Well it has been a roller coaster ride for me in getting this photos so if you like the photos then please let me know.

Shopping tips:
Timings: most shops are open from 10 A.M to 8:30 P.M while some are open even on week ends.

Credit cards: Most establishments accept all major Credit cards. But check on this before hand.

Bargaining: Only the high end establishments have rigidly fixed rates. In all other cases bargaining is certainly possible.

·Before buying consult the proprietor on the possibility of discounts available.
·Always insist on a bill. You might save a bit if u don`t, but it reduces your chances ofeturning/exchanging goods if you find they are defective/damaged.
·When buying big items, check if the warranty/guarantee papers are in order and go over the fine print.
·When in doubt over any big transaction, consult a trusted friend or an expert.

I Nizam-ul-Mulk 1724 - 1748

II Nizam Ali Khan 1762 - 1803

III Sikander Jah 1803 - 1829

IV Nasir-ud-Dowla 1829 - 1857

V Afzal-ud-Dowla 1857 - 1869

VI Mahboob Ali Pasha 1869 - 1911

VII Mir Osman Ali Khan 1911 - 1948

The origins of the Asif Jahi dynasty can be traced to Chin Qalich Khan who was the grandfather of the first Nizam and the commander of the Mughal army during Aurangzeb’s reign. Chin Qalich Khan led the attack of the Mughal army into the Deccan under his Emperor’s ambitious plans of expanding the Mughal empire. During Aurangzeb’s last siege of Golconda in 1687, Chin Qalich Khan was wounded. He died in Atapur village near Himayath Sagar.

Chin Qalich Khan’s son, Nawab Ghaziuddin Khan, married the daughter of Sadullah Khan, Prime Minister of Aurangzeb. A son was born, and the Emperor named him Mir Qumaruddin. At the age of six, Mir Qumaruddin accompanied his father to the Mughal court. Aurangzeb awarded him a mansab, and said to his father, “The star of destiny shines on the forehead of your son”. Mir Qumaruddin displayed considerable skill as a warrior and at the age of nineteen, the Emperor bestowed on him the title “Chin Fateh Khan”. At 26, he was appointed Commander in Chief and Viceroy, first at Bijapur, then Malwa and later of the Deccan.

Subsequently, the Mughal empire declined. There was much confusion after the death of Aurangzeb, and Mir Qumaruddin established his position as Viceroy Farukh Siar who was the Mughal Emperor for a brief tenure conferred on Mir Qumaruddin the title Nizam-ul-mulk Fateh Jung. He thus became the first Nizam. A subsequent Emperor, Muhammad Shah bestowed on him the title Asif Jah. The dynasty of the Nizam’s of Hyderabad thus came to be known as the Asif Jahi Dynasty.

Unrest and claims to the throne continued after the death of Aurangzeb, and amidst the general confusion, Asif Jah had little difficulty in asserting his independence from the weak occupants of the Delhi throne. At that time, Asif Jah was the Sudedar of Malwa. However, his independence was the cause of much jealousy, and the Delhi court secretly instructed Mubrez Khan, the Subedar of the Deccan, to oppose him. A battle was fought at Shakar-Khelda in the district of Berer in 1724, where Mubrez Khan was defeated and killed. This battle established Asif Jah’s supremacy in the Deccan. After gaining independence, Asif Jah came to be known as Nizam-ul-Mulk. He first set up his capital at Auragabad but later moved to Hyderabad, which became the capital of the Asif Jahi dynasty.

Nizam-ul-Mulk’s greatest achievement was the foundation of the Hyderabad Dominion. He attained his object by waging a struggle against the Marhattas and by the policy of non-involvement in the rivalry for power between the British and the French. His policy has been justified by later events as Hyderabad state survived right through the period of British rule up to the time of Indian independence.

