Hyderabad, May 23 -- If you are a history and travel enthusiast, chances are, you've found yourself wondering how the lanes and localities of Hyderabad came to be known by such unique names. From the royal-sounding Banjara Hills to the almost comical Malakpet, every neighbourhood carries with it a story. Some are rooted in legend, some in language, some in lineage and some in long-lost professions. These aren't just names on Hyderabad's map but are clues tied to the city's past, tied to royal families and even personal nicknames that stuck around for centuries.

To piece together these stories, Siasat.com went on a deep dive into Dharmendra Prasad's book, Social and Cultural Geography of Hyderabad City:A Historical Perspective. The result...