It is located on the banks of the Musi River in the Deccan Plateau in southern India. The city has an area of 650 square kilometres (250 sq mi) with a population of 6.8 million, and the metropolitan area contains 7.7 million residents, making it the fourth most populous city and the sixth most populous urban agglomeration in the country. The city was expanded in 2007 to form the Greater Hyderabad
Municipal Corporation. As a growing metropolitan city in a developing country, Hyderabad confronts substantial urban pollution, traffic congestion, overpopulation and other logistic and socio-economic problems. Hyderabad was established in 1591 CE by sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, whose dynasty lasted until 1687 when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the sultanate, and the city became part of the Deccan province of the Mughal empire. In 1724 Asif Jah I, a Mughal viceroy, declared his sovereignty and formed the Asif Jahi Dynasty, also known as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The Nizams ruled the princely state of Hyderabad for more than two centuries, under subsidiary alliance with the British Raj. The city remained the princely state's capital from 1769 to 1948—when the Nizam signed an Instrument of Accession with the Indian Union following Operation Polo. Since 1969 Hyderabad is a major center of the Telangana movement, which demands a separate state for the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. Situated on the crossroads of North and South India, Hyderabad is noted for its unique culture. As the former capital of the largest and richest Princely state of India and with the patronage from Nizams, Hyderabad established local traditions in art, literature, architecture and cuisine. The city is a tourist destination and home to many places of interest, including the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage site of Chowmahalla Palace, and other notable landmarks such as the Charminar and Golconda fort. Hyderabad is home to several museums, Bazaars, galleries, libraries, sporting and other cultural institutions. The city was once a global center of the diamond and pearls trade, for which it is known as City of Pearls. Since 1990s, Hyderabad has emerged as a hub for the information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology industries, alongside traditional and service industries. Hyderabad International Airport was adjudged the world's fifth best airport. Hyderabad's 13 universities and business schools form a major centre for higher education and research. The city is home to the Telugu film industry known as Tollywood.
