The Later Qutub Shahi Phase or the Early Twin City (Hyderabad) Phase (A.D.1512 -1687)

• Due to the remarkable increase of population within the walled city, to ease pressure on the fortress city (Golconda), Mohammad Quli-Qutb-Shah, in A.D. 1591, laid the foundation for the city of Hyderabad, south of the River Musi. The area at that time consisted of seven villages, the most well known among them was Chichlam.
• The city of Hyderabad was planned on a grid pattern with two main intersecting roads, 60 feet wide, running east-west. north-south and the Charminar at their intersection. Construction of the Charminar was completed in 1591 A.D.
• Hussaini Álam, Daruslhifa and Sultan Shahi were the three densely populated areas or mohallas within the walled city of Hyderabad. On the outskirts of the city the densely populated suburb was Karwan near Puranapool. Other suburbs in the emerging stage were namely; Khairatabad. Naubat Pahad etc. Chief source of drinking water during the rule of Qutub Shahi was Mir Jumla tank and Jalpally reservoir nearby Golconda fort. Water was supplied to the city through underground earthen pipes.
• The growing splendor and prosperity of Hyderabad city was brought to a grinding halt by the Mughal invasion in A.D. 1683. The Mughal army plundered the city ofHyderabad and razed most of its palaces to the ground. The Sultan and his nobles were forced to take shelter in Golconda fort and The rule of Qutub Shahi dynasty came to an end in the year 1687A.D.

The Transitional Phase (A.D. 1687-1724)

• With the end of the Great Qutb-Shahis era Hyderabad city had undergone a darkphase in its history as the importance of Hyderabad declined and the city fell into partial ruins. This period, between A.D. 1687 and 1724. has been termed as a transitional phase because it was marked by political instability and there was no developmental activity within the city of Hyderabad except for the building of parts of the city wall from Chaderghat to Dabirpura gate demarcating boundaries of Hyderabad city. The Golconda kingdom that was conquered by Aurangazeb was merged into his Mughal Empire and” made Aurangabad as capital for the newly accessioned Deccan Subha. This lean phase continued with the establishment of the Asaf Jahi dynasty in the Deccan region.