By what name do groups of youth get out and make noise post 12:30 AM after the pubs have shut down?

In a city that never sleeps, nightlife is being quietly transformed. In Hyderabad, the clubs and pubs are required to close shop by 12:30 AM, but the party mood among the city’s youth does not end there. A culture of late-night wandering has sprung up called “Deccan Migration.”

After the pubs, the music volume is pushed up for the last time, and a ragtag group of youth surges through a 2-km radius around Punjagutta in search of a place where the only clock says, “late.” From 24/7 food courts to lakeside and farmhouse sleepovers on the outskirts of the fast-growing city, the nightlife of Hyderabad finds new addresses between 12:30 AM till crack of dawn.

What is ‘Deccan Migration’?

In Hyderabad, a large part of the youth, the rich bratts included, belong to Deccan Migration. After the closing of the pubs and clubs, they fly to places where they can hang out and never die. So in the night, do not just wrap it against the tequila, but regroup back with locations that operate 24 hours, free from rules or closing hours.

This concept is mostly practiced in IT hubs such as Madhapur and Gachibowli, where young professionals have chosen to chill out almost till the break of dawn.

When Past Midnight Visits Pubs

A number of places around Hyderabad have now evolved into after midnight hangout spots. The food streets that operate around IT corridors remain the most crowded, even after midnight; offering a variety of food items starting from 'chaat' to full meals. For many, these food points are preferred next to pubs.

Lakeside areas by the Outer Ring Road (ORR), on the other hand, are becoming popular. Serene lookouts at the lake now provide a peaceful place for people to sit, chat, and hang out good distance away from the noises of the city.

Meanwhile, farmhouses on places like Shamshabad and Mokila are becoming hot spots for private gatherings far into the night. Without an undue time concern, these spaces provide young folks with an opportunity to socialize, throw down small parties, or just chill until dawn.

Reflections on the Transformations within Hyderabadi Lifestyle

The rise of the popularity of Deccan Migration might in the larger context be seen as indicative of the changing social culture in Hyderabad. But the spiraling prospects of IT jobs, startups, and flexi work hours have contributed much to the activation of the youth at night-time. That in itself has not only fostered business opportunities during the night time, but has also, in part, resulted in the mushrooming of 24/7 comforts in select areas.

The other side of this is problematic. Night-time safety, drunk-driving concerns, and traffic control are becoming increasingly important for which stronger claims for policing and awareness initiatives are put forward.

Love it or hate it; Deccan migration is definitely impacting the nightlife of Hyderabad-- proving that the night doesn't end for the youth of the city post 12:30 a.m.