Secunderabad

Secunderabad is an urban zone in Hyderabad in the state of Telangana in India, stretching along the shore of Hussain Sagar Lake and forming part of the larger capital region. The area includes residential neighborhoods, military facilities, and commercial districts connected through a network of roads and railway lines.

The British East India Company founded the zone as a military camp in 1806 after Nizam Asaf Jah II agreed to a treaty that stationed British troops in the region. The camp grew throughout the British colonial period and developed into a major hub for administration and trade.

The Nizam administration and British military presence shaped the layout of the district, blending military architecture with local building traditions that left barracks, churches, and administrative blocks across the area. Visitors walking through the old bazaar quarters can observe how merchants and residents use the public spaces that still reflect the dual governance of past decades.

The railway junction offers connections to most major cities in India, making the district a starting point for longer train journeys. The area is walkable, with most sites and shops accessible along broad main streets.

James Street, one of the oldest commercial lanes, received a special rule that allowed merchants to sell imported goods without customs charges, leading to a busy marketplace. This exemption attracted shops and customers from a wider area and shaped the economic center of the district for decades.