Best Weekend Getaways near Hyderabad

Come weekends, the nomad in most of us awakes and prompts us to disconnect from the weekly grind and depart to some place that is away, yet within a day’s travel. Hyderabad is no exception. Here are a few travel inspirations for you to plan the perfect weekend getaway from Hyderabad.

1.    Sri Seeta Ramachandra Temple – Ammapalli, Bhadrachalam

Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Bussireddy Srikanth

Enjoy the drive through farms on both sides of the roads towards Shamshabad if you decide to drive there from Hyderabad. This famous temple is dedicated to Rama, specifically Vaikuntha Rama, which you can’t find elsewhere in India. There are various festivals held here every year, and the biggest one is the Brahmotsavam that celebrates the marriage of Rama and Sita. I visited the temple when there was no festival and it was still pure bliss. Once I reached the temple, I spent some quiet time in the main temple and enjoyed the greenery and shades around. I was even contemplating to sit here longer to enjoy the silence, but sadly I had to run an errand on my way home.

2.    Yadagirigutta Temple, Telangana

Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0 / Adityamadhav83

If long drives and gorgeous views are your favourite things, Yadagirigutta temple is the place to head out on for your weekend getaway. I decided to embark my journey to Yadagirigutta on a Saturday morning. From outside the compound, you can see how majestic the building is. A big lotus flower enclosed the beautiful main Ganesh temple — you won’t miss this for its blue dome and gold embellishment. As you stand near the compound’s border walls, you will be able to see a breathtaking sight of greens spread across with a couple of hills at the far end of the horizon.

3.    Ananthagiri Hills, Vikarabad

Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/ Rajesh Karajada

With two trails, a lake, a temple and a fort, Ananthgiri Hills offers nature lovers and trekkers a lot of options to spend the entire day roaming around. The dense green forests look superb during monsoon seasons. I decided to explore this 80km drive from central Hyderabad was surprised to discover the pretty good condition of the road. The road brought me passing through farms, fields and occasionally little towns with a meagre number of houses. Some sections boasted dense trees and dark green forest cover. I was pretty adventurous that time to do one of the trails there and no regret! Luck was on my side as I was able to catch a glimpse of the Asian Paradise Flycatcher using my binoculars. You will need one full day to cover both trails if you wish. I am already planning my next trip to conquer the second trail to see what other wildlife and birds I can discover!

4.    Medak Fort, Telangana

The view from Medak Fort. Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Varshabhargavi

Whenever I need to escape from the city crowd and traffic, I always pick a destination that takes me back in time. Medak Fort does this trick for me! Slightly up on a hill, the ruins of the once abode of the Kakatiyan dynasty give this fort its heritage and historical importance. The 12th-century fort was once the key vantage point of the Kakatiyan rulers. It had used natural elevation and topography as the plus point. A cannon with a trident etched on the fort, probably used to shoot down an invading army back then. Forts and old edifices always mesmerise me and take me down the historic lane. Every time I need some time to reflect on things in life and see where life is taking me, I head out here.

Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Fazilsajeer

5.    Bhongir Fort, Telangana

Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 / Fazilsajeer

If you are into monolithic structures, this 10th-century fort is the place you must check out. I had heard a lot about it and so decided to check it out one weekend. Upon reaching there, I was greeted by an egg-like rock with steps lined from the bottom to the top. I tracked them up and was awe-struck by the still standing structure of the fort. It has an underground chamber as well as a moat and hence, was considered almost impregnable. I also heard that during the reign of Qutub Shah, it was used as a prison to keep those who tried to snatch the throne. Though ignored, it stood the test of elements over the years and still amazes visitors every time.

If you are planning to visit Hyderabad for several days, these places are great for a detour from the big city or if you are on the way to neighbouring big towns. However, it is still best to stay overnight at Hyderabad as it has a wider selection of accommodation for travellers. To pamper yourself, Courtyard by Marriott may be the best choice for its top-notch service and facilities.

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