Shopping : Pearls

The Story of the Pearl :
An oyster may be a lowly creature to look at, but pry it open and it could be akin to opening a small Pandora's box. This is just what an obscure Chinese fisherman did, around 4000 years ago, and voila!, he chanced upon what was probably the first pearl to be found by man. The pearl has enamored mankind ever since. As early as 2000 years ago, divers in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean launched themselves into the deep, dark sea, risking life and limb in the quest to find the perfect pearl. They, like the Chinese and the Arabs, dived to depths of over 40 feet with only their lungs drawing the line between life and death.


In an attempt to speed up the process of pearl formation, Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan came up with the cultured pearl in the 1920's. One clever innovation led to another - and today pearls are cultured in hundreds of underwater cages called 'Oyester Farms', predominantly in Japan and China.


During the glorious era of the Nizams, pearls of various types were showered on the subjects by their patrons. Similarly, the kings received choice pearls as 'nazranas' or gifts, especially the Asif Jahis and the Qutub Shahis - The two dynasties that permanently set the pearl on Indian ornamental history.

The lustrous Pearl History

The Pearl Culture of Hyderabad
Who hasn't heard of the soft, rounded, lustrous, tear drop pearl of Hyderabad? People form everywhere flock here to possess a few of these pearls. Strange that there is no sea anywhere near the city. Yet it has become almost synonymous with quality pearls. Well, read on the pearl story .....

Hyderabad was a princely state and a very rich one too! The royal patronage ensured flourishing of arts, crafts and cuisine. The affluent lifestyle beckoned many a craftsman from distant parts of the world, especially the Arabian Gulf where the rare original pearls are found in abundance. Hence, Hyderabad became the one-stop-destination for pearls. There is an entire street which only comprises of pearl shops named - Patther Gatti.
The Pearl in Hyderabad Today
Jewelers in the pearl markets of Hyderabad have for centuries combined pearls with the glitter of gold, the richness of rubies and the ecstasy of emeralds. It is indeed amazing and heartwarming to see traditional designs still surviving the march of history in the narrow alleys of the Old City today.


Several styles of ornaments using pearls evolved along with the pearl trade. The 'Satlada' and 'Panchlada Haar' are seven and five stringed necklaces. They are often interspersed with emeralds or onyx beads set in nine carat gold. Earrings such as 'Karanphool' and 'Cholaphool', set with uncut diamonds and pearls, are also very popular among the ladies of the city. The pearl markets of the city also offer unlimited varieties of chokers and lockets. The last few decades have witnessed a gradual influence of western designs on the Hyderabadi pearl market. However, the City of Pearls has retained it's luster...
The Bangle Bazaar
In the land of beautiful women, beautiful poetry, beautiful cuisine and beautiful pearls, add one more to the beautiful string, i.e. the breathtaking bangles. Down the centuries, the lure of bangles still draws millions of women who love to adorn their arms with a dazzling set of Hyderabadi bangles. There are about 450 shops flanking either side of the world famous Charminar with around 2,500 craftsmen molding their magic around your arms.

The Nizam Dynasty

A Brief History of the Asif Jahi ( Nizams ) Dynasty
After the illustrious era of the Qutub Shahis, the city of Hyderabad came under the rule of the mighty Mughal Aurangazeb. Mir Qamaruddin, the son of an able officer of Aurangazeb was a favorite of the emperor. He served as a minister under the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah and was conferred with the title of Asif Jah. Consequently he rose to the post of the Viceroy of Deccan while still very young. In due course, he wielded such undisputed power that the enraged Aurangazeb ordered his assassination. The task was entrusted to Mobariz Khan, the local governor of Hyderabad. But this was not to happen. The attempt backfired and Mobariz Khan was killed in A.D. 1724.

Mir Qamaruddin assumed the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk and conducted himself as a independent prince. This led to the establishment of the Asif Jahi dynasty, named after the title of it's founder.

