9 Unusual Weekend Getaways from Hyderabad
Every destination on this list of weekend getaways from Hyderabad are within 200 Kilometres of the city and can be reached in under 4 hours, making them just the place to head to for the weekend. So get out that bike or car and make the most of your 2 days off from work.
#1 Warangal
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | June - February
Warangal is not just the second biggest city in Telangana today. It is also the state's most historic, for it was once the capital of the Kakatiyas. Making it weekend getaway from Hyderabad for heritage lovers.
From magnificent medieval temples like the Ramappa Temple to the lyrical Thousand Pillar Temple, this 12th century city is most definitely The Heritage City of Telangana. Also popular here is the Lakanavaram Lake, with its holiday island and the widely recognisable yellow suspension bridge.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Warangal
- Thousand Pillar Temple
- Warangal Fort
- Khush Mahal
- Bhadrakali Temple
- Ghanpur Group of Temples
- Ramappa Temple & Lake
- Lakanavaram Lake
RELATED
Getting There
Take the NH163 from Hyderabad to reach Warangal via Bhongir.
Where to Stay in Warangal
At the Haritha Kakatiya Hotel, which is probably the best Telangana Tourism run hotel in the State.
#2 Bidar
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | All year round
If one loves visiting places of historic significance and can't get enough of architecture, then, Bidar - just across the state border in Karnataka - is one of those weekend getaways from Hyderabad that you just can't miss.
Though the most prominent landmark here is the Bidar Fort, there are over sixty listed monuments here, in this little town. The other often frequented tourist place here is the Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara. People of all faiths come here, even straight from the Hyderabad airport just to get water from the holy spring that is said to possess healing powers.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Bidar
- Bidar Fort
- Chaubara
- Madrasa Mahmoud Gawan
- Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib
- Chaukhandi of Hazrat Khalil Ullah
- Bahamani Tombs, Ashtur
RELATED
Road Trip Guide: Hyderabad to Bidar
The City of Whispering Tombs: Bidar
Getting There
From Hyderabad take the ORR and then the NH65 till Zaheerabad From there head right to get to Bidar.
#3 Jetprole, Kollapur & Somasila
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | July - February
Jetprole, Kollapur and Somasila are small villages within minutes of each other along the left bank of the River Krishna.
These little hamlets are significant in that, here is where all the ancient temples that were in danger of being submerged - when the Srisailam Dam was being built - were brought to and put back together stone for stone as they were originally.
Somasila is also with popular with nature lovers for the scenic river bed is just ideal for a restful camping experience.
Things to Do & Places to Visit
- Madana Gopala Swamy Temple (Jetprole)
- Group of Shiva Temples (Jetprole)
- Kollapur Palace, Chandra Mahal (Kollapur)
- Madhava Swamy Temple (Kollapur)
- Riverside Camping (Somasila)
- Lalita Someswara Swamy Temple (Somasila)
Getting There
Take the NH765 from Hyderabad straight to Somasila. Or take the NH44 to Pebbair and then go left towards Kollapur.
#4 Khammam
Distance from Hyderabad | 195 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | July - February
From prehistoric rock paintings to historic temples from the era of the Kakatiyas - who built many temples in the region dedicated to Shiva, Khammam is one of the more unusual of weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
The two twelfth century temples in Kusumanchi are just as exquisite in their architecture as other better known Kakatiya temples like the Ramappa Temple and the ones in Ghanpur.
It was also here in Khammam, in Nelakondapalli that numerous Buddhist antiquities and even coins dating as far back as to the Ikshvakus were unearthed. And, the Stupa that still stoically stands here is the testimony to this region's spiritual significance.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Khammam
- Khammam Fort
- Nelakondapalli Buddhist Site
- Kusumanchi Shiva Temples - Sri Ganapeshwara Alayam & Mukkanteswara Alayam
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad to Suryapet and then head left to Khammam.
#5 Karimnagar
Distance from Hyderabad | 165 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | July - September. Monsoon for the dramatic clouds.
