Hyderabad, known for its fabulous pearls and diamond markets and delectable cuisine is the fifth largest city in India with an ancient civilisation and culture. Hyderabad and Secunderbad are twin cities, separated by the Husain Sagar lake. Hyderabad occupies a unique position on the map of India. With its confluence of cultures and traditions, the city is often described as a link between the north and the south, and a meeting place of the east and the west. The city is nearly 400 years old and is noted for its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and bridges, hills and lakes.