Hyderabad, Feb. 20 -- Hyderabad has always been a city where centuries coexist. On one hand, Irani cafes and IT towers share the same neighbourhood, and on the other, minarets and metro lines share the same skyline. Tradition rarely stands in opposition to modernity; instead, they walk together hand in hand.

Hyderabad's public libraries tell a similar story.

The historic anchors

At Afzal Gunj, the domes of the State Central Library rise with quiet authority. The building, constructed during the Asaf Jahi era in 1891, feels like a relic from another time with arched windows, high ceilings, and long wooden tables worn smooth by decades of elbows and notebooks.

Inside, the silence is textured. Ceiling fans whirr above students preparing ...