Penned by Hyderabadis, these books beautifully span history, cultural studies, and fiction.
Despite its deep-rooted history and layered cultural identity, Hyderabad’s literary world often goes unnoticed by its own residents. While the city is fondly known for its food, heritage and old-world charm, the books that capture its past, politics and everyday realities seldom find a place on our shelves.
For bookworms eager to understand Hyderabad beyond its popular image, Siasat.com has curated a list of must-read books on the city to add to your 2026 reading list. Written by Hyderabadis, these works span history, cultural studies and fiction, capturing the many layers that define the city.
Best books on Hyderabad to read
1. Golconda Bagnagar Hyderabad by Serish Nanisetti
Authored by senior journalist Serish Nanisetti, this book explores a crucial phase in Hyderabad’s history during the Qutb Shahi rule from 1518 to 1687. Drawing on extensive archival research and historical maps, Nanisetti brings the city’s formative centuries to life, challenging common assumptions and revealing how global trade, wealth and culture thrived in medieval Hyderabad.
2. The Hyderabadis by Daneesh Majid
A modern social history of Hyderabad from 1947 to the present, this book focuses on the lives of ten individuals rather than conventional timelines. Drawing on oral histories, interviews, literature, and personal experiences, Daneesh Majid explores how diverse communities navigated political upheavals. From the annexation of the princely state in 1948 to the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 and the eventual creation of Telangana in 2014, the book offers a nuanced portrait of the city’s evolving identities.
3. Hyderabad Deccan: Illustrated by Mehdi Saajid and Md Sibghatullah Khan (Deccan Archive)
A visually rich celebration of Hyderabad’s built heritage, this book combines Mehdi Saajid’s illustrations with Md Sibghatullah Khan’s research to document the city’s architectural legacy. Highlighting monuments that are now neglected or disappearing, it aims to educate readers and rekindle appreciation for Hyderabad’s urban history. From iconic landmarks to lesser-known structures, the book takes readers on a journey through the architecture that has shaped the city’s character over centuries.
4. The Sirens of September by Zeenath Khan
Set against the turbulent backdrop of Hyderabad’s annexation in 1948, this historical fiction follows Farishteh Ali Khan, an aristocratic teenager whose world is upended by the city’s political fall. Blending espionage, romance, and personal upheaval, Zeenath Khan’s novel captures both the emotional and historical currents of a defining moment in Hyderabad’s modern history. It is also one of the few recent fictional works to emerge from the city, offering a unique literary perspective on its past.
5. Zohra by Zeenuth Futehally
A classic of Indian English literature, Zohra (first published in 1951) tells the story of an upper-class Muslim woman in early 20th-century Hyderabad, navigating societal expectations, a forced marriage, and her own creative ambitions. Written by one of Hyderabad’s pioneering female novelists, the book offers a rare literary window into gender, class, and culture in the city’s past.
6. Beyond Biryani: The Making of a Globalised Hyderabad by Dinesh C. Sharma
More than just a book about food, Beyond Biryani offers a comprehensive narrative of Hyderabad’s transformation from a princely state to a globalized metropolis. Senior journalist Dinesh C. Sharma charts the city’s economic, scientific, and institutional developments—from colonial influences to the rise of IT and technological industries—revealing how Hyderabad’s identity evolved beyond its famed cuisine into a city deeply connected to the global economy.
Which of these books have you read? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
