Road Trips and Weekend Getaways from Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the capital of the newly formed state of Telangana and the former capital of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the oldest cities of India. Nestled in heritage belt of India, there are so many road trips from Hyderabad.  The city represents the coexistence of a rich cultural heritage and the modern day cityscape.  The beautiful monuments, delectable cuisine and traditional bazaars remind you of the history of the city which dates back to late sixteenth century. Yet, Hyderabad also holds the distinction of the being the Genome Valley of India and is a hub of IT Services industry making it a hub for weekend getaways from Hyderabad for the IT professionals. There is a lot to do and see in Hyderabad and Secunderabad, its twin city across the Hussain Sagar dam. However, when you need a break from these fast-paced times and explore at your own pace, these road trips are definitely worth trying. So let’s begin with our list of weekend getaways from Hyderabad.

Road trips from Hyderabad

Road trip from Hyderabad to Mahabubnagar

Mahabubnagar could be a stop on any road-trips you take on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru highway, as it is at an optimum distance from Hyderabad which makes it one of the popular road trips from Hyderabad. Mahabubnagar is named after one of the Nizams of Hyderabad. There are quite a few popular temples like Umamaheshwaram, Alampur, Jetaprolu and Srirangapur. Pillalamarri, the 800 year old Banyan tree and a popular picnic spot, also has the tomb of a Muslim saint and a Shiva temple nearby. Old forts like the Gadwal Fort, Koilkonda Fort, Ghanpur etc. have historical significance and also offer opportunities for trekking. This is also one of the popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad.

Mahabubnagar (Source)

Distance: 104 kms      Time Taken: 2 hours

There are 35 Petrol Pumps, 25 Toilets and 67 Food Joints on this road trip.

Road trip from Hyderabad to Nagarjuna Sagar

There are days you’re looking for one of the easy road trips from Hyderabad which are just a couple of hours away. For such days Nagarjuna Sagar is the perfect destination as one of the road trips from Hyderabad, given its distance from Hyderabad. Nagarjuna Sagar is the manmade lake created by the dam of the same name constructed on the Krishna river. You can visit the Ethipothala falls or just stroll near the dam taking in its magnificence. You could also check out the Buddhist monuments and related artefacts at the Museums by taking a boatride to the Nagajunakonda island at the middle of the reservoir island or nearby Anupu village, if you ever get adventurous on one of your weekend getaways from Hyderabad.

Nagarjuna Sagar (Source)

Distance: 153 kms      Time Taken: 3 hours

There are 28 Petrol Pumps, 13 Toilets and 52 Food Joints on this road trip.

Road trip from Hyderabad to Karimnagar

Karimnagar is the city of ancient temples and old forts. The Elgandal fort is the most prominent hill-fort from where you could get a beautiful view of the town. The nearby Shivaram Wildlife sanctuary is a riverine forest, famous for the crocodiles from the Godavari river. The city is also known for the ancient jewelry making art of silver filigree. You should definitely check it out. All this makes Karimnagar, one of our favorite road trips from Hyderabad.

Karimnagar (Source)

Distance: 164 kms      Time Taken: 3 hours 15 minutes

There are 49 Petrol Pumps, 43 Toilets and 86 Food Joints on this road trip.

Road trip from Hyderabad to Kurnool – the First capital of Andhra Pradesh

Kurnool settled on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, is at the perfect road trip distance from Hyderabad and has something for everyone in the family. There are wildlife sanctuaries for the nature lovers, number of serene temples and the ancient Bellum caves for the true explorers. The Konda Reddy fort in the centre of the city and the Oravakallu Rock Gardens are other popular attractions.

Kurnool (Source)

Distance: 212 kms      Time Taken: 3 hours 45 minutes

There are 54 Petrol Pumps, 26 Toilets and 88 Food Joints on this road trip.

Road trip from Hyderabad to Gulbarga

Gulbarga, or Kalburgi as it is now known, is famous for its historical buildings. The fort, tombs and shrines show influence of the Nizami dynasty and Islamic art and the most prominent amongst them are the Bahmani Fort, Chor Gumbad and Jumma Masjid. Gulbarga is also home to a number of places of religious importance like the Khwaja Banda Nawaz Dargah, Sharanabasaveshwar Temple, Buddha Vihar and Sheikh Roza Dargah, which are visited by lakhs of people every year. The nearby Chandrampalli Dam is very popular for trekking and campaing.

Gulbarga (Source)

Distance: 212 kms      Time Taken: 4 hours 15 minutes

There are 36 Petrol Pumps, 33 Toilets and 71 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Srisailam

Srisailam is primarily known for the Mallikarjun Swamy Temple but it has multiple interesting attractions. The Srisailam Tiger reserve is one of the largest tiger reserves in India and even has a crocodile breeding farm in the down water of the Srisailam Dam, which is on the reserve. Patala Ganga is where the Kaveri river takes a downhill turn and you should try the enjoyable ropeway car ride to get down there. From there you could take the scenic boat ride to Akkamahadevi Caves. Don’t forget to carry a torch to the pitch-dark caves which have a Shiva Linga inside.

