Moula-Ali

Moula Ali Moulali
—  town  —
Moula Ali Location of Moula Ali in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	17°28′5″N 78°33′22″E / 17.46806°N 78.55611°E / 17.46806; 78.55611Coordinates: 17°28′5″N 78°33′22″E / 17.46806°N 78.55611°E / 17.46806; 78.55611
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	Ranga Reddy
Assembly constituency	Malkajgiri
Civic agency	GHMC
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Codes • Pincode • 500040 • Telephone • ++9140

Maula-Ali is a suburb of Hyderabad, India located at about 10 km from Secunderabad. It is famous for Moula Ali hill on top of which a famous mosque (Moulali Darga) dedicated to Ali was built probably during era of Asif Jahi. The Moula Ali Dargah is one of the 11 heritage sites identified by “Heritage conservation committee” of HUDA. Maula-Ali is largely rocky with undulating terrain. However, presently it has become a major commercial hub. There is another hillock opposite the Moula Ali Hill, called "Qadam -e- Rasul" on which the sacred relices of the prophet were supposedly deposited by Mohammad Shakrullah Rahan a servant of Asaf Jahi. In addition to various mosques, Moula Ali also has lots of temples dedicated to Hindu Gods & Goddesses.

History

The Nizam VI riding an elephant in a procession from Moula Ali, circa 1895 with Moulali Kaman in the background

Moula-Ali is believed to have been inhabited since megalithic times.^[1] Iron age burial sites have been discovered in Moula-Ali . The earliest excavations were carried out in 1935 by then Department of Archaeology of the Nizam’s Dominion.^[2] During Nizam era Moula-Ali was a very prominent location. The Hyderabad Race Club was located in Moula Ali.^[3] Later in 1886 it was shifted to Malakpet. This shift was carried out for the convenience of H.H.Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, Nizam VI (seen in the picture on left with Moula Ali Kaman in the background). In 1954 the first open prison was opened at Moula Ali. It was later shifted to Cherlapally.^[4]

Overview

View of Moula Ali Hill, circa 1902

The major neighbourhoods are Kamala Nagar, A.S. Rao Nagar, DAE Colony etc. Kushaiguda busdepot is also located close to Moula-Ali. A large housing project by Andhra Pradesh Housing Board was established in Moula Ali. This colony is now popularly called APHB colony. Various industries are located in and around Moula Ali. Nuclear Fuel Complex, ECIL etc. are some of the prominent companies located near Moula Ali. Republic Forge Company Limited owned by the state government was declared bankrupt and shutdown. Moula Ali is a major centre for Railways with various facilities located here. Hyderabad Chemicals and Fertilizers was established in Moula-Ali in 1942, by 1982 the company was declared sick and sold off to a private company. In 1961 Andhra Foundry and Machine Company Limited was established in Moula Ali.^[5] Moula-Ali Industrial Estate with several small and medium scale industries is located here.

View of bazaar with Maula Ali Hill in the background., circa 1902

A division of Union Carbide manufacturing Eveready batteries is also located at Moula-Ali. HMT Bearings Ltd (formerly Indo-Nippon Precision Bearings Ltd) too have a division in Moula-Ali. A major training centre for Railway Protection Force, Indian Railways Institute for Signal and Telecommunication Engineering & Zonal Training School (ZTS) of South Central Railways are also located at Moula Ali.

Rock formations near Moula Ali

Transport

Moulali is well-connected by the buses, APSRTC, which ply on two routes covering most of the area. Kushaiguda bus depot is located adjacent to Moulali. There is a railway station around 2 km from the centre of Moula-Ali, it the first station encountered while travelling from Secunderabad. However most of the major trains do not have a stop here. The nearest MMTS Train station is at Safilguda Railway Station. The 250 year old Moula Ali kaman was declared unsafe by Archeology Department and the Roads and Buildings Department has decided not to allow traffic through the decades-old Moulali Kaman and were diverted through APHB Colony.^[6][7] Moulali is 55 km from Hyderabad International Airport.

References

1. ^ &Title=The+Megalith+People+of Ancient+Hyderabad
2. ^ "Iron Age burial site discovered". Archaeologynews.org. http://www.archaeologynews.org/link.asp?ID=319011&Title=Iron+Age+burial+site+discovered. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
3. ^ Hyderabad Race Club. "HRC - A Brief History & Achievements". Hydraces.com. http://www.hydraces.com/hrchistory.asp. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
4. ^ "Prison Industries - India". Scribd.com. 2008-03-31. http://www.scribd.com/doc/21248691/Prison-Industries-India. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
5. ^ Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers, 1983, Published by Director of Print and Stationery, Govt. Publication Bureau, Hyderabad
6. ^ "Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No traffic through Moula Ali kaman". The Hindu. 2010-01-23. http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/23/stories/2010012358850300.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 
7. ^ "Kaman finds itself at the crossroads - Times Of India". Timesofindia.indiatimes.com. 2010-01-09. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Kaman-finds-itself-at-the-crossroads/articleshow/5425951.cms. Retrieved 2011-08-24. 

External links