Nagarjunakonda -150 km
Nagarjunakonda, or " Nagarjuna's Hill", 166km south of Hyderabad. It is rich in archaeological sites, submerged when the huge Nagarjuna Sagar Dam was built across the River Krishna in 1960. It is a small island near the middle of Nagarjuna Lake.

Warangal
-200 km "one stone" is 150km northwest of Hyderabad. It is famous for it's Fort, Swayambhu Temple, Sirab Khan or Audience Hall, Shiva Temple.

Keesaragutta-35 km
It is another popular destination, situated about 35 kms from Hyderabad. It is a historic temple village and was once the capital of the great Vishnukundin dynasty. Some of the famous temples of this place are Ramalingeswara and Lakshminarasimha, attracting pilgrims from around the country.

By Air
Hyderabad is connected with all the major cities of India. Flights link Hyderabad with Delhi, Port Blair, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc.

By Rail
Hyderabad is linked with the metropolitan cities by train. One can also get off at Secunderabad, which is very close Hyderabad.

By Road
Hyderabad and its sister city Secunderabad are situated on the junction of two important National Highways: NH 7 (Varanasi-Nagpur-Hyderabad- Kanyakumari) and NH 9 (Bombay/Mumbau-Shlapur-Vijayawada).

The city of Hyderabad is almost 400 hundred years old and attracts tourists with its blend of rich cultures. It is known for its interesting diamond markets, glass embedded bangles and beautiful saris.

There are many monuments of significance situated here. One of the major historical sites worth visiting is the Charminar, a majestic structure famous for its architectural excellence. It is situated in the heart of the city and is an important landmark in Hyderabad Tourism. Then, there is the Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India accommodating upto 10,000 people. It is located just nearby the Charminar.

Another travel attraction here is the Golconda Fort , a 16th century fortress. It is situated on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city. This fort is known as the centre for diamonds, where there are diamond mines in the nearby areas. It is said that the famous Kohinoor originally belonged to Golconda. Thus, it one of the must visit places in Hyderabad. Then, there is the Hussain Sagar lake. It is a large man-made lake, set amidst the city. It was constructed in 1562 AD and is the connecting point of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The violin-shaped auditorium known as Chowdaiah Memorial Hall (Gayathri Devi Park Extension, Vyalikaval; tel. 080/2344-5810) hosts regular classical music performances, as well as film, dance, and drama. Plays are regularly staged at Rabindra Kalakshetra (Jayachamarachendra Rd.; tel. 080/2224-1325 or 080/2664-6158), where you can also catch occasional art exhibitions. Numerous art galleries around the city host contemporary Indian art and other exhibitions.

Venkatappa Art Gallery, attached to the Government Museum (Kasturba Rd.; tel. 080/2286-4483; Tues-Sun 10am-5pm; Rs 10/25¢), displays more than 600 paintings year-round.

Chitrakala Parishat (Art Complex, Kumara Krupa Rd.; tel. 080/2226-1816) has a varied collection of traditional paintings, leather puppets, and artifacts from all over Karnataka. Visit its various art studios and gallery spaces, the open-air theater, and (in particular) the Roerich and Kejriwal galleries. For high-end art, check out

Gallerie Zen (121 Dickenson Rd.; tel. 080/2559-8793 or 080/2558-1577; www.zenmrl.net; by appointment only).

Nrityagram Dance Village (along the Bangalore-Pune Hwy., 35km/22 miles from Bangalore) is a renowned center for Indian dance training. Performances feature students as well as established artists. Organized tours of the facility include lecture-demonstrations designed to introduce you to Indian culture, life philosophy, and both kathak and odissi dance forms (tel. 080/2846-6313; Sept-May, Tues-Sat 10am-5:30pm, dance classes 10:30am-1pm; tours Rs 20/45¢ per person, advance bookings essential). A through-the-night dance and music festival is held in February; it attracts almost 30,000

Aangan
Yatri Niwas
Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 781-6881, 781-6882   Fax: 772-9129

Black Stallion
Hotel Deccan Continental
Sir Ronald Ross Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 784-0981   Fax: 784-0980

Blue Fox
3-6-199/1
Himayatnagar, Hyderabad - 500029
Tel: 322-0448   Fax: 322-2068

Cafe One
1-11-252/12, Plot No. 10, House No. 153, Motilal Nehru Nagar
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 5520-3333   Fax: 5520-3096

Cascade
The Tulip Manohar, Airport Exit Road
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 781-9917, 781-9801, 790-3333   Fax: 781-9801

