Hyderabad: Biryani, bots, and biodiversity

The other day, I was walking along Durgam Cheruvu Lake in the HITEC City —a place that feels like one of the city’s quieter secrets. Standing by the water, I noticed metallic sculptures of birds poised mid-flight as if about to catch fish. Beautiful, no doubt—but something about them made me pause. Because I’m sure not so long ago, those were real birds—alive, swooping, calling, hunting.

Hyderabad isn’t just a city. It’s a mood, a story, a richly layered plate of contrasts—where centuries-old minarets watch over tech labs and the call of a peacock competes with the hum of construction cranes. I’ve lived here long enough to know that Hyderabad defies easy definition. It’s a place where the old and the new, the natural and the artificial, the serene and the fast-paced—all coexist, often in surprising harmony (and, at times, in absolute contrast).

Hyderabadi Biryani—Not just food here, but its identity

Born in the royal kitchens of the Nizams, Hyderabadi Biryani is the city’s true culinary ambassador. Every local or newcomer has their go-to Biryani joint—whether it’s the legendary restaurants in HITEC City or the humble Irani cafés tucked away in the by-lanes of the Old City of Hyderabad. And there’s an entire spectrum to choose from: some Biryanis are aromatic, others fiery; some use white rice, others saffron. Some are bold with spices, while others lean milder—ranging from traditional restaurant-style to the ever-popular Mandi style. And yet, no two Biryanis ever taste the same.

Sometimes, I feel like Biryani is more than a dish here—it’s a unifier. It brings together techies from HITEC City, historians from Charminar, artists from Jubilee Hills, and eco-warriors from the Deccan Trails. It’s the shared thread in a city stitched with diversity. I still remember my first proper Hyderabadi Biryani in HITEC City and walking along its footpaths back in 2015. Those were gentler days—less crowded, less chaotic. (In some way, I’m part of the change. Like so many others, I came here chasing opportunity, hoping to build a life.)

If Biryani Is Hyderabad’s soul, technology is its driving pulse

The city has rapidly transformed into a global tech powerhouse. Today, MNC tech giants have set up their largest Indian campuses here. But it’s not just the big names—the city’s startup ecosystem is buzzing with AI, robotics, and deep-tech innovation.

Drive through HITEC City on any weekday, and you’ll see the future unfolding in real time. Towering office campuses have emerged where rocky terrain once dominated the landscape. Every coffee shop hums with tech talk—from cloud architecture to machine learning models and tinkering with bots that could soon redefine the way we live.

It’s not just about buildings or jobs—many cities have that. It’s about ambition. Hyderabad is where dreams get coded. Imagine a late-night hackathon pitch in a buzzing co-working space, and if you’re brimming with ideas, Hyderabad is your badge swipe into the world of possibilities.

Hyderabad’s biodiversity: A fragile, fading magic

And yet, as much as I marvel at the rise of Hyderabad’s skyline, I often feel torn—caught between celebrating the city’s rise and mourning the quiet retreat of its natural soul. Hyderabad still surprises me, though—like spotting a peacock in a park or flamingos resting by a lake, right in the middle of all this rapid growth. Places like KBR Park, Mrugavani Forest, Ameenpur Lake, and Osman Sagar continue to breathe freshness into the city, offering a sense of stillness. But I can feel the change—these pockets of nature seem smaller now, and the silence within them, deeper. In fact, there was a time when morning walks in the HITEC City neighbourhood would almost guarantee the sight of peacocks dancing in the distance. Those moments still exist—if you wander far enough toward the city’s edges—but they’re becoming rarer. With each new office campus, residential complex, flyover, and high-rise, I can’t help but wonder: what are we paving over?

So, what do we do?

Hyderabad is a city where a steaming plate of Biryani is best savoured beneath the fading shadows of heritage arches, shared with friends who have become like family. It is a place where, now and then, the call of a peacock or the song of a koel might still cut through the hum of a Teams call on your balcony—reminders that nature hasn’t fully let go. So, come for the Biryani, stay for the bots. And perhaps, fall in love with the biodiversity that quietly breathes between them. Even in small, quiet ways—pause to wonder if your child will also see a peacock strolling beside them, as you once did, or hear a koel sing during the sweltering summers of mangoes. And maybe—just maybe—we’ll find a way to make sure they still can.