Hyderabad

Located at the crossroads of North and South India, Hyderabad is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. India’s sixth-largest city, with around 8 million inhabitants in the metro area, it is situated on the rocky Deccan Plateau. Hyderabadis have developed a distinctive culture that is a mixture of Hindu and Muslim traditions. The city’s famous Laad Bazaar sells silverware, saris, silks, paintings, lacquer bangles and unique Bidriware handicrafts, the latter made from a blackened alloy of zinc and copper inlaid with thin sheets of silver. The Jewels of the Nizams of Hyderabad once formed the largest and richest collection of gems in India. Prior to being sold and dispersed, it contained more than 25,000 diamonds, including the Jacob Diamond, one of the largest in the world at 184.79 carats. Valued at more than $150 million, it was reputedly used by the last Nizam as a paperweight.