Leaving behind India's more traditional business centres such as Mumbai and Bangalore, the city of pearls Hyderabad is the best city to live in the country, says a global survey.
According to consultancy firm Mercer's 'Quality of Living Report-2015', notwithstanding its top rank among Indian cities, Hyderabad globally ranks at 138th position in a list of 230 cities around the world in terms of standard of living.
The list is topped by Vienna for the second consecutive year.
Besides Hyderabad, the list figures seven other Indian cities -- Pune (145), Bangalore (146), Chennai (151), Mumbai (152), New Delhi (154) and Kolkata (160).
"Over time, Hyderabad has emerged as a city of choice due to factors such as improved options for international schools and a fine choice of reputable English speaking schools," Mercer said.
"Additionally, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is located 22 kms from the city and offers a good range of international flights, which improves its ranking on account of public services," it added.
Mercer India Practice Leader (Global Mobility) Ruchika Pal said "considerable population increases in Mumbai and New Delhi, in the recent decades, have increased existing problems, including access to clean water, air pollution, and traffic congestion."
Globally, Vienna is followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich, Vancouver, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Copenhagen and Sydney, as the world's top 10 cities in terms of quality of living.
Bangui (Central African Republic) and Baghdad (Iraq) were ranked as the bottom two cities on the list.
Interestingly, the survey found that Indian cities are safer than most others in South Asia.
While the ranking of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo is above Hyderabad at 132, Dhaka in Bangladesh is ranked 211 and Pakistan's Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi are ranked 191, 199 and 202, respectively.
The parameters taken into account for the survey include political and social environment, medical and health care, public services, recreation facilities and natural environment, among others.
