Telangana Tourism, in collaboration with The Culinary Lounge, launched the first edition of the Telangana Culinary Heritage Walk on Saturday, as part of World Heritage Week.
The walk, for two-and-a-half hours, had story-based exploration of Hyderabad’s living food culture, with 10 participants taken through heritage landmarks, iconic eateries and traditional food practices in Old City.
Managing Director of Telangana Tourism Development Valluru Kranthi said that the department is promoting the Deccan’s historical culinary heritage by highlighting the city’s cultural diversity. She added that the aim was to help the public experience Hyderabad’s range of food traditions through curated culinary walks.
The walk began at 6 a.m. from Hotel Nayaab with chai and lukmi, followed by an introduction to the city’s paya and nahari traditions. The group then made a brief halt at a jalebi and kachori kiosk with views of the Telangana High Court. The stall reflected North Indian morning snack traditions brought in by migrant communities, said an organiser.
The walk concluded at 8 a.m. at the restored Sardar Mahal. Café Niloufer’s founder Babu Rao led a discussion on Irani chai heritage, Osmania biscuits and the history of Hyderabad’s chai culture. Participants were served idli, upma, chai, coffee, bun maska and Osmania biscuits.
Organisers said the walk was limited to 10 participants to ensure conversations remained authentic. More than 20 culinary stories were shared, tracing migration, community practices and the evolution of Hyderabad’s food traditions.
More heritage-based culinary walks will be introduced under the Telangana Culinary Experiential Accelerator in future. The State has also introduced the Telangana Culinary Accelerator to support entrepreneurs, particularly women and rural participants, in promoting Telangana cuisine.
Published – November 22, 2025 06:50 pm IST
