Few surviving banyans on Chandrayangutta-Pahadishareef road evoke memories of old Hyderabad

Hyderabad: For those in their 40s and 50s, travelling along the Chandrayangutta-Pahadishareef road and spotting a handful of banyan trees brings back memories of a bygone era. Some of the trees still standing along the stretch are reminders of a time when the road was lined with huge banyans, surrounded by hillocks and open countryside, with only a few villages along the way.

The road, which was once a scenic route for people visiting the Dargah of Baba Sharfuddin at Pahadishareef, has changed considerably over the years.

Today, it is a busy highway connecting the southern and eastern parts of Hyderabad to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. It also forms part of the Srisailam highway, linking the city to the emerging Future City, the Amrabad Reserve Forest and the Srisailam temple.

Road-widening works have taken a heavy toll on the banyan trees that once gave the stretch its distinct identity. Many were felled, while some of the surviving trees have lost their branches. A fully grown banyan near Errakunta, however, continues to serve as a familiar landmark for residents.

Shaik Rabbani, a resident of Chandrayangutta, recalls the countryside atmosphere during visits to the Pahadishareef Dargah. “There were only a handful of villages along the route, mainly at Jalpally and Pahadishareef. The road had several hillocks, locally called guttalu, and large banyan trees. Travelling along this stretch was a pleasant experience,” he said.

Abdullah Bahamed, a resident of Barkas, remembers the excitement of travelling on the road as a child. The greenery and scenic surroundings made every journey special, he said.

Syed Asif, a resident of Aliabad, said the sight of the remaining trees, some partially chopped during road expansion, brings back childhood memories. “The road and its surroundings have changed completely. Whenever we spot these few trees, we are reminded of how beautiful the stretch once was,” he said.

With traffic increasing and the highway expanding, the surviving banyans remain silent reminders of the countryside that once defined this route.