Secunderabad facts for kids

This article is about Sikandarabad (disambiguation)|Sikandarabad. For other uses, see Secunderabad (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Secunderabad Sikandarābād
Twin city Cantonment area
Secunderabad Clock Tower
Secunderabad Location in Hyderabad Show map of Hyderabad Secunderabad Location in Telangana Show map of Telangana Secunderabad Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Telangana
District	Hyderabad District
Metro	Secunderabad East metro station, Secunderabad West metro station, Parade Ground metro station
Established	1806
Founded by	Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III
Named for	Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III
Government
• Type	Municipal Corporation
• Body	Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Secunderabad Cantonment Board
Area
• Twin city Cantonment area	64.5 km² (24.9 sq mi)
Elevation	561 m (1,841 ft)
Population (2011)
• Twin city Cantonment area	213,698
• Density	3,313.1/km² (8,581/sq mi)
• Metro	1,000,000
Languages
• Official	Telugu English Urdu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (Raman) (IST)
Pincode(s)	500 xxx
Telephone code	91-040
Vehicle registration	TS-10/AP 10(Old)

Secunderabad is a fascinating city in the Indian state of Telangana. It is often called a "twin city" because it is very close to Hyderabad. Together, they form one of India's largest cities. Secunderabad is also known as a cantonment, which means it has a large military presence.

This city was named after Mir Akbar Ali Khan Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III, who was a ruler (Nizam) of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Secunderabad started in 1806 as a British military camp. Even though they are called twin cities, Secunderabad and Hyderabad have different pasts. Secunderabad grew under British rule until 1948, while Hyderabad was the capital of the Nizam's kingdom.

Since 1956, Secunderabad has been home to the Rashtrapati Nilayam. This is the winter office for the president of India. The city also serves as the main base for the 54th Infantry Division of the Indian Army.

Secunderabad is separated from Hyderabad by the beautiful Hussain Sagar lake. Today, Secunderabad is not a separate city council anymore. It has become a part of Hyderabad's larger city government, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Because it is one of India's biggest military areas, many army and air force people live here. Secunderabad also has many lakes, including parts of Hussain Sagar and the large Fox Sagar Lake.

Discovering Secunderabad's Past

How Secunderabad Was Founded

The land where Secunderabad now stands was once part of the Kakatiya dynasty's kingdom. This was in the 11th century. Later, in 1310, the area came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate.

The city of Hyderabad was built in 1592 by the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Modern Secunderabad was created much later. It became a British military camp after the British defeated the local ruler, Nizam Asaf Jah II. He had to sign a special agreement in 1798. This agreement allowed British troops to stay in a village called Ulwul, near the Hussain Sagar lake.

In 1803, Nizam Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of Hyderabad, renamed Ulwul to Secunderabad after himself. The city officially began in 1806. This happened when the Nizam gave land north of Hussain Sagar for the British military camp.

Life Under British Rule

The Hussain Sagar lake, built in the 16th century, separates the twin cities. Unlike Hyderabad, English was the main language in Secunderabad. The city was special because imported goods did not have customs duty. This made trade very good. New markets like Regimental Bazaar and General Bazaar opened.

After the First War of Indian Independence in 1857, a tall wall was built around Trimulgherry. This wall was 7 meters (23 feet) high and finished in 1867. It helped protect the British troops.

Important Buildings and People

Secunderabad Junction railway station was built in 1874. It is one of India's largest train stations. The King Edward Memorial Hospital, now called Gandhi Hospital, opened in 1851. A jail, now a historic building near Monda Market, was also built.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam was first built in 1860 as a country house for the British leader in Hyderabad. Today, it is the official retreat for the President of India.

Winston Churchill, who later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, lived in Secunderabad in the 1890s. He was a young officer in the British Army. Sir Ronald Ross did his first research on how malaria spreads in Secunderabad. His original building is now called the Sir Ronald Ross Institute.

Secunderabad Becomes Part of Hyderabad

Secunderabad first had its own city council in 1945. In 1950, it became the Secunderabad Municipal Corporation. But in 1960, it joined with Hyderabad to form one big city council. Today, Secunderabad is part of the Hyderabad district.

After India became independent, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board came under the control of the Indian Armed Forces. Many military groups were set up here. Some well-known areas in Secunderabad include Tarnaka, Paradise Circle, and Trimulgherry.

Exploring Secunderabad's Location and Weather

Where is Secunderabad Located?

Secunderabad is in the northern part of Hyderabad. It sits on the Deccan Plateau, which is a large, flat area of land. The city is about 543 meters (1781 feet) above sea level. Much of the area has rocky ground, and some parts are hilly.

Secunderabad is connected to Hyderabad by important roads like Rastrapathi Road and MG Road. These roads go across the Tank Bund, which is a road built on the lake. As part of Greater Hyderabad, Secunderabad is a major city in India. Many quiet residential areas are nearby, such as West Marredpally and Kharkhana.

What is Secunderabad's Climate Like?