The Asif Jahi dynasty spanned seven generations from A.D. 1724 to 1948, a period much longer than the preceding Qutub Shahis. The state covered an extensive 95,337 sq. miles - An area larger than Mysore or Gwalior and the size of Nepal and Kashmir put together! With the diversity of languages and peoples, sheer size and culture Hyderabad gained a nationwide importance under this dynasty. Historians however, are quick to mention that the Nizams could not parallel the contributions made to the state by the Qutb Shahis.
Nizam 1 : MIR QAMARUDDIN (1671-1748)
Born on 11th August 1691, Mir Qamaruddin was a courageous warrior and extremely loyal to the Mughal emperor. Aurangazeb gave him the name Qamaruddin. At the age of six he came to the court with his father and work awarded the title of "Munsab". The emperor took a special liking to the boy and predicted his future greatness. At the age of 20 he received the title "Chin Qalich Khan" from emperor Aurangazeb and was soon given the governorship of the Bijapur.

Nadir Shah's invasion of Delhi took place in 1738. It was Mir Qamaruddin who intervened and negotiated a successful truce. Impressed with the Nizam-ul-Mulk's ability, the Shah offered the empire of India to him. Mir Qzmzruddin refused, owing allegiance to the Emperor. Such was his loyalty.

Asif Jah passed away in 1948, at the ripe old age of 77. He is remembered as a resolute and able administrator, yet devoted to his family and friends. He laid the firm foundations of the Asif Jahi dynasty in the Deccan.

Nizam 2 :
NIZAM ALI KHAN (1734-1803)
The fourth son of the Nizam-ul-Mulk, Nizam Ali Khan was born on 24th February, 1734. He assumed the Subedari of the Deccan at the age of 28 years and ruled the Deccan for almost 42 years - The longest period among the Nizams. His reign was one of the most important chapters in the history of the Asaf Juhi dynasty. Among his efforts to consolidate the Nizam empire was the shift of the Deccan capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad. He ruled the Deccan at a most critical period. He protected the Deccan from the attack of the Marathas and Tippu Sultan of Mysore by signing a mutual protection treaty with the British.

After a reign that played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nizam dynasty, Nizam Ali Khan died in 1803 at the age of 69. He was buried at the Mecca Masjid alongside the tomb of his mother Umda Begum.
Nizam 3 : MIR AKBAR ALI KHAN (1768-1829)
This Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah was born on 11th Nov 1768 .After the death of the Nizam Ali Khan he became the Subedar Jah was ratified by the emperor Shah Alam Khan and he also conferred all his father's titles on Sikander Jah.
Nizam 4 : MIR FARKUNDA ALI KHAN (1794-1857)
Mir Farkhanda Ali Khan Nusir-ud-Daulu was born in Bidar on 25 th April 1794. He was the eldest son of Sikander Jan and after his father's death he succeeded him on 23 rd may 1829.During the reign of his father a number of British officers were employed on several civil services. Hence on ascending the throne is 1829 one of the first ads of this highness was to request the Governor general ,Lord William Bentick to the European officers.
Nizam 5 : MIR TAHNIATH ALI KHAN (1827-1869)
Mir Tahniath Ali Khan Afzal-ud-daula was born on 11th October 1827 .He was teh eldest son of Nawab Nasir-ud-daula .He ascended the throne on 18th may 1857 and Indian mutiny was stated on 17th July 1857 Rohilas attacked the residency but Sir Salar Jung put down he attack with a firm hand. Similarly trouble was stated in Sholapur but the maharaja of Sholapur was unable to control transferred to the Nizam by the English yielding retained of Rs. 21 lakh per annum but Derar was retained in trust by the British for the purpose specified in the treaty of 1853.
Nizam 6 : MIR MAHBOOB ALI KHAN (1866-1911)
Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan was born on 17th August 186. He was the only son of Nawab Afzal-ud-Daula .When his father died he was two years and seven months old. He was installed as the Munsab by Sir Salar Jung the Great, Nawab Rasheeduddin Khan, Shar-ul-Ummul and the Resident, there functioned as the Reyab. Shar-ul-Ummul passed away on 12th Decemer,1881 and Salar Jung become the sole regent. He was remembered administrator and regent till his death.
Nizam 7 : MIR OSMAN ALI KHAN (1886-1967)
Mir Osman Ali Khan was born in Hyderabad on 5th April, 1886 at Purani Haveli. Since he was the heir-apparent, great attention was paid to his education, and eminent scholars were engaged to teach him English, Urdu, Persian. On 14th April, 1906 he was married to Dulhan Pasha Begum, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung, at Eden Bagh at the age 21.

