Exploring Hyderabad's Student Addas: Where Conversations Brew Over Chai and Sutta

Long before chai became the lifeblood of Hyderabad’s student addas, it embarked on a fascinating journey. Introduced to India in the 19th century by the British East India Company, tea was initially a colonial enterprise aimed at breaking China's monopoly on the beverage. The British began cultivating tea in Assam around 1835, and over time, tea consumption spread across the subcontinent. In Hyderabad, the Nizams, known for their openness to global influences, embraced this new beverage. The city saw the emergence of Irani cafés, established by Persian immigrants fleeing persecution, which became iconic for serving Irani chai—a strong, sweet brew that quickly became a staple of Hyderabadi culture.

As educational institutions flourished in Hyderabad, chai found its way into the daily routines of students. From the bustling campuses of IIT Hyderabad in Sangareddy to the creative corridors of NIFT in Madhapur, chai stalls and cafés became more than just places to grab a beverage—they evolved into communal spaces where ideas were exchanged, friendships were forged, and the pressures of academic life were momentarily set aside. The ritual of sharing a cup of chai, often accompanied by a sutta, became an integral part of the student experience, fostering a sense of camaraderie and offering a brief respite from the rigours of study.

Chai, Sutta, and the Sociology of Adda: Hyderabad’s Student Life, Unfiltered

But what makes these addas so much more than just food joints or tea stalls? In the sociology of student life, addas become informal institutions — spontaneous third spaces where campus boundaries dissolve and identities are negotiated over cups of steaming chai. Much like how Xavierites in Mumbai flock to the legendary Ahaar or the UK Juice Centre, Hyderabad too has its constellation of everyday rituals and communal nooks shaped by its student population.

Across the spread-out campuses of IIT Hyderabad, IIIT Hyderabad, Woxsen University, NIFT Hyderabad, and the University of Hyderabad, the nature of these hangouts varies, but the purpose remains eerily similar. At IIT Hyderabad, tucked away in the quiet of Sangareddy, the campus adda is often a roadside chai stall of ‘A1 Chinese Bhaiya’ surrounded by scooters, laptops, and laughter. “If someone made a short film at our adda, it’d be called 'Deadline Dreams,'” says a third-year engineering student. “And I’d obviously be played by someone who hasn’t slept in three days.” Meanwhile, in the tech-and-tea hub of IIIT Hyderabad, the vibe is more digital but equally deep. “We call our chai to stop the 'debugging zone'. You walk in with code, you walk out with existential advice,” jokes a BTech student. Whether it’s machine learning rants or ranting about bad coffee, the ‘Local Amma’s Tiffin Truck’ gives everyone space to exhale.

In the curated campus of Woxsen, it's a long drive to ‘Thug Life’. “Our chai isn’t roadside; it’s aesthetic; it's basically a beer in a tall glass with no ice because this place never has it,” a design student grins. Yet, even in its curated calm, the spirit of the adda endures. Conversations swirl around entrepreneurship, burnout, heartbreak, and Spotify playlists — the real syllabus of college life.

NIFT Hyderabad’s students gather at pan stalls and ‘Kanji Juice’ that feel like open-air studios. “We literally sketch outfit ideas on tissues here while sipping on the best malai mango lassi in Hyderabad," says one student. The adda is chaotic, creative, and deeply personal. “If chai and sutta are therapy,” someone adds, “then our cigarette vendor is the only therapist who listens without judging—and gives the two rupees back.”

At the University of Hyderabad (UoH), where student politics and poetics live side by side, the Malayalis of the campus have found a Kerala in Hyderabad by visiting ‘Malabar Restaurant’ for all meals of the day. “The most Hyderabadi moment? Probably when a stranger lent me their cigarette mid-debate about caste, and now we’re roommates,” someone recalls. The adda here is a crucible—for resistance, for belonging, for revolution wrapped in biscuit packets.

Beyond the Canteen: Exploring the Personal Addas That Define Student Bonds

While bustling chai stalls and roadside cafés often steal the spotlight, some of the most memorable student addas are nestled within the very fabric of campus life. These are the personal sanctuaries—friends' rooms turned communal lounges, hidden nooks behind departments, or that one bench under the old tree—where bonds are forged, secrets shared, and memories etched.

At IIT Hyderabad, students transformed a modest dorm room into their collective haven. "We call it 'The Den, '" shares a third-year PhD student. "It's got everyone's bean bags, a mini-library of borrowed books, and a whiteboard where we jot down everything from project ideas to weekend plans."  Each of these in-campus addas may look different—some decorated, some hidden, some simply under the open sky—but all of them hold the same function: they’re places where students feel most themselves.

Over at IIIT Hyderabad, the rooftop of a certain department, whose name the students still want to gatekeep from the professors, becomes an impromptu gathering spot for post-class venting sessions. "It's our 'Sky Lounge,'" laughs a student. "Perfect for late-night coding discussions, jam sessions, or just stargazing after a long day." Free from the gaze of authority or expectation, these spaces allow for unfiltered expression, quiet support, and the everyday rituals that define student life. Meanwhile, at the University of Hyderabad, the ‘Mushroom Rock’, becomes a refuge. "It's our 'Philosopher's Corner, '" notes a Sociology student. "Debates, discussions, or just silent contemplation—it all happens here." 

These intimate spaces, often overlooked, are the heartbeat of campus life. They're where friendships deepen, ideas blossom, and the essence of student life thrives.

Addas Aren’t Built, They Just Happen

While OTT platforms might sell you a campus dream filled with rooftop cafés and curated playlists, the real student life in Hyderabad is far from all that gloss. Here, it’s not about who’s brunching in Jubilee Hills — it’s about who’s got Rs. 10, Rs. 5, and maybe Rs. 3 more, so the gang can afford one ‘Advance’ from the lone tapri outside campus. And that’s more than enough. Because it’s not about the cigarette — it’s about the walk, the wait, the collective pause between deadlines and drama. These addas aren’t fancy. They’re not tagged on Instagram. But they’re full of soft beanbags stolen from someone’s dorm, shared playlists that loop into the night, and stories that aren’t always told — just lived.

As a UoH pass-out put it perfectly: “The most memorable part of college wasn’t the nearest café with air conditioning—it was realising someone else called your secret corner their spot too. That’s how friendships start here. Randomly. Authentically.”

Because in Hyderabad, the best kind of addas are not built. They just happen.