435 years, in milestones
1158BEFORE THE CITY
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.
1518THE QUTB SHAHI CITY
The Qutb Shahi dynasty
Sultan Quli, the Bahmani governor who had rebuilt and fortified Golconda, revolts and founds the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
1562THE QUTB SHAHI CITY
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 →Source: Wikipedia: Tank Bund Road (revision 1366812737)
1591THE QUTB SHAHI CITY
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 →Source: Wikipedia: Hyderabad (revision 1379659707)
21 SEPTEMBER 1687THE QUTB SHAHI CITY
The fall of Golconda
After a year-long siege, the Golconda Sultanate falls to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
1724THE NIZAMS
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.
1769THE NIZAMS
Capital of the Nizams
Hyderabad becomes the formal capital of the Asaf Jahi Nizams.
1798THE NIZAMS
The British at Bolarum
A subsidiary alliance with the East India Company stations British troops at Bolarum, in what is now Secunderabad.
1806THE NIZAMS
Secunderabad
Secunderabad is established as a British cantonment, named after the third Nizam, Sikander Jah.
Secunderabad →Source: Wikipedia: Secunderabad (revision 1377574739)
1908THE NIZAMS
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.
17 SEPTEMBER 1948IN THE INDIAN UNION
Operation Polo
The Indian Army takes control of Hyderabad State; the Nizam signs an Instrument of Accession.
1 NOVEMBER 1956IN THE INDIAN UNION
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.
22 NOVEMBER 1998CYBERABAD
HITEC City opens
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurates HITEC City; Cyber Towers is its first building.
HITEC City →Source: Wikipedia: HITEC City (revision 1379334186)
APRIL 2007CYBERABAD
Greater Hyderabad
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is formed by merging the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad with 12 municipalities, covering 650 km².
2 JUNE 2014CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
Telangana is formed
Telangana becomes India's newest state, with Hyderabad as its capital — shared with Andhra Pradesh for up to ten years.
2024CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
Sole capital of Telangana
The ten-year period in which Hyderabad was also Andhra Pradesh's capital comes to an end.
11 FEBRUARY 2026CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
Three corporations
The expanded GHMC is split into the GHMC, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri municipal corporations.
Our report →Source: Hyderabad Stories: GHMC split into three corporations
29 APRIL 2026CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
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 →Source: Hyderabad Stories: Metro takeover agreement signed
18 JULY 2026CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
A private rocket reaches orbit
Hyderabad's Skyroot Aerospace launches Vikram-1 from Sriharikota; the company says it reached orbit.
Our report →Source: Hyderabad Stories: Vikram-1 reaches orbit
12 SEPTEMBER 2026CAPITAL OF TELANGANA
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.