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Introduction
A mixture of the modern and the traditional, the capital of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is among the few Indian cities which has a well preserved cultural heritage. Very much like the Nawabs of Lucknow and of Awadh (in U.P.), Hyderabad invokes nostalgia among old residents for its culture, fine arts and a certain sophistication in manners. Much more than anything, it presents a true picture of secularism. "There is no difference between Islam and Kafir for me", declared Muhammad Quli, the founder of this city, "because the basis of all religions is love". This secularism and its composite culture, in due course created the ethos of Hyderabad. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru described Hyderabad as a "microcosm of Indian culture" and the famous poet Faiz compared Hyderabad to the "Garden of Eden".
Hyderabad is today a vibrant city, with many gracious monuments, lots of tourist attractions a growing information technology industry and the center of the Telugu film industry. It recently hosted the Afro-Asian Games and is renowned for its hospitality and cuisine, which you are sure to relish on your tour to Hyderabad.
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