Hyderabad Through a Lens: My Messy Photo Diary

walking into hyderabad, my camera bag felt heavier than my existential dread. this freelance photography gig was supposed to be simple-shoot the old city, grab some biryani, bolt. but hyderabad grabs you like a clingy relative. *charminar keeps peeking into your frame no matter how you twist, and the laad bazaar colors bleed into your dreams. my assignment code was 1279335-some corporate headshots in banjara hills-and hotel confirmation 1356256634-a fleabag with ac so loud it rattled my lenses. pro tip: bring earplugs. you'll thank me later.

i just checked the weather and it's basically a warm hug, 27.5°C and not a cloud in sight, so pack your lightest if that's your vibe. the humidity's at 42%, which means your hair will frizzle into a halo of chaos like mine did. locals swear by these coconut water stands near golkonda fort-they're lifesavers when the pressure drops and your brain feels like scrambled eggs. speaking of pressure, the ground level is 965 hpa. whatever that means, my flight home felt smoother after three kingfishers though. if you run out of things to do, secunderabad is just a quick ride over, and then there's golconda for a dose of history that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

here's where the chaos kicks in. i overheard this gem while dodging auto-rickshaws:

"yo, that famous hyderabadi biryani place? the owner's cousin told me they use rosewater instead of milk. shhh. don't tell anyone."

then while waiting for shots at mecca masjid, this drunk uncle sidled up:

"my son's friend's roommate says the hussain sagar lake ghosts only appear if you wear red underwear on tuesdays. swear on my mother's pickles!"

someone told me that the chowmahalla palace has a secret tunnel under the main hall-only locals know where it starts. and i heard that the yadagiri gutta temple monkeys will straight-up steal your sunglasses if you look at them sideways. true story. my 2000rs shades vanished faster than my dignity.

for gearheads, my kit was brutal: a canon 5d mark iv with 24-70mm lens (stole this shot of purani haveli at sunset), godox flash for those dingy alleyways, and duct tape-because everything needs duct tape. pro tip: wrap your tripod legs in foam so they don't screech on petla bazaar's marble floors. also, pathergatti's spice market will make you sneeze like a broken accordion. bring tissues.

look, hyderabad's a mess. it's spicy, loud, and will make your camera roll fog up. but that biryani? dude. that biryani. and the way the qutb shahi tombs* glow at golden hour? worth the sweat. just don't trust anyone who says "short cut.” and for the love of all that's holy, wear sunscreen. your future self will high-five you.