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The history of Hyderabad's foundation is very romantic. The young Mohammed Quli, prince of the Qutb Shahi dynasty was in love with Bhagmati, a young woman who lived in a village across the Musi River. The prince would cross the river to meet her, even when it was flooded. To ensure his safety his father Ibrahim Qutb Shah got a bridge constructed for the prince to cross safely. When the prince was crowned ruler of the Qutb Shahi kingdom, he had erected "A Grand Monument - The Charminar", at the village of his beloved. Around this grew the town of Bhagnagar which later came to be known as Hyderabad.
Hyderabad was designed in a manner similar to the city of Isfahan in Iran, by Mir Momin, the prime minister of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah. Completed in 1592 the city was built along a grid plan of two broad streets that intersected with the Charminar at the center.
After the last Qutb Shahi ruler died in a Mughal prison in 1700, and the Mughal Emperor passed away 7 years later, the Mughal Governor declared his sovereignty and established the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The Nizams or rulers of this dynasty, were famous for their immense wealth. The last Nizam to rule Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan was one of the world's richest men. The princely state of Hyderabad became a part of India after the country gained independence.
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