Deccan Pavilion
ITC Kakatiya Hotel Sheraton & Towers
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 2340-0132   

Degh
Comfort Inn Woodbridge, A C Guards
Lakdi-ka-Pul, Hyderabad - 500004
Tel: 666-6111   Fax: 666-6111
map           

Elixir
202, Vintage Complex, Road 7, Near Water Board
Opp GVK House, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500034
Tel: 666-3470/71/72, 666-6766   

Fusion 9
No. 4 First Avenue, Road no 1
Banjara Hills, Hyderabad - 500034
Tel: 5557-7722, 5557-7755   

Gaiety
Viceroy
Tank Bund, Hyderabad - 500080
Tel: 753-8383   Fax: 753-8797

Great Expectations
5th floor, Shoppers' Stop
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 5531-8815   

Hunter's Roost
Yatri Niwas
Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 781-6881, 781-6882   Fax: 772-9129

Kshetra
6-3-570, Rockdale Compound, Beside Eenadu Office
Khairatabad-Somajiguda Road, Hyderabad - 500082
Tel: 666-5881, 666-5882   

L'autre
Shop no. 8, 9 & 10, My Home Tycoon
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 5510-1432/4   

Mehfill
Hotel Baseraa, Near Clock Tower
SD Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 2770-3200   Fax: 2770-4745

Mischief Dining Bar
4th floor MPM Mall
Abids, Hyderabad - 500026
Tel: 5525-0025, 5525-0026   

New Yorker
Guidelines Hotels and Tours Pvt. Ltd, VV, 6-3-1093, RB Road
Somajiguda, Hyderabad - 500082
Tel: 5575-8595   

Nimantran
1-11-256/1, Street No 1, Adjacent Lane To Airport Road
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 631-2333, 631-7460, 631-8371/72 

Olive Garden
Hitech City Main Road
Madhapur, Hyderabad - 500033
Tel: 310-0300, 311-0900   

On The Way
Green Square, Plot No 1133, Road No 36
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad - 500033
Tel: 2354-3532, 2354-5885, 5576-4455   

Once Upon a Time
Hotel Green Park, 7-1-26, Green Lands
Begumpet, Hyderabad - 500016
Tel: 375-7575   Fax: 375-7677

Palace Heights
8th floor, Triveni Building
Abids, Hyderabad - 500004
Tel: 2475-4483, 2475-4939   

Paradise Cafe & Stores, Persis Heights
Mahatma Gandhi Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 784-3115, 621-3720/21/22   Fax: 789-7865

Patio
Hotel Viceroy
Tank Bund Road, Hyderabad - 500080
Tel: 753-8383   Fax: 753-8797

Pickles
Baseraa Hotel
SD Road, Secunderabad -
Tel: 2770-3200   

Riviera
23 SD Road
SD Road, Secunderabad - 500003
Tel: 2771-3366   

 	 Salzburg Street
Amrutha Castle, 5-9-16
Saifabad, Hyderabad - 500063
Tel: 329-9899, 324-3095   Fax: 324-1850

Silver Metro
Ohri's Cuisine Court, Opp. Gandhi Medical College
Basheerbagh, Hyderabad -
Tel: 2329-8811, 2329-8822, 2329-8855   Fax: 2329-8855

Touch of Class
The Central Court, 6-1-71
Lakdi-ka-Pul, Hyderabad - 500004
Tel: 323-3262   Fax: 323-2737

Windows Of The World
Ground Floor, Hi-Tech City
Madhapur, Hyderabad - 500033
Tel: 311-0434, 310-0662  

Ahobilam
This is the most popular centre of Narasimha worship. It is also known as Navanarasimha Kshetra, being the only place where the nine forms of Lord Narasimha are worshipped.

Amravati or Amaresvaram, houses one of the best-known Buddhist relics in India. Also known as Dhanyakatakam and "Deepaladinne", it was the capital of the later day Satavahanas and was considered the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre in India. Amravati is famous for having the largest Stupa in the country, the Mahachaitya Stupa, built during the 2nd century BC. The Stupa was discovered in 1797 by the British archaeologist Colonel Colin Mackenzie. Amravati is also famous for the temple of Amareswara, which consists of a massive Lingam. The extensive mounds of Dharankota located on the west of Amravati, together with Nagarjunakonda and Amravati form the Golden Triangle of Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh.