Asif Jah ruled wisely and established an independent state in the Deccan. He was one of the ablest statesmen. However, his death at Burhanpur on 21st May 1748 at the age of 78, was followed by a struggle for the throne. By this time, foreign powers were spreading their tentacles. Asif Jah’s second son Nasir Jung was supported by the British whereas Muzafar Jung, grandson of Asif Jah, was supported by the French. Nasir Jung succeeded; but after a brief rule he was slain in 1750 in an encounter with the French troops at Arcot. Thereupon, Muzafar Jung ascended the throne. In the following year he was murdered and his son Salabath Jung was put on the throne. In 1762 Salabeth Jung was dethroned by his brother Nizam Ali Khan, and confined at Bidar where he died in 1793.

Hence, Nasir Jung, Muzafar Jung and Salabath Jung, who were contestants for the sovereignty of the Deccan in the short span of thirteen years between the death of Asif Jah and accession of Nizam Ali Khan, have not been historically recognised as reigning Nizams. If they had been, Nizam Ali Khan would have been known as the fifth Nizam and not the second.

Nizam Ali Khan ascended the throne in 1763 and he ruled Hyderabad for almost forty years. This was one of the eventful periods in the history of India. Foremost among competitors for supremacy in the Deccan were the Marhattas and it was during this period that the famous French adventurer Monsieur Raymond was employed by Nizam Ali Khan.

Nizam Ali Khan died in August 1803 at the age of 72 years after a long and strenuous reign.

The succession of Sikandar Jah as Nizam was undisputed and he appointed Mir Alam as his Prime Minister. With the accession to the throne by Sikander Jah and end of war with the Marhattas, there commenced an entirely new era for Hyderabad. Unfortunately in 1808 the able Minister Mir Alam died and it was he who was responsible for maintaining good relations wit the British. In 1809, Mir Alam’s son Munir-ul-Mulk was appointed as Minister.

Sikander Jah died in May 1829 at the age of 62 after reigning for almost 26 years. Secunderbad was named after him. Sikander Jah was succeeded by his eldest son Nasir-ud-Dowla. It was during his reign that Salar Jung was appointed as the Minister in 1853. Salar Jung guided the affairs of the Deccan with great wisdom and introduced several reforms to improve the finances of the Dominion.

On 17 May 1857 Nasir-ud-Daula died and his son Afzal-ud-Daula became the fifth Nizam. This was the first time the first war of Indian Independence was fought in the North and there was general disorder in the Deccan.

After a reign of twelve years, Afzal-ud-Daula expired on 26 February 1869 at the young age of forty three years, leaving behind the infant prince Mir Mahboob Ali Khan who was hardly three years old.
Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, who was born on 18 August 1866, was the only son of Afzal-ud-Dowla. He was installed on the masnad by the British Resident and Sir Salar Jung, who also acted as the co-regent. Salar Jung died in 1883 and a provisional council, consisting of five members, with Mahboob Ali Khan as president and Mir Laiq Ali Khan, son of Salar Jung, as secretary was appointed for administrative purposes.

Special attention was paid to the education of Mahboob Ali Khan. With the concurrence of Salar Jung, Capt. John Clerk was appointed as his tutor. However, the personality of Salar Jung had a great influence on his life. Brought up under the guidance of this great statesman, Mahboob Ali Khan grew in his later years to be one of the greatest rulers of his time. He was a respected and dignified personality and was popularly know as ‘Mahboob Ali Pasha’. He died on Tuesday 31 August 1911.

Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and the last Nizam of Hyderabad ruled for 37 years (1911 - 1948). His Dominion was lager than England and Scotland put together, with an area of 86,000 Sq. miles.

The seventh Nizam led a very simple life, yet he was one of the richest men in the world. He donated generously to every cause in India as well as abroad irrespective of caste and religion. If it was the Muslim theological school at Deoband which received financial help, it was also the privilege of the Benaras Hindu University. His list of donations included Rabindranth Tagore’s Shantiniketan and several other institutions including hospitals, schools, for famine relief, etc. The golden temple in Amritsar also enjoyed an annual donation.

The Nizam’s rule saw the growth of Hyderabad economically and culturally. Electricity, railways, roads and airways developed. Huge reservoirs and irrigation projects such as the Tungabhadra, and Nizamsagar were completed. The early work on Nagarjunasagar was undertaken. The Osmania University, Colleges and Schools were founded throughout the state. Nearly all the public buildings currently in such as the Osmania General Hospital, High Court, Central State Library, Assembly Hall, Jubilee Hall and other buildings in the Public Garden were built during Osman Ali Khan’s reign.

