amalgamation of different cultures, Hyderabad boasts of a rich cultural heritage too. Being ruled by the Asaf Jahi dynasty, it came to be known as the "city of Nizams". As this dynasty crumpled, the Mughals took over and brought about sea change in the cultural outlook of the people. Today Hyderabad flourishes in its rich cultural history.

The contemporary world sees this city as a blend of unique cultures with a touch of modern lifestyle. In general, Hyderabadi people are regarded as very friendly and hospitable. As a matter of fact, generosity is the other name of the Hyderabadis. They take immense pleasure and pride in conversing in their local, characteristic and vibrant Hyderabadi language, which is a mix of Urdu, Hindi, and Telugu. The Hyderabadi Urdu is more like city's vernacular of Hindi language. It thrives in a world of its own.

Like the Mumbai 'tapori' language, Hyderabadi lingo too has its own dissimilar resonance and flavor. It is more assorted as it has its own dialects in different parts of the city. If the actual Hyderabadi has a manifestation of Urdu language and is archetypal to the old city, the new city has a fair mix of English and Telugu to it. In Secunderabad Cantonment region, there is a typical Tamil touch to it, due to the proximity of Tamil Nadu to it.

You will find a very surprising element in these people. They wear the latest branded stuff, flaunt attitude and drink gallons of beer in the most happening bar. But when it comes to culture, no one can beat them nor question their traditional beliefs. You will find the most pretty women wearing shorts and tank-tops one day and at a temple in a nice traditional saree the other day! So be prepared to contact the blend of tradition and modernity in the unique city of Hyderabad.