Hyderabad, the city of nawabs and Chaar Minar, the 400 year old settlement that boasts of some of the world’s best biryani, is a great place for touring. The charming aura of Hyderabad is enough to take you though its best attractions, however, eventually there will come a time when you would want to visit other, more diverse places. Maybe get out for a weekend. Or just refresh yourself with a day’s drive out of the traffic-laden city. For that and more, here’s our list of best places to visit near Hyderabad, especially for a weekend getaway!

One of the earliest engineering feats of India, the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam on River Krishna has been a place of tourist attraction ever since its inception. It is the largest, tallest dam in the world and the second largest water reservoir in the country. You will be awed at first sight, and also enjoy activities like photography, fishing and even boating in the waters of the dam. There are a few ancient Buddhist excavation sites nearby, a few relics moved to the Nagarjuna hill and the Nagarjuna Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary home to elephants and tigers. Nagarjuna Sagar is a nice long weekend getaway, 153 km from Hyderabad.

Not more than 147 km away from Hyderabad, Bidar is an urban town with prehistoric roots. You can explore the Bidar fort here, go to the various rooms and chambers in what is touted as one of the biggest forts in the country. Do visit the Takhat Mahal, Rangin Mahal, Chaubara and Gagan Mahal among others. Other places to visit nearby include Narasimha Jhira Cave Temple, Papnash Shiva Temple and Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib. Also, don’t return without souvenirs of traditional Bidar handicrafts like candle sticks, hookahs, cosmetic boxes, dishes and water jugs.

A town with strong roots in Hindu mythology, Srisailam is a place of great serenity and beautiful temples. Located in Kurnool, amid Nallamala woods, it is popular in devotees’ circles. Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, one of the 12 jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva is the most visited attraction around. They also come here to take a dip in Krishna river and heal ailments with its medicinal properties. Visit Srisailam on a short weekend from Hyderabad.

164 km from Hyderabad, Karimnagar is best known as a pilgrimage. With ancient temples and its history as the centre of Vedic learning of ancient times, this little town welcomes curious visitors all through the year. There are archaeological excavations, Elgandal Fort, Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple, Mukteshwara Swamy Temple and Kondagattu for sightseeing. Do also visit the famous Deer Park nearby. Silver ware and filigree handicraft, famous as a Hyderabadi trait, is really a patent of Karimnagar. So pick up a few pieces on your way home.

Warangal was once the stronghold of the Kakatiya dynasty. Therefore, today it is an edifice of monuments and ruins, fortresses and stone gates. Visit the Warangal fort to explore its otherworldly architectural wonder. It is also the official emblem of the state of Telangana. See the Thousand Pillar Temple and make sure you visit the Swayambhu Temple, followed by Ramappa Temple and lake nearby. Since Warangal is 150 km from Hyderabad, it is within easy reach for a quick drive on a weekend.

Erstwhile capital of Telangana, Kurnool is a beautiful getaway from Hyderabad for many reasons. One, it is blessed with two waterways - Neeva and Hundri, hence has a tropical climate. Two, it has many temples of memorable value like Uma Maheshwara Temple (5th-6th Century), which is the only temple in the world where Lord Shiva is revered as an idol instead of a shivling. Mahashivratri is one of the best times to visit. Three, it is home to forest and caves.

Mahabubnagar lies 134 km from Hyderabad and is one of the key towns around with places like Rajolibanda Dam, Koilkonda Fort and Sri Ramkonda Hill. You can visit the famous bird parks and zoo in this town, along with a boating lake, museum, Shiva temple and a cute little pond. A short weekend here is more than enough to rejuvenate as well as sightsee. Leave Friday night spend Saturday through Sunday.

Hampi is one of the best attractions of Karnataka. It is quite far from Hyderabad, 377 km to be precise. But the village is worth visiting for a long weekend as it has some of the most valuable ruins and remains of the great Vijayanagar Empire. It once was the capital city of Vijaynagar. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi is visited by locals and foreigners alike. Explore the renowned Virupaksha Temple, Badavi Linga, Achyutaraya Temple, Chandramauleshwara Temple and Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy temple. You can pursue photography, boat in river Tungabhadra and go rock climbing. Visiting between October and February is great.

As the name suggests, Ananthagiri Hills are awesome for a hilly, chill vacation over a weekend. Especially for hikers and trekkers. It doubles up as one of the best trekking destinations. There are some gorgeous meadows and valleys, trails that feel ethereal and green. Located only 81 km from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri Hills can be visited all through the year, but especially in monsoons and winters. It is the best place for novice trekking enthusiasts as the trails are pretty basic. Other than trekking you can also indulge in camping by the Deccan Trail, see waterfalls and valleys, go rock climbing and swing like Tarzan.

Another hill station like destination, Horsley Hills, 149 km from Hyderabad, is a great place to go chill after escaping the crowd, rush and noise of the city. With some great views of the mountains and valleys, along with banyan trees and a varied biodiversity. Horsley Hills has some great trekking trails too. Explore the Elephant Reserve and Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, sit under the world’s biggest banyan tree — Thimmamma Marrimanu and try your hand at boating in Lake Gangotri.