This Indian city is also known as the 'City of Pearls'; can you guess its name?

Did you know that Hyderabad, located in the heart of India in the Deccan Plateau, is also worldwide famous as the ‘ City of Pearls ’? Well, the city is a perfect blend of royalty, skilled artists, international trade, and rich culture. This South Indian beauty is known for its Biryanis and the pearls!
There is a well known saying about Hyderabad that “every pearl in the world passes through Hyderabad at least once in its life.”

History of Hyderabadi Pearls
Pearls were the first love of Hyaderbadi Nizams who ruled here for over 200 years. Asaf Jahi Nizams had great love and admiration for pearls. Their admiration for pearls attracted a lot of craftsmen here from distant parts of the world, mainly from the Arabian Gulf, where these rare original pearls are found in abundance. This made Hyderabad a centre of pearl. The Nizams' obsession with pearls attracted a lot of people to the land.

Trade Hub Without the Sea
The pearls in Hyderabad weren’t from local waters; they were imported from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar and were considered to have better hardness and lustre than other local pearls. During the time period of 1850–1930s, the city imported around 4,000–5,000 pearls each year.

Iconic pearl markets
Since Hyderabad is considered the centre for pearl trade, it is bound to have special markets for pearl jewellery . The Charminar Bazaar is the place where there are a lot of shops and street vendors that are selling loose pearls, pearl jewellery, and even engraving services. Basra pearls are the most valued pearls here. One can also visit the Laad Bazaar, which has existed here even before the Nizams came to the land.

This market is famous for its bangles as well as for its pearl jewellery. There are a lot of markets here in this city that are centuries old, like the Pathar Gatti Road, along with Seth Kedarnathji Motiwale (est. 1906) and Krishna Pearls, that offer authenticity as well as competitive pricing and a diverse range of pearl jewellery as well.

Pearl Jewellery Styles
The Hyderabadi pearls are designed in different forms of jewellery such as Satlada, Panchlada necklaces, Chandbali earrings, and Pajeb, also known as anklets, which are famous forms of jewellery that depict royalty. Nizams mostly combined these pearls with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, making a blend of Persian and Mughal styles. The Jewels of Nizams collection has been preserved by the Indian government as a national heritage for display.

Types of Pearls Found
Hyderabad consists of not just one type of pearl; one can find many more kinds here because of its high trade rate. One can find freshwater pearls, saltwater pearls, cultured pearls, rice pearls, as well as Basra pearls.
Freshwater pearls are the most famous kind in Hyderabad, as they are cultivated in the region’s rivers and lakes, while Basra pearls are considered to have more lustre and colour, but they can be more expensive.
Today, Hyderabad is famous for being a leading trade centre for pearls. Not only do they export pearls to domestic markets all over India, but they also export these beautiful pearls to Europe and the USA.