Inhabited since the Iron Age (500 BC), Hyderabad is a city rich with history and culture. Through the intervening centuries, the city has been home to a number of dynasties, rulers, and kingdoms, among them the Hindu Chalukyas, the mighty Mughals, and finally, the British. Under the British, Hyderabad was transformed into a teeming, modern metropolis; indeed, so prosperous was the city that it became known as "The City of Pearls." Now home to about 7 million inhabitants, Hyderabad is among India's top IT enclaves, and is an emerging megacity.
As with many other areas of India, Hyderabad has a tropical climate. Therefore, the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from November to February. At other times, Hyderabad is humid and muggy, especially during the monsoon season that runs from July to October.