The Best Weekend Getaways From Hyderabad, India
As charming as historic Hyderabad may be, there are plenty of reasons to stage a vanishing act from its madness every now and then. With the city’s proximity to many sites of historic and natural significance, you’ll have no shortage of good options either. To help you make the best of your break, we’ve compiled this list of the best weekend trips to undertake from Hyderabad.
Warangal
Located about 150 kilometers outside Hyderabad, Warangal is home to plenty of richly historic sites. Once the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty which was established in 1163, the city is home to forts, temples and other structures from the time. The Warangal Fort, dating to the 13th century and adorned with intricate sculptures and carvings, is a must-visit site, as is the 12th-century Thousand Pillar Temple.
Mallela Theertham
This stunning waterfall is located about 185 kilometers outside Hyderabad. Seated amidst the dense forests of Nallamala, the waterfall flows from a height of about 150 feet. Visitors need to climb down about 380 steps to access the falls, but the picturesque view adorned with rock formations makes the trek well worth it.
Hampi
If you find yourself with a long weekend and an urge for some adventure, then the World Heritage Site of Hampi may seem well worth the 370-kilometers-long drive. Once the world’s second-largest medieval-era city, the site bears remarkable remnants of the 14th-century Vijayanagara Empire including forts, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, water structures, and more.
Ramoji Film City
For a short yet satisfying getaway from Hyderabad, look no further than Ramoji Film City. Spread across 2,000 acres, Ramoji is the world’s largest film studio complex and one of the city’s finest one-day getaway options. The complex includes a range of attractions including a highly popular amusement park. Founded in 1996, Ramoji Film City hosts over 1.5 million tourists each year.
Belum Caves
If you’re looking for a memorable history lesson, then you should be headed to this cave network located about 320 kilometers outside the city. Known to be the largest and longest cave system open to the public in the Indian subcontinent, Belum Caves are of great geological and historic importance. Besides striking natural cave formations, the site also bears remnants of civilization from as early as 4,500 B.C.E.
Nelakondapalli
This historic site is located about 200 kilometers from Hyderabad. Along with a mud fortification wall covering 100 acres, the site has been the point of discovery of various Buddhist artifacts dating to the 3rd and 4th century C.E. The village is also home to several historic Hindu temples and attracts Hindu devotees from around the country during the annual festival of Dusshera or Vijayadashami.
Nagarjunakonda
About 160 kilometers outside Hyderabad, Nagarjunakonda is one of the country’s most important Buddhist history sites. Named after Nagarjuna, a South Indian Buddhist master from the second century, the town was once an important site of Buddhist learning and drew students from China to Sri Lanka. Located by the Nagarjunasagar dam, the world’s tallest masonry dam, the town is as scenic as it is historic.
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