The UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy is a part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) that promotes cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The UCCN covers seven creative fields: Crafts & Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts. The field of Gastronomy was introduced to the UCCN in 2005. What is a UNESCO Creative City? A city placing creativity and cultural industries at the heart of its development plan at the local level and cooperating actively at the international level. UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in India Hyderabad The city of Hyderabad was recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2019. Situated on the Deccan Plateau, Hyderabad is the second largest metropolitan region in India, with a population of over 9 million. With this vast amount of local and international inhabitants, the rich Hyderabadi cuisine has evolved as an interesting combination of local flavours and international recipes. The entire city is dotted with food enterprises – big and small, formal and informal, modern and traditional, and this vernacular style of development has led to an uncountable number of food outlets. Within the city, Ramzan, and festivals such as Bathukamma, are widely celebrated while keeping the food culture at the centre of the celebration. These festivals are vital to hold and promote the rich gastronomic culture that the city has organically curated over centuries. The feast of Ramzan witnesses thousands of people on the streets eager to taste recipes brought out by traditional families, consuming 2000 tons of meat daily, while Bathukamma, brings dishes straight out of the domestic kitchens of the region. The city administration along with the community has created avenues for the establishment of prominent physical and social infrastructure. Free vending zones have been created to enhance local food culture, and self-help groups for women have been established to support gastronomical enterprises. As a Creative City of Gastronomy, Hyderabad envisages: preserving and documenting the rich cuisine of the city in order to promote knowledge sharing across the city and within the Network; retrofitting of the urban infrastructure around the prominent eating hotspots to enable more enjoyable eating experiences; placing gastronomy as a key creative category alongside other cultural events, to bridge the gap between the old and the newer parts of the city; promoting interdisciplinary research studies in the cities of ´Global South´ which are struggling with hunger; and fostering relationships between creators, professionals and amateurs in the field of gastronomy by providing technology platforms. Lucknow The city of Lucknow was recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2025. From its famous street foods to its royal kitchen traditions, Lucknow’s cuisine has brought together history, innovation and community spirit for centuries. Lucknow’s historic Awadhi cuisine as well as its flair for culinary creativity is well recognised. The city is renowned for many distinct dishes, including its succulent kebabs and distinctive take on biryani. Source : UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy