Top Eight Places for a Weekend Getaway from Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the City of Nawabs, is well known for its scrumptious street food, magnificent palaces, and exquisite pearls. The capital city of of Telangana is a hybrid of royal heritage and modern infrastructure. But many people do not about some of the stunning places near Hyderabad, that can be visited over the weekend.

With a bunch of places to visit nearby, following is a compilation of top eight places that one should visit for a weekend getaway near Hyderabad:

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The entrance to the Warangal Fort

1. Warangal

Warangal is a city in Telangana, located about 145 kilometers from Hyderabad. The Kakatiya Dynasty, which once ruled the city, constructed several marvelous monuments. Bhadrakali Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, Ramappa Temple, and the Warangal Fort are the major attractions in Warangal.

The best to to visit Warangal is from October to March. A number of buses and trains run regularly between Hyderabad and Warangal. The journey can be completed in less than three hours.

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The Grand Canyon of India at Gandikota

2. Gandikota

Fairly unknown to the rest of the country, this village in Andhra Pradesh is around 360 kilometers away from Hyderabad. However, Gandikota Fort is a MUST visit place for people of all age, for it is labeled the Grand Canyon of India. Situated on the banks of Penna river, it is one the most beautiful places to visit near Hyderabad. It is not very well connected, as the road to the Fort is bumpy and uneven to say the least. There are not many places to stay nearby either, but that should not stop you from visiting this place. With proper arrangements, one can have a gala time during their visit to Gandikota.

The best time to visit Gandikota is between November and March. No direct bus or train is available from Hyderabad to Gandikota. You can either take a train or a bus to Tadipatri, and from there, you can take two buses that will take you to your destination.

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Bara Gazi toph or canon measures about 29 feet in length is Longest Cannon in the World

3. Gulbarga

Gulmbarga is a major town in Karnataka, located about 200 kilometers from Hyderabad. It was once a part of the Nizam dynasty of Hyderabad. There are quite a number of tombs and shrines denoting the rich Islamic style of architecture. The major attractions here are Gulmarga Fort, Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah, The Haft Gumbaz Tomb, et cetera.

October to March is the best time to visit Gulbarga. It is well connected with Hyderabad through roadway and railway.

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Visitors hiking up the Elagandal Fort

4. Karimnagar

Karimnagar is a pilgrimage center, calmly nestled about 160 kilometers from Hyderabad. Situated in the outskirts of the ancient town is the Elgandal Fort. Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy Temple and the Jagityala Fort are the other major attractions in the town.

October to March is the best time to visit this fairly unknown town. It is well connected with Hyderabad through roadway, but traveling in train can take a couple of hours more than it would take on road.

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The gorgeous Belum Caves in a small village called Belum

5. Belum

Belum is a village in Andhra Pradesh, situated about 320 away from Hyderabad. The only major attraction here is the Belum Caves. And like the Gandikota Fort, it is a MUST visit place. It is the largest cave in the Indian subcontinent,the second longest cave in the country, and the most stunning one. It is really sad that not many people know about it, but that makes the gorgeous caves free from the crowd. Exploring the golden caves can take hours, but can be easily perambulated in a day. There are a couple of guesthouses near Belum Caves.

The best time to visit Belum is from December to February, early in the morning, as the interior of the caves is pretty hot. To reach the place, one can take a bus or train to Tadipatri, followed by a bus to Belum.

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The majestic Srisalam Dam in Mabhoomi

6. Srisailam

Srisailam is situated about 210 kilometers south of Hyderabad, near the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is popular among Hindus, for being the home to one of the dozen Jyotirlinga temples devoted to Lord Shiv. Other major attractions are Patala Ganga, Srisailam Dam, and Akka Mahadevi Caves.

The best time to visit Srisailam is between November and February. There is only one bus service between Hyderabad and Srisailam.

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Kuntala waterfalls in Adilabad

7. Adilabad

Adilabad is a small town, located about 300 kilometers north of Hyderabad, in the same state. It is a pristine getaway destination especially with kids. One can visit Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary (Royal Bengal Tigers), Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Black Bears), and the Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary (Black Bucks). Other major attractions in Adilabad are Bad at Saraswati Temple, Kasam Dam, and Kuntala Waterfall.

The best time to visit Adilabad is from October to March. Direct buses move between Hyderabad and Adilabad, but the trains take a via route, which would not be ideal for a weekend getaway.

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8. Guntur

Situated approximately 265 kilometers from Hyderabad, Guntur is a bustling industrial city with monuments of historical significance. There are a bevy of spiritual sites, forts, and parks to visit. Amravati Buddhist Site, Kondavid Fort, and Uppalapadu (for the bird sanctuary) are some of the most popular tourist attractions.

September to February is the best time to visit Guntur. It is well connected with Hyderabad with buses and trains running regularly between the two cities.

So it is time to pack your bags, make the necessary arrangements, and have an amazing weekend in any of the aforementioned places.

Photo credit from : groupouting.com, telanganastateinfo.com, thehindu.com