Hyderabad and Qandahar

[Jens Nordlunde]

We all know the old town Hyderabad in the Deccan (founded 1589), but did you know that there in Sind also is an old town called Hyderabad (founded 1768)?
Qandahar in Afghanistan (founded 330 BC by Alexander the Great) is another example, as there in the Deccan, Northwest of Hyderabad is another old town called Qandahar (founded ?).

[Jim McDougall]

Hi Jens,
I had known of the two Hyderabads, which really has proven troublesome in references which mention Hyderabad as if it were a single place....but did not know of a second Qandahar, and in the Deccan.
I believe Qandahar/Kandahar is a Pashto transliteration of Iskanderiya or Alexandria, although there are other linguistic interpretations for its etymology.
The similarity of the Deccani drooping quillon hilts to the Afghan paluoar hilt is also interesting in connecting these regions.

All the best,
Jim