Birla Mandir
Built in white marble, this temple dedicated to Lord Venkateshwar epitomizes the synthesis of Northern and Southern culture that Hyderabad is famous for. On the hill top of Kalapahad, overlooks the serene Hussain Sagar lake. Replete with blossoming greenery and spectacular illumination, the Birla Mandir is a popular pilgrimage centre. There is an entry fee for the visitors except from 7 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. when visitors can enter for free. Presentations in English are held at 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. daily.

Birla Planetarium
Located in the heart of Hyderabad city, on the panoramic hillock of Naubat Pahad, the Birla Planetarium is a tribute to the advances made in science and technology since the dawn of civilization. It offers visitors, daily sky shows, both in Telugu and English, everyday but remains closed on the last Thursday of the month from 10:30 am to 3:00pm.

Charminar
This beautiful structure derives its name from four intricately carved minarets and is located amidst the colourful shops of Lad Bazaar in the heart of the old city. It is enormous and was built by Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 to mark the end of a terrible plague which had decimated the city. There is a small open air mosque on the top floor of the building, situated on the western side facing the Muslim holy city of Mecca which is the oldest surviving mosque in the city of Hyderabad. The panoramic view of the city from the top, is simply breathtaking.

The Deccan Landscape is often considered a masterpiece by nature herself and worth driving around. Geological activity of millennia ago has produced a breath-taking rock-encrusted landscape where awe inspiring monoliths reminiscent of Stonehenge, but older and far more intriguing as well as being in greater in number, can be found.

Hussain Sagar Lake is a link between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, is one and half mile long and was named after Hussain Shah Wali, a physician who aided Ibrahim Qtuub Shah in recovering from illness. The major attraction of this lake is the 18 metre high, 350 ton monolithic statue of Lord Buddha on the rock of Gibraltar. The bund is lined with 33 statues of famous personalities of the state. Boating and water sports are a regular feature at Hussain Sagar.

Leepakshi is famous for its 16th Century Leepakshi Temple housing the largest Nandi in India. It is considered as one of the finest temples of Andhra Pradesh in architecture and painting and is known for its elaborate murals and exquisite stone carvings. Leepakshi is also famous for the seven-hooded coiled serpent carved out of a single stone and the Panchalingas.

St. Joseph's Cathedral
Located in the Gun Foundry area, you can't miss the haunting beauty of the cathedral of St. Joseph's. Built around 1860 in a typically Italian style of architecture, this church also has an imitation of the famous 'Pieta' by Michelangelo in the main alcove. The ringing of the huge bell can be heard by the congregation that usually gathers in the towering central monument. One of the most beautiful places in the twin cities, a visit to St. Joseph's Cathedral is a very fulfilling experience.

Amravati is famous for having the largest Stupa in the country, the Mahachaitya Stupa, built during the 2nd century BC. The Stupa was discovered in 1797 by the British archaeologist Colonel Colin Mackenzie. Amravati is also famous for the temple of Amareswara, which consists of a massive Lingam. The extensive mounds of Dharankota located on the west of Amravati, together with Nagarjunakonda and Amravati form the Golden Triangle of Buddhism in Andhra Pradesh.

Go Ballooning This is a wonderfully quiet pastime where you can drift along for hours watching the earth pass below. Balloons are launched during summer (January - April) and winter (October - December) when the weather conditions for the sport are good. In addition to launching balloons, this centre also regularly monitors & analyses local weather data at tropospheric and stratospheric altitudes, which is crucial for making decisions about balloon launches making it safe for all concerned. For more information contact the National Balloon Facility on 27123978, 27122505 or 27122894.

Camel riding Experience Take yourself and your family along to the exciting Treasure Island for this sort of adventure or contact a local tour or travel agent if you are more interested in a longer ride such as going on a camel safari in the area.

The Ethipothala Waterfalls formed by the water flowing down from Chandravanka Mountains from a height of about 70ft or 21.3m and are a spectacle worth seeing.

Don't miss a visit to the Falaknuma Palace Built in 1870 by Nawab Vikar-Ul-Ulmara, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, it is a stupendous palace which has a picture gallery, a luxurious reception hall with cabinets containing diamond, crystal and emerald objects. The palace is a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. The Falaknuma also includes the largest Venetian chandeliers in India.

