Moula Ali Dargh, Hyderabad

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. 

- Mark Twain

Moula Ali is 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 Hazrat Ali, who is the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. It was constructed by the Asif Jahis. One has to climb up to 400 steps to reach the dargah. Thousands of people from far and near visit the dargah.

Hill view

LEGEND:

More than four hundred years ago Yakoob, a member of the court of Ibrahim Quli, used to have a recurring dream, in which he had a vision of the imprint of Ali’s palm. Ali or Moula Ali is the son in law and cousin of Prophet Mohammed. One day, while Yakoob was around the Moula Ali hillock, he saw in the rocks the imprint of the palm exactly as it appeared in his dream. A shrine was built around it and later a mosque was built too. Unlike many dargahs, which are usually home to the mortal remains of a saint, this one is unique since it is built for the evidence of a miracle. This impression was later hewed out and installed in a shrine and an arch was built over the spot. A pavilion and a place for beating drums were added during the reign of Qutb Shahi. Ibrahim Shah later built a mosque beside the dargah.

HISTORY:

The Moula Ali Dargah is one of the 11 heritage sites identified by “Heritage conservation committee” of HUDA.

Moula-Ali is believed to have been inhabited since megalithic times. Iron age burial sites have been discovered in Moula-Ali .

Nizam VI riding an elephant in procession from Moula Ali, circa.1895 (image from Wikipedia)

The earliest excavations were carried out in 1935 by then Department of Archaeology of the Nizam’s Dominion. During Nizam era Moula-Ali was a very prominent location. The Hyderabad Race Club was located in Moula Ali. 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. In 1954 the first open prison was opened at Moula Ali. It was later shifted to Cherlapally.

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 "Qudan Rasul" on which the sacred relices of the prophet were supposedly deposited by Mohammad Shakrullah Rahan a servant of Asif Jahi.

My cousin: Rajesh

GETTING THERE:

By Rail:

• 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.

By Road:

• Moulali is well-connected by the APSRTC city buses. City Buses available from Secunderabad Railway Station (Uppal Bus stand, Opp. to Blue Sea Hotel), Nampally, Kachi Guda, Koti,etc.,
• You can also reach by local taxi or auto.