The City of Pearls, Hyderabad, is known for its rich cultural diversity, food and many hidden gems from the age of the Nizams. If you reside in this city and are looking for a lesser-explored weekend getaway for this Diwali long weekend from Hyderabad, you have come to the right place. Scroll down. By Smrithi Suresh and Manas Sen Gupta
Read the full list for Weekend Getaways From Hyderabad
1) Pakhal Lake
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Sitting at one of the ancient sites of Telengana, Pakhal Lake offers a contrasting spectacle of blue sky, turquoise water, surrounding forests and low hills. An early morning trip to the lake is the best time to enjoy the tranquillity of this place. It is a man-made lake located near the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, you can spot many endangered flora and fauna. Make sure to take a stroll by the lake and click landscape photographs while you’re here. Boat rides are also available here. One of the top weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Distance from Hyderabad: 211 km (4 hours 40 minutes approx.)
How to reach: Drive towards Warangal. From Warangal, drive to Narsampet to get to the lake.
2) Ananthagiri Hills
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A drive through spiralling roads lined with tall trees on the side and enveloped by open clear skies above will take you to the exotic Ananthagiri Hills. It is a great weekend getaway from Hyderabad, the perfect place for trekkers that offers stunning views of coffee estates and wildflowers. To take in a birds-eye view of the hill’s exquisite beauty, trek to the Ananthagiri Hills Viewpoint where clouds hang over the hills, quite literally. You can head to the age-old Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple to seek blessings from Lord Vishnu. There is also a calm holy river named Musi, nearby. Don’t miss that while you’re here.
Distance from Hyderabad: 81 km (2 hours approx.)
How to reach: A short drive to the west of Hyderabad leads straight to the hills.
3) Laknavaram Lake
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Nestled amidst lush green hills, the Laknavaram Lake offers exceptional natural beauty. There are 13 small islands within the lake, but only three are accessible. Three individual suspension bridges connect each island to the main shore. You can go for boating or traverse the bridges to go around the islands. Avid birdwatchers will enjoy the abundance of avian species here. Camping and wildfire near the lake also make for a memorable experience. The Ramappa Temple is a nearby attraction for you to explore as well.
Distance from Hyderabad: 210 km (5 hours approx.)
How to reach: Reach Warangal and then drive towards the lake, past Mallampalle and Ramappa Lake.
4) Kanakai Waterfalls
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A long drive through the rugged roads of Girnur village in Telangana leads to the surreal Kanakai waterfalls. The flourishing grassland and glistening fields make it a perfect spot for spending time away from the city. Three falls cascade here to merge into a big pool. Swimming at the falls is very popular among visitors. You can catch an encompassing view of the falls from the highest point of the waterfall. Kanakai waterfall is layered in ancient history and the nearby Kanaka Durga temple stands testimony to it. The unique rock formation and variety of plants cover the waterfalls by the sides.
Distance from Hyderabad: 288 km (5 hours approx.)
How to reach: A straight drive up north from Hyderabad on NH 44 leads to the falls.
5) Medak
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Medak, a small town in Telangana, is known to celebrate almost every festival with much grandeur. Medak Fort, which bores the history of Kakatiya empire is an architectural melange of both Hindu and Islamic style. It is located on a hillock, so you can trek to the location. There is also Medak Cathedral Church, which has stained glasses with stories of Christ’s life engraved on them. The structure has remarkably intricate work that will leave you in awe. You can also visit the Edithanur Caves, Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary, and Singur Dam in Medak. Do not miss out on the famous dishes of Bagara Khana and Talakaya Kura during your trip.
Distance from Hyderabad: 81.4 km (2 hours approx.)
How to reach: While on NH 44, turn towards Medak from Chegunta.
6) Palair Lake
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Palair lake is a perfect spot for tourists to enjoy water-based adventure sports and other activities. This man-made lake is also favourable for fishing. You can organise a picnic here while relishing fresh prawns and fish from the lake. The 100-year-old Khammam fort is also nearby.
Distance from Hyderabad: 163.5 km (3 hours approx.)
How to reach: Take NH 65 to Suryapet. Take State Highway 42 for the lake.
