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Ananthagiri Hills a tourist place which is located near Vikarabad, Telangana, India.

Weekend getaways

Weekend getaways from Hyderabad

Srisailam, Warangal, Ananthagiri Hills, Hampi, Gandikota and 7 more weekend trips from Hyderabad, with ORR exits, train options and 2-night budgets.

Fact-checked 4 min readBy the Elitech Travels editorial desk
12 trips75–400 km away
Praveen120 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Quick answer

For a quick green escape, Ananthagiri Hills is two hours away; for heritage, Warangal with the Ramappa temple, or Bidar's fort; for a pilgrimage with forest views, Srisailam through the Nallamala; for something unusual, the Gandikota gorge with Belum Caves. Use the Outer Ring Road to skip the city and leave before 6 am on Saturday.

12 weekend trips from Hyderabad

  1. Ananthagiri Hills a tourist place which is located near Vikarabad, Telangana, India.1

    Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad)

    80 km · 2 h via Chevella; trains to Vikarabad (1.5–2 h)July–FebruaryQuick escape, camping, forest walks

    Walk the forest trails around the Ananthapadmanabha Swamy temple, kayak on the Kotpally reservoir and camp at one of the licensed sites. Telangana Tourism's Haritha resort is the simplest stay. Weekend camping groups make some sites noisy, so pick a smaller campsite or go on a Sunday night.

  2. Closeup of Srisailam Dam. Srisailam is one of the Major Irrigation and Hydro-Electric Projects on Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh.2

    Srisailam & Amrabad

    215 km · 5 h via NH-765 through the Nallamala forest; no trainOctober–February; August–September when the dam gates openSpiritual trips, forest drives

    Srisailam's Mallikarjuna temple is both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha; book darshan online for weekends. Take the ropeway down to Patala Ganga and see the dam spillway if the gates are open after a good monsoon. The road through Amrabad Tiger Reserve closes at night, roughly 9 pm to 6 am, so plan to cross in daylight.

  3. This is a photo of ASI monument number3

    Warangal & Ramappa

    150 km · 3 h via NH-163; many trains to Warangal or Kazipet (2–3 h)October–MarchHeritage, photographers

    See the Thousand Pillar Temple and the Kakatiya stone gateways of Warangal Fort, then drive about 70 km to the UNESCO-listed Ramappa Temple, known for its sandstone sculptures and its light, floating bricks. Stay in Hanamkonda or at the Laknavaram lake cottages, where a hanging bridge links small islands. Ramappa is noticeably quieter on weekdays.

  4. Bidar Fort Museum where Articrafts, prehistoric stone and pictures of monuments related to Bidar are stored4

    Bidar

    145 km · 3 h via Zaheerabad; trains to Bidar (3–4 h)October–FebruaryLesser-known heritage, history buffs

    Bidar Fort's Rangin Mahal, the ruined Mahmud Gawan Madrasa and the Bahmani tombs at Ashtur get a fraction of Hampi's visitors. Watch bidriware artisans inlay silver into blackened metal, and visit Gurdwara Nanak Jhira. Hotels are basic, so many travellers do it as a single night.

  5. Nagarjuna Sagar dam with all Crest gates closed5

    Nagarjuna Sagar

    165 km · 3.5–4 h via the Sagar highway; no direct trainAugust–FebruaryFamilies, dam views, Buddhist heritage

    Take the launch to Nagarjunakonda island, where a museum holds Buddhist relics moved before the valley was flooded, and see Ethipothala Falls about 11 km away. After a strong monsoon, the dam spillway is a sight in August and September. Telangana Tourism's Vijay Vihar is the main stay, and launches may not run when the water is low.

  6. Structures on top of Bhongir Hill6

    Yadagirigutta & Bhongir

    75 km · 1.5–2 h via the Warangal highway; trains to Bhongir (1–1.5 h)October–MarchSpiritual trips, rock climbing, parents

    The rebuilt Lakshmi Narasimha temple at Yadagirigutta (also called Yadadri) is now one of Telangana's largest temple complexes; go early to beat the queues. Bhongir Fort sits on a single rock monolith nearby and hosts rock-climbing courses. It is close enough for a relaxed one-night trip with parents.

  7. A Telangana village north of Krishna river, with several relocated historic temples.7

    Somasila

    180 km · 4 h via Kalwakurthy and Kollapur; no trainSeptember–FebruaryLesser-known lake stay, quiet weekend

    Telangana Tourism cottages look over the Krishna backwaters, with the Someshwara temple complex nearby. A river cruise between Somasila and Srisailam has run in some seasons, so check whether it is operating. There is little else to do, which is exactly why it suits a slow weekend.

  8. Papikondalu Hills & Godavari River8

    Bhadrachalam & Papikondalu

    310 km · 6–7 h via Khammam; trains to Bhadrachalam Road (Kothagudem), then about 40 km by roadOctober–MarchSpiritual trips, river cruise

    Visit the Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple on the Godavari, then take a day cruise through the Papikondalu gorge, where the river narrows between forested hills. Cruises have been suspended at times for safety; book only licensed operators, wear the life jacket and check current status. Sri Rama Navami in March–April brings huge crowds.

