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 features a landscape characterized by hilly terrain and artificial lakes, most notably the Hussain Sagar lake, which predates the founding of Hyderabad. According to the 2011 census, it 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.