7) Nalgonda
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Nalgonda is a land of historic marvel in Telangana. Interesting structures and buildings from the past are still around for exploration. The Chaya Someshwara Swamy temple and the Mahatma Gandhi temple are not to be missed. A short drive to Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Bhongir Fort, Devarakonda fort and Rachakonda fort will take you through the heritage and history of the bygone dynasties. This place is a treasure trove for history buffs.
Distance from Hyderabad: 100 km (2 hours approx.)
How to reach: Take NH 65 to Suryapet, and then take State Highway 42 for the lake.
8) Sri Yaganti Temple
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Located in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, the Sri Yaganti Uma Maheshwara temple is famous for the idol of Nandi — the sacred bull who is Lord Shiva’s vahana (mount) and the guardian deity of Mount Kailash in Hindu mythology. The unique feature of the Nandi idol is that it is constantly growing in size, a fact confirmed by officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2016. The reason behind the increasing size is that the Nandi idol has silica, which expands “when a mineral is converted to other granules of Silica”, according to the officials.
Distance from Hyderabad: 292 km (6 hours approx.)
How to reach: Take a bus from Hyderabad to Banaganapalli, from where buses to Yaganti ply twice a day. The nearest railway station is Nandyal, 55 km away.
9) Ramappa Lake
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A must-visit for all nature lovers, the Ramappa Lake is an outstanding example of the engineering achievements of the Kakatiya dynasty. It was constructed in the 13th century during Ganapathi Deva’s reign. Spread in an area of over 82 square kilometres, the lake is surrounded by hills and greenery. It’s a spectacular spot for those looking for weekend getaways from Hyderabad to escape the busy life. The calm and clear blue waters of the lake are suitable for boating, a leisure activity visitors love to indulge in. On its banks is the world-famous Ramappa Temple, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list early this year.
Distance from Hyderabad: 212 km (4 hours and 30 minutes approx.)
How to reach: Buses ply from Warangal to Ramappa temple. Or drive on NH 163 towards past Warangal and turn from Banjarupally.
10) Belum Caves
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A quick trip to the second-largest cave system in the Indian sub-continent is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. The caves were discovered by Robert Bruce Foote, a British surveyor, in 1884. Visitors should be prepared to be amazed by the arch-like formation resembling a lion’s head and is aptly named Simhadwaram. Deep inside the cave is a stone formation dubbed the “Saint’s Bed”. It tells us of a time when Buddhist monks meditated inside the caves. Don’t forget to listen to the sounds the stalactites created in the Saptasvarala Guha when you strike the rocks. They sound like music.
Distance from Hyderabad: 322 km (6 hours and 25 minutes approx.)
How to reach: Drive past Kurnool and towards Banaganapalli. From there, head towards Owk reservoir and then towards the Belum.
11) Akkamahadevi Caves
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How about exploring a cave temple deep inside a tiger habitat? Located in the Nallamalla Forest (Amrabad Tiger Reserve), the best way to access Akkamahadevi Caves, near Srisailam, is by boat. The caves are a natural formation and are named after the 12th-century saint Akkamahadevi who worshipped Lord Shiva inside the cave. Ride on River Krishna amidst the enchanting beauty of lush forests and the hills to reach a bank from where a short trek leads to the cave. Boats can be booked at the Patala Ganga ghat, which can be reached by ropeway from a place called Haritha Hotel.
Distance from Hyderabad: 183 km (3 hours and 45 minutes approx.)
How to reach: Reach Srisailam by car or bus and then take the boat ride from Patala Ganga.
12) Gulbarga Fort
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This one is in Karnataka but is one of the best weekend getaways from Hyderabad. Surrounded by a 9.1-metre-wide moat, the medieval military fort, also known as Kalaburgi Fort, has a circumference of 3 kilometres. Its architecture is a unique blend of European and West Asian styles. Since its construction, the fort came under the control of several ancient and medieval Indian powers, including the Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas and Vijayanagara. However, it was during the Bahmani Sultanate, which had the longest hold over it, that the Gulbarga Fort was at its zenith. Its highlight is a cannon, measuring 7.62 metres in length, considered by some as the world’s longest. Named Bara Gazi Toph, it is made of five metals one of the 26 in the fort.
Distance from Hyderabad: 230 km (4 hours 30 minutes approx.)
How to reach: Kalaburagi can be easily reached by bus, train or car.
Main and Feature Image Credit: KK/Unsplash
By Smrithi Suresh and Manas Sen Gupta
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