Weekend Getaways Within 12 Hours Of Hyderabad For A Brief Escape

Tucked in away in the interiors of Telangana, Laknavaram is a serene lake destination circles by dense forests and gentle hills. Its most iconic feature is a vibrant yellow suspension bridge stretching across the lake, offering panoramic views of the glistening waters and the gorgeous landscape beyond. Although accomodation and dining choices are few, you can consider Haritha Resort offering lakeside views and decent meals. 

Distance From Hyderabad: 213 km

How To Reach: It’s a five-hour drive from Hyderabad. You can also board a train or a bus to Warangal and reach Laknavaram via road from there.

Best Time To Visit: November to March

Things To Do: Visit Laknavaram Lake, Trek, cycle and camp in Laknavaram Forest, and check out the deer park.

Places To Stay: Haritha Grand Hotel, Lakshmi Brindavanam Resort, Feriado Resort Tadvai, Kakatiya Resorts, Chamundi Resorts and Haritha Lakeview Resort

Places To Eat: Haritha Restaurant, Korra's Kohinoor Family Restaurant, Haritha Grand Hotel, Zamindar Restaurant, and Kritunga Restaurant 

At Nagarjuna Sagar, you can swap the city chaos for the soothing hum of waterfalls. A pleasant, scenic drive away from Hyderabad, this underrated gem is where nature shows off. The first attraction to check out here is the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam – one of the world’s largest masonry dams and a true testament to India’s engineering marvels. And TBH, standing at the edge as the Krishna River stretches wide beneath you, it’s hard not to feel humbled. From there, you can take a boat ride to Nagarjunakonda Island, an ancient Buddhist ruins site. Another place a short drive away from Nagarjuna Sagar is Ethipothala Waterfalls. Especially after the monsoons, the place comes alive with lush greenery and curious monkeys that don’t mind photobombing. Add in a lakeside sunset, piping hot roadside butta, and cool breeze – you’ve got yourself a refreshing weekend getaway. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 156 km

How to reach: You can drive down to Nagarjuna Sagar in less than 5 hours. 

Best Time To Visit: June - February

Things To Do: Visit the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, boat ride to Nagarjunakonda Island, explore Ethipothala Waterfalls, have a sunset at the reservoir 

Places To Stay: TSTDC Resort Vijay Vihar, Haritha Resort, Siri Natures Valley Resort 

Places To Eat: Matha Sarovar Restaurant, Haritha Resort, Indisches Restaurant, Hotel Siddartha

Bidar makes for a charming laid-back weekend getaway from Hyderabad and here's why many travelers visit this site. It's a historic town that echos with tale from five centuries ago and the granduer is seen from the Birdar Fort, Gagan Mahal and Royal Gardens within the fort complex. Talk to the locals and discover several stories behind the regal past, and before heading home, be sure to pick up some beautifully crafted Bidriware, a signature local handicraft with ties to the artistic legacy of the kings. 

Distance From Hyderabad: 145 km

How To Reach: It’s a three-hour drive from Hyderabad, but you can also take a train or a bus that takes you to Bidar in about the same time.

Best Time To Visit: October to March

Things To Do: Bidar Fort, Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Sahib and Narasimha Temple, Rangeen Mahal and Bahmani Tombs

Places To Stay: Vintage Retreat Resort, Tiger Top Club & Resort, Vybe, Blackbuck Resort, Mastiff Select, and Hotel Bidar Gateway

Places To Eat: Kamat Hotel, Punjabi Tadka, Ashirwad Restaurant, Imperial Spice and Hotel Amanthrana

Gulbarga is a weekend getaway from Hyderabad that rewards a history enthusiast’s curious soul. Once the capital of Bahmani Sultanate, the town is steeped in Deccan history and dotted with architectural wonders like the massive Gulbarga Fort and Jama Masjid. History buffs will love the symmetrical toms of Haft Gumbaz, while nature seekers can unwind at the serene Chandrampalli Dam or stroll through the Buddha Vihar. Add that to the delicious aroma of sizzling kebabs in the local Gunj Market for a getaway that’s all heart and history. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 215 km

How to reach: Gulbarga is a 5 hour drive away from Hyderabad. There are also several state buses that run regularly. 

