Telangana is a landlocked state in south-central India on the Deccan Plateau, home to Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi and Nizam heritage of Golconda and Charminar, and the Kakatiya temples of Warangal and Ramappa.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Telangana blends Telugu-speaking Hindu traditions with the Indo-Persian Deccani culture of Hyderabad, so a Muslim call to prayer in one neighbourhood and a Hindu temple bell in the next are both normal parts of daily life
Remove shoes before entering temples, mosques, dargahs and many homes
Use the right hand for eating, passing money and handing over items; the left hand is considered unclean
Cover shoulders and knees at temples and mosques; women should carry a dupatta or scarf to cover the head at dargahs and mosques such as Mecca Masjid
Tap water is not safe to drink; sealed bottled water is the norm for visitors
Public displays of affection are frowned on outside upscale areas of Hyderabad such as Banjara Hills and Hitech City
A slight side-to-side head wobble usually signals acknowledgement or agreement rather than a firm yes
Bonalu (July-August) and Bathukamma (September-October) are Telangana's signature festivals, and roads around participating temples and neighbourhoods can be closed or crowded
Ask permission before photographing people, particularly women, and observe photography rules at museums and religious sites
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Greet with 'Namaskaram' (Telugu), 'Namaste' or 'Assalamu alaikum' in Muslim-majority neighbourhoods around Charminar
- Dress modestly at religious sites: long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders
- Try Hyderabadi biryani, and haleem during Ramadan, and accept tea or sweets when offered
- Bargain politely in old-city bazaars such as Laad Bazaar and Begum Bazaar, starting at about half of the first quote
- Carry government photo ID or a passport copy; hotels, bars and some monuments ask for it
- Stand aside for religious processions and never cut through a Bonalu, Muharram or Ganesh immersion procession
- Use app-based taxis or metered autos and confirm fares in advance
- Carry proof of age (21+) when visiting bars and pubs
Don't
- Do not point feet at people, altars or holy books, and do not touch anyone's head
- Do not drink alcohol in public places; the legal drinking age in Telangana is 21 and alcohol is served only in licensed bars, pubs and restaurants
- Do not photograph military or police installations, or inside the sanctum of temples
- Do not enter a mosque as a sightseer during prayer, especially Friday midday prayers (Jummah)
- Do not assume every restaurant serves beef or pork; many communities avoid them
- Do not use the left hand to give or receive items
- Do not lose your temper in negotiations; raised voices cause loss of face
- Do not wear shoes on carpets inside mosques or prayer areas
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
- Greetings
- Namaskaram or Namaste with palms together is universal; Assalamu alaikum (reply wa alaikum assalam) is used among Muslims. Men should wait for a woman to offer a handshake. In Hyderabad's Nawabi-influenced culture, addressing elders with a courteous 'ji' or 'saab' is polite.
- Dining
- Meals are eaten with the right hand or with cutlery in restaurants. Hands are washed before eating. Guests are typically served first and encouraged to take more; declining politely with a hand gesture is acceptable. Biryani is traditionally served with mirchi ka salan and raita. Telugu vegetarian 'meals' are served on a banana leaf or steel plate.
- Dress
- Smart-casual in Hitech City and Banjara Hills; modest, loose clothing in the old city and at temples or mosques. Beachwear is inappropriate anywhere in Telangana. Many upscale bars enforce a smart-casual dress code with no sandals or shorts.
- Gifts
- Sweets, dry fruits or Hyderabadi pearls are common gifts. Avoid black or white wrapping. Give and receive with the right hand or both hands.
- Business
- Punctuality is valued but meetings may start late. Business cards are exchanged with the right hand. Hitech City IT companies follow international norms; family-run old-city firms prefer tea and relationship-building before business.
- Tipping
- Restaurants add 5% GST; service charge is optional. A tip of 5-10% for good service is customary (INR 50-200, approx. USD 0.50-2). Auto-rickshaw fares are rounded up. Guides and drivers expect INR 300-500 (approx. USD 3-5) per day of service.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Namaste (Telugu/Hindi)
Hello / Namaste
nuh-mus-TAY
Namaskaram
Hello (Telugu)
nuh-mus-KAA-rum
Assalamu alaikum
Hello / peace be upon you (Urdu, common among Hyderabadi Muslims)
uh-SAA-laa-moo uh-LAY-koom
Dhanyavaadaalu
Thank you (Telugu)
dhun-yuh-VAA-daa-loo
Shukriya / Dhanyavaad
Thank you (Hindi)
SHOOK-ree-yaa
Shukriya
Thank you (Urdu)
SHOOK-ree-yaa
Idi entha?
How much is this? (Telugu)
ee-dee EN-thaa
Yeh kitne ka hai?
How much is this? (Hindi)
yeh KIT-nay kaa hai
Bahut mehenga hai
Too expensive (Hindi)
buh-HOOT MEH-hen-gaa hai
Konchem taggandi
Please reduce the price (Telugu)
KON-chem tug-GUN-dee
Avunu / Kaadu
Yes / No (Telugu)
uh-VOO-noo / KAA-doo
Haan / Nahin
Yes / No (Hindi)
haan / nuh-HEEN
Shauchalay kahaan hai?
Where is the toilet? (Hindi)
show-CHAA-lay kuh-HAAN hai
Neellu kaavaali
Water, please (Telugu)
NEE-loo KAA-vaa-lee
Kam teekha
Not spicy, please (Hindi)
kum TEE-khaa
Khuda hafiz
Goodbye (Urdu)
khoo-DAA haa-FIZ
Maaf kijiye
Excuse me / sorry (Hindi)
MAAF KEE-jee-yay
Chaala baagundi
Delicious (Telugu)
CHAA-laa BAA-goon-dee
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Telangana.
Main: Hinduism (about 85% of Telangana), with a large Muslim minority (about 13%) concentrated in Hyderabad, plus Christian, Sikh and Jain communities
Sites: Charminar and Mecca Masjid (Hyderabad), Birla Mandir (Hyderabad), Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple (Yadagirigutta), Bhadrachalam Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple, Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Temple, Basar Gnana Saraswati Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple (Hanamkonda), Ramappa Temple (UNESCO World Heritage), Chilkur Balaji Temple
Holy Days: Ugadi (March-April, Telugu New Year), Sri Rama Navami (Bhadrachalam), Bonalu (July-August), Ganesh Chaturthi (August-September), Bathukamma and Dasara (September-October), Diwali (October-November), Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Muharram, Sankranti (January), Maha Shivaratri
Conversations: Religion is openly and warmly discussed, but visitors are advised to avoid criticising any faith and to steer clear of caste, communal or political topics such as the Telangana statehood movement. Interfaith harmony (Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb) is a point of local pride.