The Qutub Shahi Dynasty

A brief History of the Qutub Shahi dynasty
In 1463, disturbances broke out in the Telangana area of the Bahamani kingdom of Deccan. Sultan Quli Qutbul Mulk, a Turk who was a high ranking military officer under Muhammad Shah Bahamani, was sent to quell the trouble. He was successful and was rewarded by being made the Subedar of Telangana in 1495, with Golconda as his head- quarters. Subsequently, with the disintegration of the Bahamani Kingdom in the early 16th century, Sultan Quli assumed virtual independence. Thus he founded the Qutub Shahi dynasty that lasted from 1518 right up to 1687 when Aurangzeb's armies swept the Deccan.

This dynasty spanned 171 years in the history of South India. The eight kings of this royal line have left a firm impression of their strong personalities upon the land and its people.
The Qutub Shahi rulers were great builders and patrons of learning. They not only patronized the Persian culture but also the regional culture of the Deccan, symbolized by the Telugu language and the newly developed Deccani idiom.
Qutub Shah 1 : SULTAN QULI QUTBUL MULK (1518 - 1543)
The founder of the Qutub Shahi kingdom did much to strengthen and improve the capital Golconda. He beautified his fortress capital with mosques, palaces and gardens. On the foundations of the old mud fort Sultan Quli built a massive citadel. This city called Muhammad Nagar, soon grew rapidly and earned fame as one of the leading cities of the east, well known for its trade in diamonds and precious stones.
Sultan Quli's subjects thought highly of him and he governed kindly and well. But at the age of 99, the king died at the hands of his own son Jamsheed Quli.
Qutub Shah 2 : JAMSHEED QULI QUTUB SHAH (1543 - 1550)
Jamsheed, the third son, took over the reins of government with blood stained hands. His seven years reign was marked by the people's resentment over his patricide. However, Jamsheed Quli was educated and loved poetry. He died in 1550 of on incurable disease.
Qutub Shah 3 : IBRAHIM QULI QUTUB SHAH (1550 -- 1580)
The youngest son of Sultan Quli Qutub Shah, Ibrahim, lived in exile as an honored quest of the Raja of Vijayanagar. It was during this sojourn that he learnt to love Telugu and speak it almost as his second mother tongue. When he ascended the throne, Ibrahim patronized and encouraged the learning and writing of Telugu as few Muslim or non-Muslim rulers had done before him. Poets from all over the Deccan converged at Ibrahim's court.
During his reign, Golconda was further strengthened. Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah invited his nobles to construct buildings within its walls, Mosques, Schools, Alms houses, and the Dam at Hussain Sagar, Budwel and Ibrahimpatnam were all to his credit. Besides, Ibrahim was noted for his able administration.
Qutub Shah 4 : MUHAMMAD QULI QUTUB SHAH (1580 -- 1612)
It was in the long, peaceful and prosperous reign of the fifth king Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah that the Qutub Shahi dynasty reached its zenith.
Muhammad Quli was crowned king when only 15 years of age. He is best remembered as the great planner and founder of the city of Hyderabad. According to popular legend, the king was enamored of a dancer called Bhagmati, belonging to a small village of Chichelam where the famous Charminar now stands. He found Bhagnagar to perpetuate his love for her, the name of the city was accordingly changed by the king to HYDERABAD.
Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, like Ibrahim, patronized and encouraged the Telugu language as much as he did Arabic and Persian. He was himself an accomplished poet in Telugu and fostered local traditions and rituals. He was also the creator of the first Deccani poetry.
Muhammad Quli was hardly 48 when he died in 1612 after a fairy long reign of 32 years. He was a humane and just king, besides being a great builder and man of letters. Hayath Bakshi Begum was his only daughter who was married to his nephew and successor, Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah.
Qutub Shah 6 : SULTAN MUHAMMAD QUTUB SHAH (1612 -- 1626)
The nephew and son-in-law of Muhammad Quli, Sultan Muhammad ascended the throne as the sixth Qutub Shah. A well versed scholar, he had a deeply religious temperament and was a connoisseur of good books. The Qutub Shahi chronicles were completed during his reign. He further contributed to the architectural achievements of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The foundation of the principal mosque Mecca Masjid was laid during his reign in 1617. He also began the construction of the building of Sultan Nagar. These projects were however not completed in his lifetime.
Qutub Shah 6 : ABDULLAH QUTUB SHAH (1626-1672)
Son of Sultan Muhammad, Abdullah ascended the throne at the age of 12, his mother administering the kingdom till he attained maturity. He lived a life of pleasure and ease. Though the Kingdom was extended during his rule, it came under Mughal pressure in 1636. Golconda was attacked in 1656 and as a result, heavy indemnity had to be paid. He died on 1st May, 1672.
Qutub Shah 7 : ABUL HASAN TANA SHAH (1672 -- 1699)
Abul Hasan, also known as Tana Shah, was Abdullah Qutub Shah's son-in-law. He proved an able ruler and a staunch defender in the face of the Mughal might. He is remembered as a benign and tolerant king who placed his people's prosperity and well-being above everything else.
Tana Shah was the last king of Golconda. During his rule, the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb seized the fortress of Golconda for a period of 8 continuous months. In 1687, the Mughals finally stormed the fortress after the gates were opened by a traitor. Abul Hasan was taken prisoner. He was held captive first at Bidar and then at Daulatabad (Aurangabad) where he died in prison after 12 years of captivity. Jan Sapar Khan, one of the nobles of Aurangazeb, accompanied Abul Hasan up to Daulatabad. He was later made the governor of the Deccan under the kingdom of Aurangazeb.

