5 Budget-Friendly Weekend Getaways From Hyderabad

Gharra-e-auj-e-bina-e-aalam-e-imkan na ho, is bulandi ke nasibon mein hai pasti ek din...

Which roughly translates to: ‘Don’t be proud of these mighty and tall buildings, these great heights are destined to fall one day.’ What Mirza Ghalib wrote hundreds of years ago, is applicable to the city of Hyderabad even today! The city has turned into a concrete jungle with tall glass buildings and people running in the rat race. With such a busy and fast life people have forgotten where they want to reach and how to appreciate little things in life. The need of the hour is to take a break from your routine life, relax and enjoy life a bit. Keeping that in mind we bring you a list of top 5 places to visit near Hyderabad to enjoy your weekend.

Ananthagiri Hills

Located only 80 kilometres from Hyderabad, Anatagiri hills - with well-laid roads and tranquil forests-is an absolute delight for the people who love to drive. Besides this, Anantagiri hill also caters to need of the people who like a little adventure in their life. You have a trek all the way to Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple with a great view of the valley and waterfall and even camp at the Deccan Trail if one likes. Besides this, you can also give a bit of adventure and go for ‘Kayaking’ at Kotepally Lake. This place is the closest retreat into nature's lap from Hyderabad.

Srisailam

Srisailam, located only 212 kilometres from Hyderabad is a perfect destination for family trips, especially for the ones who love greenery. You can visit many auspicious temples situated in the heart of nature with great historic value. You can visit Patla Ganga- a sacred river which is believed to have healing power-through ropeway and take a boat ride to Akkamahadevi Caves. If that is not enough you can visit Srisailam Tiger Reserve and witness various animals living in the wilderness. This place is a complete package and caters to the needs of people from all the walks of life.

Horsley Hills

Named after W.D. Horsley, the then Collector of Kadapa District, this is the best destination for nature lover – a place amongst the serene mountains with numerous varieties of flora and fauna. It is believed that Horsley built himself a bungalow as an escape from Indian summer. With 1265 meters above sea level you can find comfort in this place from city life and pollution. The Wildlife Sanctuary and Elephant Reserves enhance the charm and one can also visit the ThimmammaMarrimanu – world’s oldest banyan tree. Though located little far from the city - around 500 kilometres, this place is worth a visit.

Hampi

The ancient village of Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site in India that features temples, ruins of 7th-century palace ancient market street and lot more. Located only 360 kilometres away from Hyderabad, Hampi is a perfect destination for a weekend trip.

Hampi is named after Pampa, the daughter of Brahma who was married to Shiva. The Legend has it that their marriage took place in Hampi itself. Not only this, but it is also believed that Lord Hanuman was born here on the top of the Anjayneya Hill. The rusty hues of boulders and ruins compliment perfectly with the paddy green fields and hills. The place is a must visit for backpackers and pilgrims.

Pattadakal and Badami

400 kilometres from Hyderabad lay another great UNESCO World Heritage site called Pattadakal. This place is a feast for those who love History and Art and Architecture. The places consist of a series of stone temples – some as old as 698 CE – is an epitome of Chalukyan architecture and craftsmanship.

Located only 32 kilometres from Pattadakal is another place Badami where you can explore the cave temple, 2500 years old Bhoothnath Temple and temples with as many as 80 different forms of Natraja carved in stone. This place along with Pattadakal is an absolute delight for history connoisseur.

So what are you waiting for?! Pack your bags, book your tickets and prepare yourself to embark on a journey of self-discovery. You know where to go, the only question you need to ask yourself is ‘When’?