Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana state, is India’s sixth-largest city. Often called the "City of Pearls" and the "City of Nizams”, it has a rich history, beginning with the Qutub Shahi dynasty in the 16th century, followed by Mughal rule, and eventually the Asaf Jahi dynasty in the 18th century. The ruler was called Nizam of Hyderabad, a title bestowed upon Asaf Jah by the Mughal emperor. The Nizams treated food preparation as a sublime