  9. kuntala waterfalls, both streams9

    Kuntala & Pochera Falls

    260 km · 5 h via NH-44 and Nirmal; no trainAugust–NovemberMonsoon waterfalls, road trip

    Kuntala, at about 45 m, is the tallest waterfall in Telangana and is at full force in August and September; Pochera is about 30 km away. Combine them with Nirmal's wooden-toy workshops. Rocks are slippery and drownings have happened, so stay behind the barriers and skip swimming.

  10. Medak Cathedral in Andhra Pradesh10

    Medak & Pocharam

    100 km · 2–2.5 h via Narsapur; buses to MedakNovember–FebruaryLesser-known pick, birding, church architecture

    Medak Cathedral, completed in the 1920s, is one of the largest churches in India and is at its best around Christmas. Pocharam lake and wildlife sanctuary, about 15 km away, has deer and winter migratory birds. Drive through the Narsapur forest on the way; stays are simple, so most people treat it as a single overnight.

  11. Pennar river near the Gandikota fort11

    Gandikota & Belum Caves

    400 km · 7–8 h via Kurnool; trains to Tadipatri or Kadapa, then 1.5–2 h by roadOctober–FebruaryAdventure, camping, photographers

    Camp on the rim of the Pennar river gorge, often called India's Grand Canyon, explore Gandikota fort's granary and mosque, and walk the lit passages of Belum Caves, about 60 km away. Andhra Pradesh Tourism's Haritha hotel and adventure camps are the main stays. From March the rock radiates heat, so carry water and avoid midday walks.

  12. Iconic Stone Chariot @ Vittala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka12

    Hampi

    380 km · 7–8 h via Mahbubnagar and Raichur; check overnight rail options to HosapeteOctober–FebruaryHeritage, boulder landscapes, long weekends

    Give Hampi three days: the Virupaksha and Hemakuta hill temples on day one, the Vittala complex, Lotus Mahal and elephant stables on day two, and a sunrise on Matanga Hill before the drive home. Stay in Kamalapura or Hosapete. Leave Hyderabad early; the Raichur stretch slows down through towns.

    Plan Hampi

How do you get out of Hyderabad quickly?

The Outer Ring Road is the key. Use it to reach the Srisailam highway at Tukkuguda, the Warangal highway at Ghatkesar, the Bengaluru highway at Shamshabad and the Mumbai highway at Patancheru, without touching the old city. Friday evenings are slowest around Gachibowli, Mehdipatnam and LB Nagar. Leave by 5.30 am on Saturday and you will reach the ORR in 30–40 minutes from most of the western suburbs.

Train or drive?

Warangal, Bhongir, Vikarabad and Bidar are well served by trains and buses, and the train saves you the city traffic. For Srisailam, Somasila, Nagarjuna Sagar and Gandikota, driving is the only practical option, and a car lets you stop at viewpoints. State buses run to Srisailam and Bhadrachalam but are slow on the ghat sections.

What does a two-night weekend cost?

Trip2 nights, per person (twin sharing)
Ananthagiri Hills campsite with meals₹3,500+
Warangal and Ramappa by train, 3-star₹4,500+
Gandikota and Belum, self-drive, tourism hotel₹5,500+
Srisailam with a private cab₹6,500+

These are starting land costs. For tailor-made options, see our weekend getaway packages.

Long weekends worth planning around

Sankranti in mid-January usually gives Telangana schools and offices a long break. Republic Day 2027 is a Tuesday, so one day off gives four days, and Good Friday on 26 March gives three. Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti fall on a Sunday and a Saturday in 2027. Our 2027 long weekends guide has the full list, including festival breaks around Bathukamma and Dussehra.

Monsoon driving and forest roads

The Nallamala ghat to Srisailam has sharp bends and occasional landslips in heavy rain, and low causeways on rural roads flood quickly. Forest gates on the Srisailam road shut at night, so a late start can leave you stranded at the checkpost. Check IMD alerts, drive in daylight and never cross a flooded bridge. Before a Hampi trip, read things to do in Hampi and the best time to visit Hampi.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best weekend getaway from Hyderabad in the monsoon?
Ananthagiri Hills turns green from July, Kuntala Falls is at full flow in August and September, and Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam are worth seeing if the dam gates open after heavy rain. Check IMD alerts before driving and stay behind the barriers at waterfalls.
Is the Srisailam road open at night?
No. The highway through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve is closed to most private traffic at night, roughly from 9 pm to 6 am, to protect wildlife. If you leave Hyderabad after mid-afternoon, you risk waiting at the checkpost. Start early and plan your return to clear the forest before dark.
What is the cheapest weekend trip from Hyderabad?
Ananthagiri Hills, and Bhongir with Yadagirigutta, are close enough by train or bus to cost under ₹3,500 per person for a simple two-night trip. Warangal by train with a budget hotel is also inexpensive. Costs rise when you hire a private cab for the longer drives.
Can I do Hampi from Hyderabad over a weekend?
It is better over a long weekend. The drive takes 7–8 hours each way, so a two-night trip leaves only one full day at the ruins. With three nights, you can see the Virupaksha, Vittala and royal areas without rushing and still drive back in daylight.
Which places near Hyderabad suit a family with grandparents?
Yadagirigutta and Bhongir (under two hours), Warangal with Ramappa, and Nagarjuna Sagar involve short walks and good roads. Srisailam is popular with older pilgrims but means a long drive and queues. Skip the Gandikota gorge rim and Kuntala Falls if mobility is limited.

How we checked this page

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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.