Where all roads begin: The overlooked Zero Mile Stone of Hyderabad

A small cement block in Nampally, known as the Zero Mile Stone, marks the geographical centre of Hyderabad and serves as the reference point for measuring distances to and from the city. Installed during the British era, the stone now sits unnoticed by most, despite its historical significance.

Hyderabad: Thousands of people pass it by every day, yet few know that this is where all journeys from Hyderabad begin and end. This is the Zero Mile Stone located outside Alexander men’s salon opposite to Telangana Legislative Assembly in Nampally.

The stone, made from a cement block that stands at the geographical centre of the city, continues to be the reference point from which all distances to and from and to Hyderabad are measured.

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On both sides, the small stone painted white and yellow stands out with an inscription of ‘NH 44’ on the top and ‘0’ at the bottom, with ‘NH 44’ above ‘Nagpur 485 km’, indicating the distance from Hyderabad to the Zero Mile Stone in Nagpur.

Installed by surveyors during the British colonial era, the stone was more than just a landmark but it was a navigational tool in a period before Google maps existed.

“The stone was installed during the British era. We do not know the criteria for choosing this place as there were only two or three major roads in the city back then. This Zero Mile Stone, which is on NH 65, continues to be a reference point for measuring distance from Hyderabad to other places, and vice versa,” a National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Regional Office Hyderabad senior official told ‘Telangana Today’.

During the city’s expansion, the stone was along the main route, ensuring every journey had a starting reference. But now the stone has been pushed to an extreme corner of the road, making it barely noticeable.

“Although I was born and brought up here, I had no idea the Zero Mile Stone was in Nampally. I always thought it was somewhere near the Central Bus Station or perhaps in the Old City. It is surprising to find it here. I think there is a need to highlight the stone properly so that more people can actually notice and learn about it,” said Sharath, a software professional.

Initially, during the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India in 1907, the British built Zero Mile Stone in Nagpur, which was then considered the central point of the country. This was used as a reference point for measuring distances and navigation at the time.

“Now, every city and district has such a stone that serves as a reference point for measuring distance,” a NHAI official said.