Undoubtedly Telangana's most striking fort, Elgandal Fort makes Karimnagar, the state's most underrated tourist destination. Little known and too far from Hyderabad, Karimnagar is peppered with quite a few other forts, ancient temple ruins and Buddhist sites. This is the one road trip on the list here that promises a packed weekend!
You can also hear me talking about my road trip to Karimnagar for The Musafir Stories, here.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Karimnagar
- Molangur Fort
- Elgandal Fort
- Lower Mannair Dam
- Nagunur Temple Ruins
RELATED
Road Tripping through Karimnagar
Town of Hymns: Manthani
Getting There
Take the Hyderabad - Ramagundam Road or the NH163 to reach Karimnagar via Siddipet. Alternatively, you can also take the NH44 from Hyderabad and go right from Kamareddy.
Where to Stay in Karimnagar
Haritha Hotel Kondagattu run by Telangana Tourism.
#6 Nizamabad
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | July - September. For the rain washed landscape.
An ancient temple that is a Ramayana place, where Rama is believed to have stopped on his way to Lanka to rescue Sita. Lakes both expansive and small, nestled between hills or sitting serenely behind boulders. Extensive gravity defying rock formations with hidden cave temples inside. All of these and more make Nizamabad truly an explorer's delight.
It cannot get more offbeat than this if you are looking for one of those quick weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Nizamabad
- Sri Kanteswar Temple
- Domakonda Fort
- Dichpally Ramalayam
- Ashok Sagar
- Ali Sagar
- Armoor Rock Formations
RELATED
A Song of Stone: Dichpally Ramalayam
Of Rocks and Hidden Temples: Armoor
Getting There
Take the NH44 from Hyderabad straight to Nizamabad.
Where to Stay in Nizamabad
Haritha Indur Inn in Nizamabad City, run by Telangana Tourism.
#7 Nagarjuna Sagar
Distance from Hyderabad | 150 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | July - October. Monsoon is when the flood gates open.
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Nalgonda district holds the record for being India's tallest masonry dam. Almost fifty years old, this dam which took twelves years to finish, is still considered to be one of the largest dams built in Asia in the recent times.
It is quite a sight to behold when all of its twenty six flood gates are open and the water gushes down in a roar.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Nagarjuna Sagar
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
- Ethipothala Falls
- Nagarjuna Konda Buddhist Site & Museum
Getting There
Take the 'Sagar Road' from Hyderabad to reach Nagarjuna Sagar via Devarakonda.
Where to Stay in Nagarjuna Sagar
The Haritha Vijay Vihar Hotel run by Telangana Tourism. It offers beautiful views of the lake.
#8 Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar
Distance from Hyderabad | 105 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | June - February
Pillalamarri (Telugu for banyan tree and its children) isn't just the name of a famous Banyan Tree but of the village - where it stands - itself. This seven hundred year old Giant Banyan Tree spread over four acres of land just outside the city of Mahbubnagar is so popular with tourists, that it now has a deer park and science museum for the children who come there.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar
- Banyan Tree
- Science Museum
- Deer Park
- Gadwal
- Mahbubnagar
Getting There
Take the NH44 from Hyderabad, till Jadcherla and from there on head right onto NH167 to get to Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar.
Where to Stay near Pillalamarri
Gadwal Haritha Hotel run by Telangana Tourism.
#9 Pillalamarri, Suryapet
Distance from Hyderabad | 132 Kilometres
Best Time to Visit | June - February
This small village just off the busy Hyderabad - Vijayawada Highway, somewhere near popular highway pit stop - Suryapet, does not boast of an olden Giant Banyan Tree like the other eponymous village mentioned previously.
This Pillalamarri, in Nalgonda District, boasts of two ancient temples from the Kakatiya Era. Some say that the beautifully adorned pillars of these Shiva temples have inspired an entire range of traditional jewellery in South India. Making this lesser known Pillalamari a definite addition to this list of unusual weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Suryapet
- Pillalamarri Shiva Temples
- Sri Erakeswara Temple
- Sri Nameswara Temple
- Pillalamarri Lake
- Phanigiri Buddhist Site
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad and just before Suryapet head left. Use Google Maps to guide you towards Pillala Marri Rural.