Srisailam (Source)

Distance: 213 kms      Time Taken: 4 hours 30 minutes

There are 20 Petrol Pumps, 9 Toilets and 44 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Adilabad

Adilabad is a nature-lover’s paradise with it’s sanctuaries and breathtaking waterfalls. The Pochera and Kuntala waerfalls are set in scenic environment and the last stretch of road leading to them goes through dense forests, which makes for a thrilling drive. You can explore the indigenous flora and fauna at the Pranahita wildlife sanctuary on the banks of the river of the same name and the Kawal wildlife sanctuary. The city is also home to ancient forts and one of the two Saraswathi temples in India, the Basar Saraswathi temple.

Adilabad (Source)

Distance: 305 kms      Time Taken: 5 hours

There are 34 Petrol Pumps, 39 Toilets and 44 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Gandikota – the “Grand Canyon” of India

If you have always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon in US and wondered how it would feel to look down into the gorge, you could get a first-hand experience of it at the Gandikota fort situated in the Erramalai hills on the bank of the Pennar river. The ruins of the fort, with the 4 km long and 700 m deep gorge on one side of it, is awe-inspiring and the view of the river is breath-taking.

Gandikota (Source)

Distance: 362 kms      Time Taken: 7 hours

There are 44 Petrol Pumps, 26 Toilets and 51 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Hampi – the UNESCO world heritage site

Hampi is by far, one of the oldest known cities of India. The magnificent ruins of the city showcase the remnants of the Vijayanagara Empire. The spectacular architecture of the city exists in perfect harmony with the the river Tungabhadra, rustic hills and green plains. A trip to Hampi gives you a peek into a world which is practically frozen in time and brings your history books alive.

Hampi (Source)

Distance: 373 kms      Time Taken: 7 hours 45 minutes

There are 44 Petrol Pumps, 24 Toilets and 42 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Maredumilli / Rampachodavaram – Monsoon destinations

Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram are a must-visit during and after the monsoons. These are essentially waterfall destinations and perfect for a quick getaway, close to nature. During monsoons, the beautiful jungles are in full bloom and the waterfalls at their fiery best. The drive through the jungles is an exhilarating experience.

Maredumilli (Source)

Distance: 427 kms      Time Taken: 8 hours 15 minutes

There are 23 Petrol Pumps, 14 Toilets and 25 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Badami – the town of Cave temples

Badami is most well-known for the four cave temples, which are all architectural wonders made of sandstone. The peaceful surroundings of the Agastya Lake have multiple temples and rock formations with beautiful views of the lake and the city. The Badami fort, located on top of a hill, presents a picturesque view of the town spread out below.

Badami (Source)

Distance: 419 kms      Time Taken: 8 hours 30 minutes

There are 23 Petrol Pumps, 14 Toilets and 25 Food Joints on this road trip. But considering its over 400 kms one way, it makes it one of the longer weekend getaways from Hyderabad.

Road trip from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry/Dindi

Rajahmundry, situated on the banks of Godavari, is one of the oldest cities of India and is the birthplace of the Telugu language. There are many bathing ghats and parks along the banks of the river, some of which also offer boat-rides on the river. Make this one of the perfect riverside weekend getaways from Hyderabad by visiting Dindi, 80 Kms away. Dindi has the most pristine backwaters, vast lakes and palm-fringed canals.

Rajahmundry (Source)

Distance: 427 kms      Time Taken: 7 hours 45 minutes

There are 23 Petrol Pumps, 14 Toilets and 25 Food Joints on this road trip

Road trip from Hyderabad to Tirupati

If you are looking for one of the most highly revered spiritual weekend getaways from Hyderabad, the temple town of Tirupati is where you should go. This is one most popular road trips from Hyderabad. The Sri Venkateswara Temple on the Tirumala Hill and the numerous temples in its vicinity give the town a certain tranquility and serenity, even amidst the hustle-bustle of millions of devotees and pilgrims. The winding roads of the Tirumala hill make for an excellent drive and you should definitely stop by the Akasa Ganga waterfalls.

Tirupati (Source)

Distance: 552 kms      Time Taken: 10 hours

There are 54 Petrol Pumps, 26 Toilets and 54 Food Joints on this road trip

These are some of the recommended road trips from Hyderabad. Horsley Hills, Pattadakal, Dandeli etc. are a few more road trips from Hyderabad that you can go on. If you feel there are some other popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad that we have missed out please let us know in the comments.

Loved our list of weekend getaways from Hyderabad?

Check out our list of road trips from Mumbai, road trips from Chennai, road trips from Delhi and, road trips from Bangalore.

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*Featured Image: By Alosh Bennett (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons