Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. Located in the northern part of South India on the Deccan Plateau, the city occupies an area of 650 km2 (250 sq mi) along the banks of the Musi River.
The city's geography is characterized by hilly terrain and artificial lakes, including the Hussain Sagar lake in the north of the city center. According to the 2011 census, Hyderabad is the fourth-most populous city in India with 6.9 million residents within its limits, while its metropolitan region holds a population of 9.7 million people.