brief history of hyderabad

hyderabad-city
Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh is a bustling 400 year old metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people approximately. The city is cosmopolitan, and is richly endowed with a
variety of cultures. The city presents an attractive amalgam of old world charm together with ebullience of growth and enterprise. Beautiful old edifices built in the medieval, large glass and chrome temples of commerce.

The history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Quli Qutub Shah seized the reins of power from the Bahamani Kingdom in 1512 and established the fortress city of
Golconda. Inadequacy of water, and frequent epidemics of plague and cholera persuaded Mohammed, the fifth Quli Qutub Shahi ruler to venture outward to establish the new city with the Charminar at its center and with four great roads fanning out in the four cardinal directions.

Hyderabad's fame, strategic location and Golconda's legendary wealth attracted Aurangazeb who captured Golconda after a long siege in 1687. After this defeat the importance of Hyderabad declined and the city fell into partial ruin.

As the Mughal Empire decayed and began to disintegrate, the victory, Asaf Jah-I proclaimed himself the Nizam and established independent rule of the Deccan. Hyderabad once again became a major capital city, ruled by successive Nizams of the Asaf Jah dynasty until the state was merged into the Indian Union in 1948.

In 1798, a subsidiary alliance for military and political cooperation was signed between the Nizam and the British East India company. Thereafter, an area north of what is now the Hussain Sagar lake was
established as a cantonment. The area was named Secunderabad after the then Nizam, Sikander Jah. Both Hyderabad and Secunderabad grew together and have now merged. An imaginary line drawn across the Tank Bund is still used to distinguish the two cities.

The City of Hyderabad is famous for its minarets and its pearl bazaar. Pearl from all over the world are said to come to Hyderabad because the artisans here are skilled in piercing and stringing pearls without damaging them. The city's gypsy tribes called "Lambadas" and "Banjaras" are known throughout the country for their colorful costumes - and Hyderabadi cuisine is much sought after.

