The Time Machine
Six eras, from the hill fort the city grew out of to the capital of India’s youngest state. Each opens on a place from that era as it stands today; every date below has a source on the timeline.
ERA 1 · 1158 – 1590
Before the city
Golconda, the hill fort the city grew out of.
1158
Golconda under the Kakatiyas
Golconda comes under the Kakatiya dynasty of Warangal; its ruler Ganapatideva (1199–1262) builds the hilltop outpost later known as Golconda Fort.
The ruins of Golconda Fort — as it stands today · Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
ERA 2 · 1518 – 1687
The Qutb Shahi city
A new capital on the Musi, built around the Charminar.
1518
The Qutb Shahi dynasty
Sultan Quli, the Bahmani governor who had rebuilt and fortified Golconda, revolts and founds the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
1562
Hussain Sagar
The lake is built under Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah to meet the water needs of the growing city; the Tank Bund dams it on its eastern side.
Tank Bund →1591
Hyderabad is founded
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah establishes Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi to escape Golconda's water shortages, and has the Charminar and Mecca Masjid built.
The Old City →21 SEPTEMBER 1687
The fall of Golconda
After a year-long siege, the Golconda Sultanate falls to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The Charminar — as it stands today · Photo: Santosh Kumar Velamala / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
ERA 3 · 1724 – 1948
The Nizams
Capital of the Asaf Jahi dynasty for nearly two centuries.
1724
The Asaf Jahi dynasty
Asaf Jah I defeats Mubariz Khan, establishes autonomy over the Deccan and founds the dynasty whose rulers are known as the Nizams.
1769
Capital of the Nizams
Hyderabad becomes the formal capital of the Asaf Jahi Nizams.
1798
The British at Bolarum
A subsidiary alliance with the East India Company stations British troops at Bolarum, in what is now Secunderabad.
1806
Secunderabad
Secunderabad is established as a British cantonment, named after the third Nizam, Sikander Jah.
Secunderabad →1908
The Musi flood
After the Musi floods the city, it is expanded and civic monuments built — much of it under Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, called the maker of modern Hyderabad.
Chowmahalla Palace, seat of the Nizams — as it stands today · Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
ERA 4 · 1948 – 1997
In the Indian Union
From princely state to the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
17 SEPTEMBER 1948
Operation Polo
The Indian Army takes control of Hyderabad State; the Nizam signs an Instrument of Accession.
1 NOVEMBER 1956
Capital of Andhra Pradesh
In the reorganisation of states by language, the Telangana districts merge with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad as its capital.
The clock tower park, Secunderabad — as it stands today · Photo: adbh266 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
ERA 5 · 1998 – 2013
Cyberabad
The technology districts of the west.
22 NOVEMBER 1998
HITEC City opens
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurates HITEC City; Cyber Towers is its first building.
HITEC City →APRIL 2007
Greater Hyderabad
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is formed by merging the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad with 12 municipalities, covering 650 km².
Cyber Towers, HITEC City's first building — as it stands today · Photo: Veera.sj / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
ERA 6 · 2014 – today
Capital of Telangana
The capital of India's youngest state.
2 JUNE 2014
Telangana is formed
Telangana becomes India's newest state, with Hyderabad as its capital — shared with Andhra Pradesh for up to ten years.
2024
Sole capital of Telangana
The ten-year period in which Hyderabad was also Andhra Pradesh's capital comes to an end.
11 FEBRUARY 2026
Three corporations
The expanded GHMC is split into the GHMC, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri municipal corporations.
Our report →29 APRIL 2026
The Metro changes hands
The state signs the agreement to take over the 69-km first phase of Hyderabad Metro from L&T.
Our report →18 JULY 2026
A private rocket reaches orbit
Hyderabad's Skyroot Aerospace launches Vikram-1 from Sriharikota; the company says it reached orbit.
Our report →12 SEPTEMBER 2026
The CURE Act
The Assembly passes the Core Urban Region law, replacing the GHMC Act of 1955; it takes effect with the Governor's assent on 22 September.
Our report →
The high-rise skyline of Nanakramguda — as it stands today · Photo: iMahesh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0