Best Time To Visit: November - February 

Things To Do: Explore Gulbarga Fort & Jama Masjid, visit Haft Gumbaz, check out the museum, find green spots at Buddha Vihara

Places To Stay: Bijaspur Royal Tree Resort, Hotel Heritage Inn, Crystal Palms Highway Resort, Atharva Hotel by M Square

Places To Eat: Taste of Mughlai, Zafran, Cafe Timeout, Goodluck The Venue

Maredumilli is a sleepy hamlet in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. If you haven’t visited Kerala and want to get a glimpse of it, Maredumilli might just be it. Known for its greenery, coffee and pepper plantations, a picture book from your childhood transpires into a reality here. Go here for the bamboo chicken and discover a charming tribal lifestyle. There’s also Madanakunj to spot various species of butterflies and wild animals. This area also abounds in waterfalls like Jalatarangini, Rampa, and Swarnandhra. Stay overnight at Jungle Star Camp Site, a riverside camp that lets you explore the woods of the Eastern Ghats.

Distance from Hyderabad: 429 km

How To Reach: You can either take a train or a bus to Rajahmundry and travel via road, which is 85 km away from Maredumilli. The road trip from Hyderabad to Maredumilli is also worth doing as you cross the scenic vistas of Rajahmundry, Bhadrachalam.

Best Time To Visit: Winter months, from November to December. 

Things To Do: Visit the Jalatharangini Waterfalls, Amruthadhara Waterfalls, Sokuleru Vagu Viewpoint, Rampa Waterfalls, and Bhupatipalem Reservoir

Places To Stay: Avanti Grand, Seven Hills Resort, The Woods Resort, Paloma Holiday Resort, Jungle Star Eco Camp and Blue Moon Eco Resort

Places To Eat: Bamboo Restaurant, Harshitha Restaurant, Devi Restaurant and The Auto Bamboo Biryani

A quaint temple town in Karnataka, Pattadakal lies on the bank of Malaprabha River, which is a tributary of river Krishna. While this town is home to temples built in the seventh and eighth century, it’s only a couple of hours away from Badami, which is also a town worth exploring for its caves and Agastya Lake. At Pattadakal, immerse yourself in the architecture of the temples and the ruins. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 413 km

How To Reach: Although you can take an overnight train from Secunderabad to Badami and reach Pattadakal via road, we recommend a road trip because it takes less time.

Best Time To Visit: October to March.

Things To Do: Seek blessings at seven temples, including the Virupaksha Temple, Jain Temple, Sangameshwara Temple, and Kashiviswanadha Temple.

Places To Stay: Hotel Maurya Chalukya Badami, Clarks Inn Badami, Sterling Banashree Badami, and The Heritage Resort Badami

Places To Eat: Golden Caves, Kaveri Veg & Non Veg, Sanman Bar & Restaurant, and Pakwan Restaurant

We’re sure most of you might have visited Suryalanka since it’s a popular beach. Located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, it’s a mere six-hour drive from Hyderabad. A road trip to this beach takes you through sprawling fields and coconut trees. We recommend camping or booking a cottage on the beach for you to catch the exquisite sunrise and indulge in some bayside barbecue. While beach volleyball is an option, try having a chat with fishermen and see if they take you on their next fishing trip.

Distance From Hyderabad: 384 km

How To Reach: Not interested in a road trip? Then, take an overnight train from Secunderabad to Bapatla and reach Suryalanka, which is 15 minutes away.

Best Time To Visit: December to February 

Things To Do: Play at the Suryalanka beach, check out the Undavalli Caves, explore the Kondaveedu Fort, and visit the Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary 

Places To Stay: V Hotels & Resorts, Haritha Beach Resort, Royal Oak Resorts, Myra Golden Beach Resorts, and Lotus Pond Resort & Spa

Places To Eat: Sun & Sand Restaurant, Popins, Blue Plate Multicuisine, Nice Restaurant and Chilli's Family Restaurant

Hampi in Karnataka is for the adventurer in you. This temple town immerses you in its seventh-century temples and ruins, but there’s a lot more you can do here. The best way to explore Hampi is through a bike or cycling, which you can easily rent. Take a ferry and ride on the Tungabhadra River or get a flavour of how locals travel by going on a coracle ride. Also known for its food and little cafes, we urge you to try the meals at Mango Tree. Be sure to spend a night at the Hippie Island for a rather laid-back evening.

