Nine Non-Negotiables: Hyderabad
showing you how to visit my hometown the proper way
Ok technically Hyderabad is not my hometown. It’s my parents’. Still, I feel a unique affection for the city that raised my family before they moved to the United States. And I’ll never give up an opportunity to visit it — a city known for its unique diversity, bustling markets, and up-and-coming startup scene. Every time I visit, I uncover a new part of Hyderabad and after spending a few weeks in the motherland this past month, I’ve come to really know the area better than ever before.
And although tourism in Southern India isn’t super prevalent just yet, if anyone wants to travel a bit off the beaten path, there’s tons of things to see and experience in Hyderabad, one of the biggest cities in the South. And so with that, here are my nine non-negotiables for one of my favorite cities in this world.
1. Climb to the top of the Charminar
Ok, this one is the most obvious. The Charminar is the most iconic landmark in Hyderabad (it’s even incorporated into the state symbol of Telangana) so visiting it is a must. It was constructed in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth leader of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, and directly translates to four (“char”) pillars (“minar) in Urdu.
It takes a bit of climbing to get to the top of the landmark but I promise it’s worth the steps for a view of Hyderabad’s Old City. You’ll see loads of people bustling around in the markets below, from street sellers to locals enjoying a cup of Irani chai (more on that later 😉). You’ll also see Makkah Masjid, the largest mosque in Hyderabad, which is located just a few blocks away. You might also spot a long line for the Bhagyalakshmi Temple located right under the Charminar, which worships Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth.
Once you’re done taking photos from the top, don’t forget to go back down and visit the Laad Bazaar. This market is world famous for its colorful (and cheap) bangles so even if you don’t usually wear them on your hands, definitely pick up a pair or two as a souvenir to take back home.
2. Eat authentic Hyderabadi Dum Biryani
Hyderabad is a foodie’s paradise. You can find pretty much anything you want to eat in this city. But with visiting any location, it’s imperative that you try the local cuisine. And nothing screams Hyderabad more than an authentic Hyderabadi dum biryani. Try some and thank me later 😌.
Biryani is a rice dish cooked with different vegetables and masalas (and meat if you’re non-vegetarian!). You can find this dish at pretty much any restaurant in the city but the one most famous is Paradise Biryani, which is known for its mutton biryani. It’s usually served with raita (yogurt with vegetables) and mirchi ka salan (a delicious curried chili peppers sauce). But warning: it can be spicy!
3. Visit Buddha in Hussain Sagar Lake
Another famous landmark of Hyderabad! Hussain Sagar Lake is this massive man-made lake in the middle of Hyderabad that used to serve as drinking water for the city. Visiting this lake will give you a view of a bunch of famous monuments.
First, of course, there is the Buddha Statue in the middle of the lake. You’ll start by visiting Lumbini Park, a small park on the lake, and then you can take a ferry to the Buddha. We also took a speed boat around the lake for fun, which cost us about $4 for 4 people.
From the park/lake you’ll also be able to see the newly renovated Telangana Secretariat, which houses the governmental office of Telangana. The building looks especially pretty at night with its colorful lights! You’ll also see a 125-ft statue of B. R. Ambedkar, who is best known for writing the Indian Constitution. Lastly, you’ll spot the Telangana Martyrs Memorial, a monument dedicated to the people who died while fighting for a separate Telangana state (fun fact: Telangana is the youngest state in India after separating from Andhra Pradesh in 2014, but that’s a story for another post).
4. Watch a Tollywood movie during its opening week
This one is one of the more unique things you can do in Hyderabad. In India, people are hugeeee fans of the movie industry. And actors can pretty much be considered equal to the gods themselves (some of the big ones currently include Mahesh Babu, Ram Charan, and Allu Arjun). So if you’re lucky enough to be in Hyderabad during the release of a highly anticipated movie with a big Tollywood lead, don’t be afraid to indulge in local culture by going to a movie. People will literally be screaming for the hero as he comes on screen and dancing during all of the song breaks. There’s clapping all through the movie as actors deliver clever dialogues or after triumphant fight scenes. It's an experience you won’t have anywhere else so soak this one in while you’re in the city!
Just make sure that there are subtitles in the movie theatre if you don’t understand Telugu!
5. Go on a quick pilgrimage to the Statue of Equality
Another absolute non-negotiable in Hyderabad. The Statue of Equality is a newer attraction and features a 216 foot statue of Hindu philosopher Ramanuja. He is best known for promoting Vaishnavism, the worship of Lord Vishnu, within Hinduism and advocating for equal treatment and worship for all castes during the 11th century.
The monument features replicas of the 108 Divya Deshams, which are the 108 most auspicious temples of Lord Vishnu. But you don’t need to be religious to visit the Statue of Equality. The architecture is beautiful and detailed, there’s a really cool fountain show in the evening that explains the story of Ramanuja (its projected onto the fountain with a water show — so unique), and its a way to experience local culture without visiting a bunch of temples.
6. Devour a traditional South Indian thali
Again, I cannot emphasize how amazing food is in Hyderabad. While you’re visiting you absolutely must try a traditional South Indian thali. Usually served at lunchtime, a thali will come with rice and roti, and at least 5-6 little cups of curries to eat them with. You’ll start with some rice and dal, add in sambar or rasam, and end with curd rice. The thali also usually comes with papad and a sweet dessert for the end. Its a very local thing to eat thalis at lunch so if you want the true South Indian experience, it is a must. This is another “thank me later” meal 😁.
This photo speaks for itself.
7. Shop to your heart’s desire - both jewelry and clothing
As a NRI (non-resident Indian), shopping is one of my favorite and most anticipated activity in Hyderabad. Shopping here is soooo much cooler than in the States. You can go to any clothing or jewelry store and a sales person will help you by showing you exactly whatever item you’re looking for. You can tell them the budget, patterns, colors, etc that you’re interested in and they’ll somehow magically produce exactly what you want. It’s a super personal experience where the sales person will be with you the entire time to show you a range of products, help you with trying it on, and even give your measurements to the shop’s tailor if you need to get clothing altered to your exact size. Shopping in India feels like royalty treatment and this is not to be missed 👸🏽🤴🏽.
8. Attend a local cultural show
This is another activity to get in touch with local culture. During my last visit to India, I attended a Kuchipudi performance that depicted the story of Lord Krishna’s birth. Kuchipudi is a Telugu classical dance form and as a Kuchipudi dancer myself, I really wanted to see a local performance after only really seeing performances in the States. We went to a performance by a dance studio in Hyderabad and it was such a fun dance drama with over 20 dancers, a live orchestra, and a full auditorium. A memorable way to connect with India’s roots and my past dancing experiences!
9. Drink a cup (or two…or three…) of Irani chai
Ok maybe best for last. Irani chai is delicioussss and I sooo wish they had it in the States. As mentioned before, Hyderabad is a pretty diverse city and part of that diversity is its Persian influence. You’ll see chai from Iran advertised pretty much everywhere (in bakeries, in restaurants, and even from street sellers) and having at least one cup is not to be missed. It’s a strong black tea with milk and spices, served hot and frothy. I promise that after you have one cup you’ll want many more throughout your trip.
And with this, I conclude another non-negotiable list. If you have the unique opportunity to visit my (parents’) hometown, definitely don’t miss the items on this list. And if you hadn’t really known much about Hyderabad before, I hope you’re now more interested in visiting the city than before 😉!