Barkas, Hyderabad
Coordinates: 17°19′07″N 78°28′56″E / 17.318595°N 78.482298°E
Barkas is a neighbourhood in Hyderabad, India, located in the old city area. The name "Barkas" is believed to be derived from the English word "barracks".
Before Indian independence, Barkas served as the military barracks of the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nizams were surrounded by hostile rulers in the Deccan, and chose to employ Arabs instead of local military, these Arabs who formed the bulk of the Nizams' personal army were more reliable as they could not defect to the rival states unlike locals and were trustworthy because the Asaf Jahi rulers also claimed Arab ancestry. The Arab population increased during this period, settling in mainly in barracks on the outskirts of the walled, gated city.
Barkas is now inhabited mainly by the Chaush community, who are direct descendants of the Hadhrami, who were Arab military men and bodyguards from the Hadhramaut region of South Arabia (now part of the Republic of Yemen).
The local cuisine includes a sweet version of Harees (meat cooked with crushed wheat and spices) that is only available in Barkas.
In the recent past 'Mandi' a Yemeni rice dish made with either chicken or mutton has grown into prominence which saw opening of multiple restaurants in Barkas and near by areas.
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