Distance from Hyderabad: 383 km

How To Reach: There are plenty of options to reach Hampi via train or bus, but we recommend a road trip since it takes eight to nine hours.

Best Time To Visit: October to February. 

Things To Do:  Visit the temple and ruins, go to Anjaneya Hills, ride a coracle, enjoy a boat ride in Thungabadra River, and shop at the local markets

Places To Stay: Waterfall Guesthouse, Lazy Panda Tents, Hampi Nature Cottage, Wanderlust Hampi, and Heritage Resort Hampi

Places To Eat: Island Vibes Hampi, Abhi Homestay Hampi, Archana Guesthouse Riverview, and Taste of Hampi

Think of incredible paintings of a river gushing between a series of mountains. Well, that’s Papikondalu or Papi Hills. Ferry across the Godavari River and dash through the mountains to discover the various twists and turns of the hills. If you book yourself on a cruise package, you can have a delightful holiday that includes riverside camping under the stars (we recommend you check the availability of this before you book), local delicacies and seafood, the Polavaram project and more.

Distance From Hyderabad: 434 km

How To Reach: You can take a train or a bus to Rajahmundry, which is just 61 km away, and travel via road.

Best Time To Visit: October to January 

Things To Do: Walk around Perantapalli Village, Visit Papikondalu National Park, Hike in Maredumilli

Places To Stay: Papikondalu Resorts, Vanavihari Maredumilli, Vanam Resort and and Aranya Eco Resorts

Places To Eat: Anupama Multicuisine, Eat N Play, Mughlai Biryani Palace, and Barkas Arabian Kitchen

Touted as the 'Mini Maldives of Telangana', this getaway is a must-visit if you love the waters. The best property to stay at is the Riverfront Mrugavani resort that's surrounded by water on either side, giving you a stunning view. Complete your getaway with visits to the 15 temples nearby and peaceful coracle rides. Try to book a stay at the cottages at the property—they offer the best view of the place. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 481 km

How To Reach: A train journey to Somasila is one of the most affordable ways to get to the spot. You could also drive down to the property, or fly to Tirupati and hire a cab. 

Best Time To Visit: November to February 

Things To Do: Visit the Somasila View Point, temples and Somasila Dam

Places To Stay: Riverfront Mrugavani, Pool House Cottages, Haritha Lake View Resort Singur, Prakruthi Resort, and La Forest Resort

Places To Eat: Maa Village and Haritha Restaurant

Chirala is possibly one of the quickest beach getaways near Hyderabad. We recommend booking a stay at the Sea Breeze resort, which is one of the only well-maintained places in the area, complete with a pool and private beach access. The town is not too far away from the property either. While you're not lazing away on the multiple beaches, you could also drive down to neighbouring handloom clusters where cotton and silk sarees are woven. Ask the locals, and they'll guide you. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 358 km

How To Reach: Driving down is one of the most hassle-free ways of getting to Chirala. You could also catch an overnight sleeper bus to the town, and hire local transport to get you to the property. 

Best Time To Visit: August to early February 

Things To Do: Visit the Sri Veera Raghaswamy Temple, Vodarevu Beach, Chirala Market for handlooms, St Marks Lutheran Church, Ramapur Beach, and Sri Ramakrishna Cashews for fresh nuts. 

Places To Stay: V Hotels & Resorts, Srinivasa Grand, Teeyes Nexus Luxury Hotel, The Grand Sathyas Resort, Ala Beach Resort, Seabreeze Beach Resort, Golden Sands Beach Front Resorts and Haritha Beach Resort Suryalanka

Places To Eat: Zero Degrees Robot Restaurant, Orange Restaurant, Rao Gari Biryani House, Grillland BBQ, and Abhiruchi Restaurant

Did you know that Belum Caves is the second largest cove system in India? It stretches over 3,229 meter in length and plunges nearly 46 meter deep with Pataalaganga. These ancient limestone caves reveal spacious halls, winding galleries, fresh-water tunnels, and stalactites formed thousands of years ago. Inside the caves, key spots include Simhadwaram, a natural arc resembling a lion’s head, Kotilingalu, stalactites shaped like the Shiva Lingam, and the atmospheric Meditation Hall that were once used by the Buddhist Monks. For all this and more, the Belum Caves have been recently declared as a Geo-Heritage Site by the Geological Survey of India. Safety? You will walk through guided pathways and lit up bridges ensuring safe exploration. If you’ve got more time at hand, visit the Gandikota Canyon for an exciting ending.

