Let me do a disclaimer before I try to tickle your bones. All the explanations (or rather definitions) down below are purely fictitious and not intended to hurt or derogate anybody or anyplace. It’s just my attempt to make it sound funny.
I was born and grew up in Hyderabad. I have come across lot of places in Hyderabad during my school, college and other day-to-day events. I found some of the 
places really have funny names if we just alter them or try to derive meaning either from Hindi, Urdu or Telugu language. So, why to delay? Lets get started now.
Begumpet – Some of you might have heard of this name. We used to have our old airport here. Begum in Hindi or Urdu is someone’s wife. So, why would a place be named after belly of somebody’s wife? Does it not sound funny? I know guys, Pet is not exactly a belly or stomach, but like I said I am just taking the meaning from the way it sounds. “Butterflies in my stomach” is a saying, but for Begumpet its “aero planes in her stomach”. Kick me if you don’t like though.
Lal Darwaza – It means a Red Door, and who’s door is what I always wonder whenever I had been to this place. I cannot find one now though.
Madannapet – ‘Anna’ means brother in the local language and this place is famous for “mandi” where you find all vegetables for a cheaper rate. How does the name sound if we tweak a bit: Mad-Anna-Pet. Mad Brother’s Belly, my God there you go, you find another belly or stomach here. I would like to know the guy who fancied belly in the name of the place now.
Sikh Village – There is a small story associated with this place. My mom used to take me to this place whenever I was ill in my childhood. Why only this place? Because my mom found a best allopathic doctor here and he could cure illness with his midas touch. Fair Enough! When I was a kid I used to think this place as “Sick Village” not Sikh and it was only when I grew little old, I realized the actual name of this place. Blame me for this misinterpretation.
Banjara Hills – The word ‘banjar’ means a barren land, and obviously you would expect lot of poverty in such places. Wrong, this place has Richest of Rich people living. What a contrary and misleading name?
Amberpet – Scratching my head now to find another pet in the name. As it was not enough to mention pet of mad brother, begum earlier, somebody has really gone further to imagine a pet for Sky (Amber in Hindi) to name a place.
Barkatpura – This is another contrary name is what I found. The word ‘Barkat’ means prosperity, and I don’t think rich like who lives in Banajara lives in this place to be prosperous.
I will stop now as some of you are already started growing impatient with my poor jokes. In case if you are not, I will come back with some more definitions soon. Cheers!
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December 31st, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Hahaha…some good laugh after a long time. Nice one…Here are a few from my old stock..mostly on stomach
a. HasmathPet – Don’t Laugh Stomach
b. KothaPet – New Stomach
c. Ameerpet- Rich Stomach
d. Hakimpet – Doctor’s Stomach
This one is my all time favourite
Ram Nagar Gundu – Ram’s City Tonsured
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January 1st, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Lol..hahaha good ones Suraj. I cant stop laughing now at Ram Nagar Gundu..lol
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January 2nd, 2009 at 5:05 am
Some real PJs, but it did make me laugh.
How about this??? “BADI CHOWDI”
Wonder who was this named after??? lol.
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January 2nd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Sanj,
Nice article. Laughed a lot.
To add fuel to the fire, what do you think about ‘Ramgopalpet’?
Combined stomach of Ram (of Thretha yug) and Gopal (of Dwapara Yug)!
What I have been searching from 1990 and could not find so far, are
‘Gareebpet and Durbalpet’ and have to compromise with Ameerpet and
Balkampet’ (though with opposite meanings). Cool.
Warm regards
P K C Rajah
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Hi Sanj,
Nice article, laughed a lot.
To add fuel to the fire, imagine the contradiction in ‘Ramgopalpet’!
Combined stomach of Ram (of Thretha yug) and Gopal (of Dwapara yug)……….
………Sambhavami yuge, yuge!! …..keep laughing.
Honestly, I am not successful in finding some Gareebpet and Durbalpet,
though we have Ameerpet and Balkampet. Cool.
Warm regards
P K C Rajah
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Good ones Sanj, Suraj
The names ending with “pet” are actually derived from a Telugu word “Peta” meaning colony or locality and hence the place names.
Banjara Hills is actually derived its names from Banjaras (Lambadi tribe). Government gave them Land in Banjara Hills, which they later sold and relocated.
But no answer to why Ram Nagar Gundu.
Kiran, Badi Chowdi these days is neither Badi nor Chowdi ;;-)
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January 2nd, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Really PJs.
The names in Hyderabad are mostly a blend of Telugu and Urdu. For people who don’t know Telugu, they may sound weird.
For those who don’t about ‘pet’, its derived from Telugu word ‘Peta’ means a place or colony.
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November 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I think you possess very little general knowledge..They are the local names. In fact your name in telugu means a bag and it doesn’t mean talking to sanj means talking to a bag. PET in telugu means a colony begumpet means begum’s colony. During the olden days the begum of nizam nawab stayed there. It has a lot of historical meaning
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