Hyderabad is at an altitude of 536 meters with the mean summer temperature going up to a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius and the minimum average temperature being around 22 degrees. The maximum winter temperature is around 22 with the minimum going down to around 12 degrees. Light woolens are required during early mornings and late evenings.
culture of hyderabad
The infamous Hyderabadi pearl Culture. Who hasn't heard about the soft, rounded, luminescent, tear drop pearl of Hyderabad. People form everywhere flock here to possess a few of these pearls. But why Hyderabad? It neither is on the sea coast nor near to it. Yet it has become almost synonymous with pearls. It is because of the city's grand and very old history. Hyderabad was a princely state and a very rich one too! The royal patronage saw to the burgeoning growth of arts, crafts and cuisine. Their rich life-styles beckoned many a craftsman from distant parts of the world, especially the Arabian Gulf where the rare original pearls are found in abundance. Hence, Hyderabad became the one-stop-destination for pearls. There is an entire street which only comprises of pearl shops - Patther Gatti.

In the land of beautiful women, beautiful poetry, beautiful cuisine and beautiful pearls, one more can be added to the beautiful string, i.e. Beautiful bangles. Down the centuries, the lure of bangles still persists in the hearts of millions of women who love to adorn their arms with a dazzling set of Hyderabadi bangles. There are about 450 shops flanking either side of the world famous Charminar with around 2500 craftsmen weaving their magic around your arms. These bangles are so very purse and are of high quality too.

History

Chronicling 400 years of Hyderabad's history is not easy. Especially history as rich and diverse as that of Hyderabad. For the ancient capital of the Nizams empire is, today, a happening place. Explore the by lanes, taste the roadside foodstuff and smell the entrepreneurial excitement in the air, get a whiff of the nostalgia. Today Hyderabad is a blend of the old and the new, the emerging character unique and trend-setting in India.

Catch a glimpse of an era spanning the glorious Qutub Shahi, the Asif Jahi and the Nizam dynasties who left their indomitable stamp on the city. Take a stroll down memory lane by browsing through a list of important dates and significant events, the turning points in Deccani history.

Blue Dart map includes Hyderabad as 6th hub

Mr Gopa Kumar, Vice-President (South), Blue Dart Express Ltd, and Ms. Tulsi N. Mirchandaney, Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Projects, at a press conference in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , May 4

BLUE Dart Express Ltd, a leader in the Indian express market with a 38-per cent market share, has made Hyderabad its sixth aviation hub after New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore.

The new hub will be connected to company's aviation network by the recently acquired Boeing 737 aircraft.

Post-acquisition, the total fleet of the company has gone up to four.

The new aircraft would add 14 route connections.

"This will increase our daily capacity to 180 tonnes a night from the present 120 tonnes a night," Mr Gopa Kumar, Vice-President (South), said.

Announcing this here at a press conference on Tuesday, he said Hyderabad hub would be operational from May 17.

The company runs 212 flights a week. "We are planning to acquire one more aircraft this year," Mr Niteen Gupte, Chief Operating Officer of Blue Dart Aviation Ltd, said.

The express company runs its flights in the nights. In a small scale, the company is outsourcing its flights for charters in the daytime for Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives.

"It (outsourcing for charters) doesn't constitute much of our flying time. Of the 5,000 hours of flying, we do about 100 hours for chartering," he said.

Blue Dart's aircraft recorded 93 per cent load factor.

Mr Gopa Kumar said the South contributed 30 per cent to company's total turnover. "South's importance is growing," he said.

"Four major credit card companies locating their headquarters in the region. Also, the region has strengths in information technology, pharmaceuticals and garments," he said.

"Ten per cent of business from the South comes from Andhra Pradesh. Seventy-one of 500 top global corporations and 63 top Indian firms have their presence in the State.

Also, Visakhapatnam port handles 14.1 per cent of total Indian port traffic," Mr Gopa Kumar said, elaborating on possible increase of business from the State.

The company recorded a PAT (profit after tax) of Rs 26.48 crore on a turnover of Rs 355.33 crore for the year ended March 31, 2004.

Ms Tulsi Nowlakha Mirchandaney, Senior Vice-President (Marketing and Projects), said the company did not want to compete in the international markets as there were good number of established players.

"We wanted to focus on the domestic and regional segments," she said.

To reach out the international destinations, the company tied up with DHL that offered its services in 220 countries.