"I wish this piece had come out last week when I was actually in Hyderabad, but that’s OK. In this weekend’s New York Times Travel section you’ll find my guide on what to see, do, and eat in a whirlwind 36-hour stay in one of my hometowns." Image and intro courtesy southafrikhan dot com
Hyderabad is fast cementing its reputation as a formidable global tech capital — Amazon, Google and Facebook have set up offices in the south-central Indian city, and a cutting-edge metro system is in the works. But amid this steady march to the future, the city’s rich past and regal architectural legacy sometimes fall by the wayside. Fortunately, a recent wave of attempts at preservation is helping to save and restore some of Hyderabad’s storied heritage before it’s too late. To immerse yourself in local traditions, the best time to visit might be the month of Ramadan, which starts in June this year. While Muslims fast during daylight hours, the streets surrounding the Charminar monument in Hyderabad’s Old City come alive after dark, transforming into a vibrant night bazaar — thousands of people pack the lanes to feast on haleem and biryani, sip on Irani chai and get a head start on their Eid holiday shopping.