Soon after India gained independence in 1947, all princely states were invited to join the Republic. Nizam VII was reluctant to do so; but in 1948, after the Police Action, his state was merged into the Indian Union. Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam, died on Friday 24 February 1967. It was the end of the princely era.

-South India’s First IMAX theater
-India’s 3rd IMAX theater
-World’s largest 3-D IMAX screen
This Prasad’s IMAX multiplex is located on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake at the heart of Hyderabad. This IMAX multiplex is a part of Buddha Purnima project area, which is an initiative of AP Tourism department. With this, Prasad joins the big league of 225 IMAX theaters that are spread across 30 countries.

About Prasad’s group
L.V. Prasad group has a long association with Indian Cinema. It now is a well-diversified group and has been instrumental in bringing several advanced technologies from the West to the Indian movies. Over the years, its focus has been to constantly innovate and diversify into several aspects of film making, manifested in various spheres, such as Prasad Productions, Prasad Film Laboratories, Prasad Video Digital, EFX and now Prasad Media Corporation Limited. Prasad Media Corporation now holds the distinction of bringing the first ever major entertainment center in India. Called the Family Entertainment Center, it is an ambitious and a very forward-looking project that has an IMAX 3D theater with the screen as big as a six story building.

What is IMAX technology?
IMAX Company, head quartered in New York and Toronto, is one of the most reputed entertainment companies in the world that has produced several entertaining movies like T-REX, Island of Sharks etc. The word IMAX is derived from maximum image. People who got a chance to watch a movie in the IMAX equivocally opine that it is the largest and most exciting film format in the world. IMAX 15/70 image screen is ten times larger than the conventional 35 mm film format and three times larger than the conventional 70 mm film format. Needless to say that it “is the ultimate experience in film exhibiting technology and film viewing”.

IMAX specifications at Prasad’s
The Prasad’s IMAX theater features world’s most powerful projector that beams on 29 meters wide and 21.93 meters high screen. It also has a six channel sound system that puts across 12,000 watts of digital surround sound. There are 44 custom designed speakers equipped at strategic places in the theater to give the complete digital experience. This IMAX screen has 15-perforation and 70 mm format instead of usual 5-perforation and 70mm format. The ‘rolling loop’ technique ensures the smooth run of the movie on the screen.

A 61.5 crores project
Prasad’s IMAX multiplex is spread across an area of 2,35,000 sq ft. The project cost is about 61.5 crores. The promoters Prasad group have chipped in 26 crores while IDBI, Andhra Bank and Punjab National Bank are funding this project to the tune of 30 crores through term loans. IDBI is also participating in the equity with Rs. 5 crores of funds.

First Multiplex in Hyderabad
This Prasad’s entertainment center also sports five 70 mm screens along with the IMAX screen. Out of these five screens, four are being used for public exhibition and one screen is reserved for private shows. Along with the screen, the Prasad’s also has foot courts and shopping malls that are spread over three floors of approximately 70,000 sq feet. The entire multiplex is centrally air-conditioned one.

Prasad’s IMAX Mutiplex review

Once upon a time, Maheshwari theater in Kachiguda used to be the pride of Hyderabad when it came to cinema. Then Sangeeth cinema hall in Secunderabad gave the taste of latest sound techniques like Dolby and DTS with the advent of films like Jurassic Park. Then came Hi-tech theater - the plush and posh cinema hall that offers the best of the luxuries. Then followed theaters like Sensation in the same mould. Now comes Prasad’s IMAX - arguably the best in the town, which has at least one show every one hour between 11 am to 10 pm everyday.

A visit to Prasad’s multiplex gives a new experience all together. Its slick. It’s huge and it’s amazing. This multiplex has four floors. The basement has spacious car parking facility for a fee of Rs 10/- per vehicle. The aisles around the multiples are used as two-wheeler parking area for a fee of Rs. 5- per vehicle. The first floor consists of food courts and shopping mall. You can use escalator/lift/stairs to reach the floors above. The 2nd floor has the entrance to the IMAX screen. The third floor has the exit from IMAX screen. The two floors are supported by lounge area with comfortable and cushy sofa sets. The fourth floor has 5 regular screens that show English, Hindi and Telugu cinemas.

