Summer’s almost here, and that means it’s time for all the uncles and aunties across India to gather on their verandahs and spend their evenings chatting over chai and snacks. Across South Asia, the veranda or porch has always been a lively space of community. This is where you find the members of a family including women and the elderly at leisure with the newspaper, chopping veggies for dinner or catching up with friends. Our sense of home comes from being able to sit at the porch and watch the world go by with the people we love.
Charcha, a new space in Hyderabad was conceived from this deep nostalgia for the lost culture of open verandas that fostered unfiltered dialogue and connection. Navya Sabbathi, Sumanth, Chanikya Gupta Nidamanuri, and Rohan Balakulla envisioned a space where people could come together to share ideas, challenge perspectives, and engage in the kind of face-to-face discussions that are becoming increasingly rare. Hyderabad, with its rich legacy of 'tehzeeb' (etiquette) and storytelling, was the natural home for this idea.
The space is designed to be an incubator for ideas — whether it’s debates, creative workshops, or grassroots initiatives. Through partnerships with initiatives like Hyderabad Reads and Communitie Hyderabad, the café is already shaping itself into a hub for social and cultural change, hosting discussions that uplift marginalized voices, support local entrepreneurs, and spark real community-driven movements. Their recent events for sanitation workers and women entrepreneurs reflect their commitment to inclusivity and social impact.
To recreate the feeling of a classic Indian veranda, the architecture of Charcha blends openness with warmth. The layout is inspired by traditional verandas, with cozy corners for intimate discussions and open seating arrangements that invite group conversations. Sustainability is at the heart of the design — locally sourced materials, handcrafted furniture, and earthy textures create an environment that feels grounded and welcoming. Evvery element, from the lighting to the seating, is meant to make you slow down, settle in, and stay a while.
The menu reflects the café’s ethos — wholesome, affordable, and rooted in well-being. Fresh fruit juices, millet-based protein shakes, and sprouts sit alongside classic chai and coffee. "These wholesome, nourishing options complement the atmosphere of thoughtful dialogue and reflection, making Charcha a space where minds and bodies feel equally refreshed and energized", the team tells us.
More than just a space to hang out, Charcha is shaping up to be a cultural nerve center. The café is designed to evolve with the community, hosting everything from art therapy sessions and poetry readings to career guidance workshops and open debates. Whether it’s a discussion on social justice, a music jam, or a storytelling night, events hosted by Charcha are about engaging with ideas that matter. And this is just the beginning. The founders see Charcha as a blueprint for something bigger — a model that can be replicated in different neighborhoods across Hyderabad, creating local hubs of conversation, collaboration, and community-driven change.
Follow Charcha here.
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