A local’s guide to experiencing Hyderabad

To experience the true pulse of Hyderabad, immerse yourself in activities that reflect its spirit. The city’s dynamic food culture blends tradition and modernity with ease, honouring regional flavours, rural vibrancy, layered histories, and its iconic rocky landscape.

Try teneera (neera)

Canned Neera

Sample canned fresh neera — the natural nectar tapped from palm trees. A cloudy drink that vaguely resembles Limca, it is mildly sweet with a gentle aroma of ripe palm fruit. Unfermented and non-alcoholic, neera is suitable for everyone, from young children to the elderly. It does, however, have a short shelf life of up to four days under refrigeration. Teneera is bottled and sold by the Palm Products Research and Development Institute (PRDI) in Kadthal mandal, Ranga Reddy district, using a cold supply chain that preserves freshness from tapping to transport.

Visit a flower-growing village

Pollam Gattu is also an ideal place for some Sankranti fun

Visitors at flower fields

Those classic DDLJ-style moments amid mustard fields can be recreated in Telangana’s flower farms. Villages like Moinabad offer sweeping fields perfect for long walks and photographs. Farm stays such as Pollam Gattu facilitate visits to flower fields, allow leisurely photo sessions, and offer evenings of barbecue and stargazing. The stays are comfortable and cosy, offering a genuine taste of village life — but do not expect hotel-style indulgences or an on-call butler.

Go for a rock walk

Khajaguda

Hyderabad’s rocky terrain is one of its most underrated features. Look for areas with accessible rock formations — or head straight to Khajaguda Rocks in Hyderabad or Moula Ali in Secunderabad. These spots are easy to approach and climb. Take a leisurely walk, and make the most of the city’s short-lived winter chill. On your way back, remember to carry any trash with you.

Try local Telangana food

If you are new to the city and have not yet explored its regional cuisine, step into a restaurant that serves traditional Telangana food. If spice is not your best friend, opt for gentler dishes like bagara annam with a curry of your choice, pacchi pulusu paired with fish fry, or a simple potato fry. Drop by at Telangana Spice Kitchen where one must try the Golichina mamsam, Karimnagar Kodi Wings and Korameen fry.

Sign up for a heritage walk

Golconda Fort
| Photo Credit:
G Ramakrishna

Heritage walks are one of the most immersive ways to experience Hyderabad’s past. Guided narrations by local experts — such as @thathyderabadiboy — bring alive the stories embedded in the city’s paths, rocks, and walls, revealing histories we often walk past without noticing. Heritage walk with @thathyderabadiboy will take you lesser common corners of the popular heritage structures. Walks are mostly planned during the weekend at a very nominal price.

Fly a kite

Roadside kite shop at Dhoolpet
| Photo Credit:
G. Ramakrishna

As the year winds down and Sankranti approaches, learn to fly a kite — a skill, a sport, and a seasonal joy rolled into one. Choose the right manja while learning, avoiding plastic or hazardous varieties that can harm birds and people alike. Make it a habit to collect used manja after flying.