A Mumbai man’s love for biryani has gone viral after he revealed that he paid ₹4,200 excess baggage charges for carrying biryani ₹5000 back from Hyderabad.
Velton Saldanha shared the story on Instagram, documenting his 12-day culinary trip to the city and the biryani he couldn’t resist taking home. His carousel post included plates of biryani from various restaurants, packaged containers of food and even a receipt for airport baggage allowance.
“Biryani Max Pro. 12 days in Hyderabad. Countless plates later…some dishes were too good to leave behind. Because the best biryani isn’t just food. It follows you home,” he wrote in the caption.
One slide explained the cost of his gourmand selection: “ ₹5000 is biryani. ₹4,200 to take home. Hyderabad… I have a problem,” while another showed a confirmation from the airline ₹Excess baggage fee 4,200.
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Another picture showed several containers of food packed tightly in his luggage with the caption: “After 12 days in Hyderabad I did what any sane person would do… I packed biryani in my luggage.”
Saldanha also highlighted the biryanis he liked the most, including Nalli Gosht Biryani from Krishna’s Kitchen, Sufiyani Biryani and Jangari Biryani from Voila F9 Gourmet and Safed Biryani from Savya.
Here’s how social media users reacted:
The post quickly drew reactions from fellow food lovers. “This is the kind of dedication Hyderabad biryani deserves,” commented one user.
“Still a small price for biryani,” added another, while one fan wrote: “Love this post!!!! Really hardcore biryani lover!!!”
Another wrote: “So you spent ₹9000 total for biryani?”
Several users have shared their own experiences with food travel. “Hyderabad airport allows biryani to be carried in hand. Indigo was very sweet and said that biryani cannot be considered hand luggage,” commented one.
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Another described a similar tradition in their family: “You did the right thing. Whenever my son travels with his checked luggage, it has to be his favorite food. Biryani from Chennai, biryani from Hyderabad… patar ka gosht… of course khubani ka meetha… ha ha. He paid for excess baggage when he bought ceylon egg parotha n bi.ani,” wrote user Uraie Chenna bi.
The story has struck a chord online, celebrating the lengths some will go for their favorite food.
“Some of the best biryani I’ve ever had in my life”
Meanwhile, a British artist who visited Mysore during his India tour caught the attention of the internet after a stranger offered him biryani by the roadside.
“I was told to prepare for India but no one prepared me,” Lepani wrote in his Instagram post.
Lepani and his companions were walking down a busy street in Mysore when a fragrant aroma caught their attention. Across the road, a man stood behind the “giant pot”, smiling warmly and waving enthusiastically as he scooped up spoonfuls of biryani from passers-by.
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“I was hesitant at first, but we got through anyway,” he said. When he asked the vendor how much a plate would cost, the man replied, “Don’t worry, just eat,” before serving him what Lepani described as the biggest plate of biryani. Another man added chicken curry on top as Lepani ate alongside locals by the roadside.
He called it “some of the best (and filling) biryani I’ve ever had in my life.”
