If you’re flying in from Kolkata, the first thing you’ll notice about Hyderabad—besides the drier heat—is the lack of potatoes in their biryani, which is basically a crime for us but somehow still tastes incredible. I’d suggest hitting Golconda Fort right as it opens to beat the crowd, then heading over to Charminar for bangles, though honestly, the traffic in the Old City is a total nightmare. It’s a fascinating place where massive IT hubs sit just a few kilometers away from 400-year-old Nizami ruins, giving you that “old meets new” vibe that few cities actually get right. Just make sure to grab a few boxes of Karachi Bakery biscuits for the flight back to CCU, because your family back home will never forgive you if you return empty-handed.