You need to get your ticket booked in advance at the computerized ticket counter, where you have the facility to choose the available seat of your choice. You would be given a printout as a ticket, unlike the custom designed manual tickets that are issued in general theaters. These tickets would have 4 copies. One copy would be retained by the guy at ticket counter. 2nd copy need to be presented to the guy at the entrance of Prasad’s entertainment center. 3rd copy would be taken by the attendant at the screen and 4th copy would be retained by you.

Once you enter the theater, you would be greeted with willing attendants who show us the seats. The interiors of theaters are extravagant with carpet walls and floors. The stairs and aisles are etched with tiny lights so that people can easily watch out for their steps when entering the theater. Each and every seat is equipped with a cool drink holder. The seats are very comfortable. However the leg space between the two rows is nothing to boast about. If you wish to go out in the middle of the show, its pretty difficult to travel because your knee would be bumping into the back of the heads of people who are sitting in the row in front of you.

For IMAX screen, you need to be there inside the theater 5 minutes before the show. Cameras (still, digital and video) are not allowed inside. You would be given an introduction about the theater’s unique features through voice over before the start of the film. (just like the instruction given in flights before the take off). Since the duration of ‘The Everest’ IMAX film is 45 minutes, you are not allowed to go out in between the film.

For the Hyderabadis, who are used to 2 and half hour films, its rather a strange experience to watch a film of 45 minutes duration. That too for a ticket price of 125/-. However, it’s a great experience all together to watch breath-taking locales on such a giant screen. The initial films that are going to be screened in this IMAX are going to be mostly of educational ones. The IMAX converted movies like Apollo 13 and Lion King are expected to release very soon. Currently, the IMAX screen is only screening 2-D films. The 3-D films would be screened from October onwards. The ticket rate for 3-D films is expected to be Rs. 150/-.

On a lighter note, you can find the good ‘color’ful crowd at this theaters all the time to feast your eyes. You can visit this theater for the first time for the kind of captivating experience it has on you. And you get hooked on to it so much that if that film is playing at Prasad’s you won’t bother to watch that particular film anywhere else in Hyderabad.

Though the multiplex is the wonderful place to be in at anytime in Hyderabad city, there are only two minor negative points one can observe at Prasad’s.

- Less leg room for regular theaters in multiplex
- The space is less for the ticketing counter. If a Telugu movie of a big star is released in this theater, it would be virtually impossible have a big queue.

Here is one suggestion from a regular visitor of Prasad’s who traveled 3 times to get an opportunity to buy a ticket. One has to travel to the theater all the time to do advance booking. The advance booking opens at 10 am. Offering of services like Tele Booking or internet booking would do a world of good to the Prasad’s Entertainment Center lovers.

Thanks to Ramesh Prasad and Sai Prasad for bringing the best entertainment center in India to Hyderabad.

Abul Hasan Tana Shah, the last king of Golconda, was imprisoned at Daulatabad, where he died after twelve years in captivity. With the conquest of the Deccan and the South, Aurangzeb succeeded in expanding the Mughal Empire to cover the entire sub-continent. However, after his death in 1707, the Empire rapidly declined. At that time , the Deccan was administered by a Subedar or viceroy of the Mughal Emperor. Mir Quamaruddin, the Governor of the Deccan, who bore the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk Feroze Jung Asif Jah, declared his independence from Mughal rule in 1724.

He thus became the first Nizam and the founder of the Asif Jahi dynasty. Asif Jah I continued to maintain Aruangabad, which had been founded by the Mughal rulers as the capital of his new state. In 1769, Nizam Ali Khan Asif Jah II, shifted the capital to Hyderabad. The seven Nizam’s of the Asif Jahi dynasty ruled the Deccan for nearly 224 years, right up to 1948. During the Asif Jahi period, Persian, Urdu, Telgu and Marathi developed simultaneously. The highest official positions were given to deserving persons irrespective of their religion.