Another 'must see' fort with lots of activities thrown in is the Golconda Fort Manakal or Managallu Medieval Deccan. This has its history etched in every crack in the walls of this huge fort. The Qutb Shahi kings used this as their capital throughout their rule. The fort itself is structured like an irregular rhombus with a rough pentagon on the North Eastern side called 'Naya Qila'. A moat 50ft wide runs along the walls of the fort for 5km while 87 Bastions 50-60 feet high give the whole structure an imposing look. Visit in the late afternoon and hang around for the amazing Light Show held here on an almost nightly basis.

For some relaxing time out in the open, pop down to the Hussain Sagar Lake which a link between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. One and half miles long, it was named after Hussain Shah Wali, a physician who aided Ibrahim Qtuub Shah in recovering from illness. The major attraction of this lake is the 18 metre high, 350 ton monolithic statue of Lord Buddha on the rock of Gibraltar. The lake is lined with 33 statues of famous personalities of the state and boating and water sports are a regular feature here.

If you like shopping or simply want to take a few souvenirs home, don't miss at least one visit to the Laad Bazaar. From glass bangles to pure pearls, from handicrafts to gun metal showpieces the city offers a host of articles for sale. The favourite place for almost every tourist is Laad Bazaar, a famous bazaar adjacent to the historical Charminar. The Mehboob Chowk, a quadrangle with an imposing tower in the middle, marks the end of the Bazaar.

Don't miss the Shilparamam Crafts Village set amidst lovely rocks, rippling water falls and gorgeous lawns, about 14 km from Hyderabad, it plays host to the traditions of arts and crafts in India. The annual All India Festival of Arts & Crafts held here in the month of February bringing cultural and artistic traditions from every nook and corner of the country and offers a one time opportunity to take home a piece of India.

Another 'must do' activity is to pay a visit to at least one of the wonderful Wildlife Sanctuaries in the area. Eturnagaram Santuary, Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary, Pochram Sanctuary and Pulicat Bird Sanctuary are all of interest to animal lovers and a visit to at least one while in the area is an absolute must.

Get together with your favourite people and watch the sunset then catch the musical fountain show from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. A good outing, the park is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Another exciting amusement park in the form of water park can be found at the Ocean Park and more excitement like this can be found at Elles World offering several fun rides for all ages.

Ballooning This is a wonderfully quiet pastime where you can drift along for hours watching the earth pass below. Balloons are launched during summer (January - April) and winter (October - December) when the weather conditions for the sport are good. In addition to launching balloons, this centre also regularly monitors & analyses local weather data at tropospheric and stratospheric altitudes, which is crucial for making decisions about balloon launches making it safe for all concerned. For more information contact the National Balloon Facility on 27123978, 27122505 or 27122894.

Equestrian Sports Horse riding, polo, show jumping, cross country and all the equestrian related activities take place here. The place to do all this is the Andhra Pradesh riding club, located at Saifaibad (Masabtank) telephone: 3393328 for more information or pop down to the riding club and at the Bison Polo Ground, Secunderabad.

Go-Karting Zoom around the track, feel the wind in your hair and beat whoever you are competing against over the finishing line. This is a great sport for all but the youngest family members and an excellent way to pass the time when not out sightseeing. The place to go for this sort of action is Treasure Island. Runway 9-Go Karting situated on the Medchal Road, Kompally is another venue. It is open from 3pm-11pm daily.

Golf If you fancy a round of golf, head to one of the golf courses. S.V.P.N.P.A. Golf Club, Shivarampally or the Golconda Golf Club, Artillery Centre will accommodate your passion/s for wandering around manicured lawns hitting an inanimate white ball.

Theme Park Ocean Park is a one of its kind water amusement park modelled on International standards. The amusement park is situated at Gandipet just 15km from Hyderabad offers a spectacular mix of internationally popular water and amusement rides for all age groups and provides full day entertainment. Spread over a sprawling 20 acres it is open from 11am to 8 pm daily.

Treasure Island Azure pools and blue lagoons, beautiful landscapes, camel rides and go-karting, nature adventure sports and barbeque nights. you'd find all this and much more at Treasure Island. 16 km from the city, this is a great getaway and therapeutic and rejuvenating for all ages. Telephone: 92333345 or 92333346 for more information.

Zoo A popular spot with visitors, the Nehru Zoological Park is one of the biggest zoos in Asia with over 250 animal species. Over 2000 animals and birds are kept in their natural environment which is spread across 300 acres. The has special sections and amusement facilities too. You can find the Lion Safari Park (the first in Asia), Natural History Museum, Pre Historical Animals Park, Nocturnal Birds Park and a children's park here. Open 9am to 5pm and closed every Monday. For details call 4477355.