History

See also: History of Hyderabad

Banner celebrating 200 years of Secunderabad

James street circa 1880, an important shopping district in Secunderabad

The present area around Secunderabad was ruled by the Chalukya dynasty from 624 CE to
1075 CE.[5] Following the dissolution of the Chalukya empire into four parts in the 11th century,
the areas around present day Hyderabad and Secunderabad came under the control of the
Kakatiya dynasty (11581310), whose seat of power was at Warangal, 148 km (92 mi) northeast
of modern Hyderabad.[6] Area around Secunderbad changed hands between various rulers and by
the 18th century, the area was part of Nizam's Hyderabad.[7][8]

Modern Secunderabad was founded as a British cantonment after the Nizam Asaf Jah II was
defeated at the hands of the British East India Company. He was then forced to sign the 1798
Treaty of Subsidiary Alliance [9][10] in order to gain the support of the British troops camped in
tents in the open areas of the maidan of the village Ulwul, north-east of Hussain Sagar, the lake
that separates Secunderabad from its twin city Hyderabad. Later, in 1803, Nizam Sikandar Jah,
the third Nizam of Hyderabad, renamed Ulwul as Secunderabad after himself.[9] The city was
formed in 1806, after the order was signed by the Nizam allotting the land north of Hussain
Sagar to set up the British Cantonment.[11] The twin cities are separated by the man-made
Hussain Sagar lake, which was built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in the 16th
century. Unlike Hyderabad, the official language of Secunderabad was English.[12] Secunderabad
was exempted from customs duty on imported goods thus making trade very profitable. Various
new markets such as Regimental Bazaar and General Bazaar were created. After the Sepoy
Mutiny of 1857, the construction of a seven metre high wall was started at Trimulgherry and
completed in 1867.[12] Secunderabad Railway Station one of the largest in India which is also the
zonal headquarters of South Central Railway was established in 1874. The King Edward
Memorial Hospital, now known as Gandhi Hospital was established in 1851. A Civil Jail (now a
heritage building known as Old Jail complex near Monda Market) was also established.[13]
Originally constructed in 1860 as the country house of the British Resident at Hyderabad, the
Residency House is now known as the Rashtrapati Nilayam, the official retreat of the President
of India.[14]

The first car showroom that was opened in Secunderabad in 1912 at James Street, c. 1950

Trimulgherry Entrenchment where British troops were stationed

Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II, was
posted in Secunderabad during the 1890s as a subaltern in the British Army.[15] Sir Ronald Ross
conducted his initial research on the cause of malaria in the city of Secunderabad.[16] The original
building is today called the Sir Ronald Ross Institute and is located on Minister Road.

Secunderabad Municipality was first formed in 1945. Later in 1950, along with Hyderabad
Municipality, it was upgraded to Secunderabad Municipal Corporation under the Hyderabad
Corporation Act, 1950. In 1960 by the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act 1955,
Secunderabad Municipal Corporation was merged with Hyderabad Corporation to form a single
Municipal Corporation.[17] Today Secunderabad is part of the Hyderabad district. Secunderabad
celebrated two hundred years of its formation in 2006.

Post-Independence, the Secunderabad Cantonment Board came under the jurisdiction of the
Indian Armed forces. Consequently, large military units were established. The popular
neighbourhoods in Secunderabad are Paradise Circle, Trimulgherry, Jawaharnagar colony,
Marredpally,Jeera, General Bazar, Sitaphalmandi, Kharkhana, Ranigunj, New Bhoiguda, etc.
Begumpet Airport is close to Secunderabad and served the twin city until early 2008.