Secunderabad has a tropical savanna climate. This means it has hot summers, a rainy season, and pleasant winters. Summers are from late March to early May and are very hot. The monsoon season brings most of the rain from late June to early October. Winters are short and nice, from late November to early February.

In December and January, the lowest temperatures can sometimes drop to 10°C (50°F). May is the hottest month, with average high temperatures around 38.8°C (101.8°F). January is the coldest month, with average low temperatures around 14.7°C (58.5°F).

How Secunderabad is Governed

Secunderabad is managed by two main bodies:

Secunderabad City
Secunderabad Cantonment Board

People and Culture in Secunderabad

Who Lives in Secunderabad?

In 2011, Secunderabad had a population of 213,698 people. About 51% were male and 49% were female. Most people, about 73%, could read and write. The city has a good number of Anglo-Indian people. Many of them used to live in an area called South Lallaguda, which was known as "Little England."

A Mix of Cultures

Secunderabad has always been a city with many different cultures. This is because of the British presence and people from various parts of India. People used to call Secunderabad Lashkar, which means "the army." This shows how important the military was to the city's culture.

The famous Secunderabad Club was started in 1878. It was built in a country house given by Salar Jung I. Secunderabad feels more relaxed than Hyderabad. This is because it is mostly a place where people live, with fewer government offices.

Many outdoor events, like the Republic Day parade, happen at the Gymkhana or Parade grounds. Christians celebrate Christmas. Hindus in Telangana celebrate an annual festival called Bonalu. Muslims observe Ramadan, their holy month of fasting. The city has old temples, churches, and mosques, showing its diverse culture.

Secunderabad's Economy

Secunderabad is a busy place for business. Major companies like ITC, Infosys, and Intergraph have offices here. Since it is the main office for the South Central Railway, it is a big center for train activities.

Industrial areas like Bolarum and Moula-Ali are in Secunderabad. The Secunderabad Cantonment Board has many defense units. Important government science groups, like the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), are also close to Secunderabad.

Media and News

You can find major English newspapers like Deccan Chronicle and Financial Chronicle published from Secunderabad. The Telugu newspaper Andhra Bhoomi is also published here. The FM radio station Radio Mirchi has its office on SP Road in Secunderabad.

Sports and Recreation

The most popular sport in Secunderabad is cricket. In the past, the British built many sports places. Today, there are no big stadiums in Secunderabad. However, open grounds belonging to the railway and military are used for sports. These include Gymkhana Ground and Parade Ground.

Various sports groups, like the Amateur Boxing Association and the Basketball Association, are located in Secunderabad.

Getting Around Secunderabad

Public Transport Options

People in Secunderabad often use government services for travel. These include light railways and Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses. Private auto rickshaws are also very common. The city is connected by the Hyderabad Metro with stations like Secunderabad East metro station and Secunderabad West metro station.

Train and Bus Hubs

Secunderabad is the main office for the South Central Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. The Secunderabad Railway Station is one of the oldest and largest train stations in the twin cities. It is also a major railway junction.

Secunderabad is a central point for city buses run by TSRTC. It connects to many places in both Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The main bus stations are Jubilee Bus Station and Rathifile Bus.

Roads and Connections

The Tank Bund road is very important as it connects Hyderabad and Secunderabad. This road runs along the Hussain Sagar lake and is a main route between the two cities.

Speed limits in the city are 50 km/h (31 mph) for cars and two-wheelers. Auto rickshaws can go up to 35 km/h (22 mph), and buses up to 40 km/h (25 mph).

The closest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Begumpet Airport closed in 2008. TSRTC buses run from Secunderabad to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Learning in Secunderabad

Schools and Education System

Schools in Secunderabad follow a "10+2+3 plan," similar to other parts of Telangana. This means students complete 10 years of schooling, then 2 years of higher secondary education, and then 3 years for a degree. There are both public and private schools. Most students attend private schools.

Students can learn in English, Hindi, Urdu, and Telugu. After secondary school, students go to junior colleges. Because the British were in Secunderabad for a long time, there are many convent schools started by Christian missionaries. There are also two Army Public Schools.

Research and Higher Education

Several important research centers are close to Secunderabad, in an area called Tarnaka. These include the National Institute of Nutrition and the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Universities like Osmania University are also nearby.

Famous People from Secunderabad

Many notable people have connections to Secunderabad:

Gummadi Vittal Rao – A poet, writer, and activist.
Dasaradhi Rangacharya – A Telugu writer who won an important award.
Sunil Chhetri – India's most-capped international footballer and top goal scorer.
Shyam Benegal – A famous film director and screenwriter.
M. L. Jaisimha – A test cricketer and TV commentator.
Diana Hayden – A beauty queen who won Miss India and Miss World in 1997.
Padmapriya Janakiraman – A film actress and model.
Tanikella Bharani – An actor, writer, and film director.
Ajith Kumar – A popular Tamil film actor.
Kenneth Anderson – A well-known writer.