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Here are 5 reasons why Hyderabad is the best city in India

Hyderabad was recently ranked the most liveable Indian city, so we look at what makes it the best city in India.

Published: March 23, 2017 7:08 PM IST

By Anoop Menon

Mercer’s latest annual study of cities across the world ranked Hyderabad on top among Indian cities. This marks the third consecutive year that Hyderabad has topped other cities in the country, so we wanted to know why. As it turns out, there are plenty of good reasons why this is the best city in India. Here are 5 reasons why Hyderabad stands tall as the best.

The Mercer study

Let’s talk a little bit more about the Mercer study. For the past three years, Hyderabad has consistently been the best-ranked Indian city in its quality of living study, which looks at living conditions for expats and other residents. The 2017 study saw Hyderabad rank 144th in the entire list, and New Delhi was the worst-ranked. Pune ranked below Hyderabad, while Mumbai ranked just 154th. Hyderabad scored well in terms of its lower crime rate, good schools, relatively low pollution levels and thriving job market thanks to its IT industry boom.

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Cuisine

Mutton Biryani - Hyderabad

Mutton Biryani – Hyderabad

The study only looks at Hyderabad in terms of its key metrics, but it doesn’t really delve into what makes Hyderabad tick in those metrics. One of the biggest factors that give a city its identity is its cuisine, and Hyderabad has a pretty evolved one. Its cuisine, or Ghizaayat, has been heavily influenced by its time under various Muslim sultanates, and its flagship dish is unarguably the Hyderabadi biryani. The dish is cooked with mutton or chicken, but most residents would argue that the Hyderabadi biryani is best experienced with mutton. The city has even more dishes to offer, with a cuisine that is a mix of Mughal, Arabic, Turkish, Telugu and even some Marathwada influences.

Heritage

Mecca Masjid - Hyderabad

Mecca Masjid – Hyderabad

Dig a little deeper and you realize that Hyderabad’s cuisine is the natural result of its heritage. The city has been witness to some of India’s greatest dynasties. Its importance as the capital of several kingdoms and regimes has made it a melting pot of various cultures, not just from India but from around the world. The heritage of this city can be found everywhere, from the streets and the people who walk on them to the buildings around them. The bustling city is home to a number of bazaars, thanks to its history as a trading hub. It is also home to heritage buildings like the Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi tombs, Chowmahalla Palace and, of course, the iconic Charminar at the centre of Old Hyderabad.

People

Charminar - Hyderabad

Charminar – Hyderabad

Hyderabad goes by a lot of other names, one of them being the city of smiles, or the city of a thousand faces. These names are suggestive of the friendliness that pervades the city. Hyderabad’s history as the centre of various ruling factions has resulted in a mix of different cultures. And the result of this mix is a friendly lot of people who are willing to help you out and giving you sage advice at a moment’s notice. The language of the people, which is a unique mix of Hindi, Telugu and Urdu, makes them even more endearing, if a little difficult to understand. ALSO READ: 9 photos that prove Hyderabad is the best city to stay in India

Cost of living and accessibility

Given its status as the capital city of Telangana, Hyderabad is pretty well-planned. You can find accommodation relatively easily here, and the cost of living too is pretty low, especially when compared to cities like Pune and Mumbai. Infrastructure and law and order are also commendable, but it should be noted that water supply issues were one of the main reasons for Hyderabad to slip down five positions in the Mercer study. Nevertheless, Hyderabad remains an attractive city that is worth the visit, with plenty of places to explore, food to munch on and people to interact with.

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