What does ‘tekri’ mean? exploring Hyderabad’s rocky heritage

Many Hyderabad localities include the word "tekri," meaning a small rocky hill. Although urbanisation has erased many of these natural elevations, their names continue to preserve the city's geological heritage and the historical landmarks that once stood atop these hillocks.

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad is known as the City of Rocks, and many of its localities still carry names that reflect the natural landscape on which the city was built. One such word that often leaves people curious is “tekri.”

Found in place names such as Yousuf Tekri, Hanuman Tekri, Biryani Shah Tekri and the erstwhile Lal Tekri (now Red Hills), the term has survived for centuries even as the hillocks themselves have been transformed by urbanisation.

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A tekri simply means a small, rounded natural hill or elevated mound of land, much smaller than a mountain or a large hill. Derived from Hindi and Urdu, the word has been widely used across North and Central India, including the Deccan, to describe modest rocky elevations that stood out in the landscape.

According to historian Mohd Safiullah, the city’s rugged granite terrain was once dotted with hundreds of such hillocks. “Before Hyderabad expanded into a modern metropolis, these rocky elevations served as important landmarks. Localities often came to be identified by the shrine, temple or prominent personality associated with a particular tekri,” he says.

One of the best-known examples is Hanuman Tekri near Kachiguda Railway Station. The locality derives its name from the centuries-old Hanuman temple situated atop the hillock, which continues to attract devotees from across the city.

In the Old City, Biryani Shah Tekri takes its name from the shrine of the Sufi saint Biryani Shah, located on the hill. Today, the once-isolated elevation has evolved into a densely populated residential settlement, with around 400 families living on its slopes, while the shrine continues to draw visitors.

Further west, Yousuf Tekri in Tolichowki has become synonymous with Hyderabad’s vibrant food culture. Although named after the small hill in the area, it is now famous for its restaurants serving cuisines from the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and other parts of the world, making it one of the city’s busiest late-night food destinations.

Another example is Lal Tekri, which over time came to be known officially as Red Hills through a direct English translation. Today, landmarks such as Niloufer Hospital, Niloufer Café and the Nampally Criminal Court Complex stand in what was once known as Lal Tekri.

Safiullah notes that decades of urban expansion have erased many hillocks, leaving only their names as reminders of the city’s original topography.

Though many Hyderabadis pass through these neighbourhoods every day without a second thought, the word tekri preserves an important chapter of the city’s history. More than just a geographical term, it reflects Hyderabad’s rocky heritage, where small hillocks shaped settlements became centres of faith and eventually gave their names to neighbourhoods that continue to thrive today.