Distance from Hyderabad: 327 km

How to reach: It's a 6 hour drive from Hyderabad to reach Belum Caves, and regular buses and trains also run in this route.

Best Time To Visit: October - February 

Things To Do: Explore the caves and Paatalaganga tunnel, visit Gandikota Canyon

Places To Stay: Haritha Resort, Gadikota Pallavi Resort, Duvvuri Resort, Hotel YLN Grand

Places To Eat: Ayera’s Restaurant, Haritha Restaurant, Manu Sri Highway Gardens, Desique Family Restaurant

Approximate Trip Cost: INR 4,000 - INR 6,000

With the new Vande Bharat Express starting from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam and frequent flights plying to and fro from both cities, heading to Bheemili is now simpler. If you've never been and would like a quiet beach getaway, try heading here over the next long weekend. Plan to stay at some of the best properties in the area, such as The Novotel Resort. While there, you can check out the lighthouse, the Dutch Cemetery, the St. Peter's Church and Narasimha Swamy Temple. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 704 km

How To Reach: Catch a flight to Vizag and drive down to Bheemili, which will take you about an hour. If you have time, you could also catch the train to Vizag and drive from there. 

Best Time To Visit: October to March 

Things To Do: Visit the Bheemili beach, Narasimha Swamy Temple, and catch the sunset at Pavurallakonda

Places To Stay: Casa beach front, The Bheemili House, Destiny Bay Pool Breeze Resort, Siera Beach Hotel, and Beaches & Hills Resort

Places To Eat: Teppenyaki, Reboot Fine Dine, Captain Kitchen, B Zag Beach Club, and Athidi's Horizon

Travel by road or train, Dandeli invites you to the picturesque Western Ghats and the roaring Kali River. The main attraction is the Dendeli Wildlife Sanctuary, which also forms part of the Kali Tiger Reserve that hosts over 270 bird species, frequent black panther sightings, elephants, sloth bears, giant Malabar squirrels and yes, tigers if you’re lucky. Apart from the forestry fun, you can try your hand at paddle or rafting through the Kali rapids, trek to the Syntheri Rock or crawl though the Kavala caves. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 596 km

How to reach: Trains run from Hyderabad to Dandeli which is more convinient than a 12 hour drive.

Best Time To Visit: October - March

Things To Do: Water rafting on the Kali river, jeep safari in Kali Tiger Reserve, visit the Syntheri Rock and Kavala Caves

Places To Stay: River Stay Dandeli, Dandeli Resorts, Dandeli Whistle Resort, Panther Stay Dandeli, Wild Planet Jungle Resort 

Places To Eat: D Cafe, Kavita Krishna Restaurant, The Golden Chef

Approximate Trip Cost: INR 8,000 - INR 10,000

Cross the Telangana-Maharashtra border to reach Chandrapur, a weekend getaway from Hyderabad that blends history with wildlife. Start with the Chadrapur Fort that rises between the Erai and Zarpat rivers. With 14 gates towering 15-20 feet, you’ll find hidden passages that echo tales from the ancient Deccan empire. After that, head to the Todaba-Andhari Tiger Reserve. It’s Maharashtra’s oldest tiger sanctuary and home to roughly 86 Bengal Tigers, plus leopards, sloth bears and rare bird species. That calls for dawn and dusk safaris. For some chill time, there’s Junona Lake for birdwatching and Mukati Waterfall. 

Distance from Hyderabad: 381 km

How to reach: By road, reaching Chandrapur from Hyderabad will take about 8 hours. We recommend hopping on a train or a bus for a easier journey.

Best Time To Visit: October - March

Things To Do: Safari at Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, visit the Junona Lake, explore Chandrapur Fort

Places To Stay: The ND Hotel, Western Hotel, Aagarzari Todoba Tiger, Hotel Palace, Hotel Rajwada Palace

Places To Eat: Tadka House, Canoppy Rooftop Restaurant, TBD The Blue Door, Swad Bar & Restaurant, Crave Carousel, Uttam Dhaba, Haldirams

Approximate Trip Cost: INR 5,000 - INR 7,000