Hyderabad’s Charminar Gate. Santosh Verma for The New York Times

A few weeks ago, my college roommate told me she was moving from San Francisco.

To Hyderabad.

I asked her if she was kidding (”Hyderabad?”) and she assured me she wasn’t (”It’s the new Indian Silicon Valley”).

Turns out she’s right, and that the [1] capital of Andhra Pradesh is fast-becoming a major hub for India’s biotech and IT industries.

Yesterday’s [2] New York Times had this to say about the city:

“Helped by an influx of global software and financial companies like Microsoft and UBS, Hyderabad is a happening city, buzzing with coffee bars, stylish restaurants, bouncer-at-the-door clubs and sophisticated boutiques…

…Hyderabad is experiencing an economic boom that is not only attracting business travelers, but has also put the city’s splendid monuments, spicy cuisine and bustling bazaars on the cultural map.”

Who knew? For more on Hyderabad–including suggestions on where to dine and party–check out [3] last Sunday’s NYT travel section or visit [4] FullHyderabad.Com.