Ananthagiri Hills:Lush Forests, Coffee Plantations, and Peaceful Getaways Near Hyderabad
Nestled in the Vikarabad district of Telangana, Ananthagiri Hills is one of the state’s most beautiful and lesser-known hill destinations. Known for its dense forests, coffee plantations, waterfalls, and trekking trails, this serene spot is perfect for a weekend escape from Hyderabad.
Apart from its natural charm, Ananthagiri Hills is also a place of spiritual importance, with ancient temples and a tranquil atmosphere that attracts both nature lovers and pilgrims.
1. Attractions in Ananthagiri Hills
Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple – A centuries-old temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, attracting devotees from across the region.
Ananthagiri View Point – Offers breathtaking views of rolling hills and lush greenery.
Trekking Trails – Multiple trails through coffee plantations and thick forests, perfect for beginner and moderate-level trekkers.
Kotepally Lake – A calm lake popular for kayaking, camping, and photography.
Nagasamudram Lake – Known as a “hidden lake” surrounded by scenic hills.
2. Best Time to Visit
Monsoon (July–September) – Lush greenery and small waterfalls come alive.
Winter (October–February) – Cool climate for sightseeing and camping.
Avoid summer afternoons as it can get warm.
3. How to Reach
By Road: Only 80 km from Hyderabad, a 2-hour drive via Vikarabad Road.
By Train: Nearest railway station – Vikarabad Junction (6 km away).
By Air: Nearest airport – Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (~75 km).
4. Suggested 2-Day Itinerary
Day 1:
Start from Hyderabad early morning.
Visit Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Explore trekking trails and coffee plantations.
Enjoy sunset at Ananthagiri View Point.
Day 2:
Morning kayaking at Kotepally Lake.
Visit Nagasamudram Lake.
Return to Hyderabad by evening.
5. Travel Tips
Carry drinking water and snacks, as shops are limited.
Wear comfortable shoes for trekking.
Early morning and late evenings are the most scenic times for photography.
Puri is one of the 'char dhams'. Jagannath Temple is the honor of Puri and Odisha (Orissa). The holy sight of Lord Jagannath, accompanied by Subhadra and Balabhadra raises loads of joy among the devotees. The two gods and the goddess of the temple are ornamented in accordance with the occasion and seasonal change. The structural design of the temple can be found to be in pyramid shape.
The Jagannath Temple of Puri has a latent legend associated with it. It is believed that in the Krita Yuga, the actual image of the lord had the power of granting 'moksha' to anyone who witnessed it. Yamaraja didn't find this justice. So, he decided to keep the image in some distant and unknown corner of the earth. However, as Dvapar Yuga arrived, the idol that is worshipped today in Jagannath Puri was constructed by Lord Vishnu with the help of wooden logs. And it doesn't make difference in the Lord’s power in spite of having the hands lacking.
Jagannath Temple in Odisha (Orissa) consists of four entrance gates. They are named as Singhadwara, Ashwadwara, Hathidwara and Vyaghradwara and these names refer to lion, horse, elephant and tiger. Each day, the Lord at the Jagannath Temple is offered 'bhoga' six times and it is dispensed among the worshippers close to Ratnavedi.
Puri Jagannath Temple Timings:-
Opening Time : 05:00 AM Closing Time : 11:00 PM Open : Daily Entery fee : Free
The famous Sun God Temple situated in Arasavalli Village which is at a
distance of about 1 K.M. east of Srikakulam Town District head
quarters of the North Coastal Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the ancient
and all among two sun God temples in our Country. According to
Padmapuranam , Sage Kasyapa installed the Idol of Surya at Arasavalli
for the Welfare of mankind . Therefore , the Surya is of Kasyapasa
Gotra . He is also termed as planetary King . According to the '
Sthalapuranam ' of the temple, Lord Devendra found this temple and
installed the existing idol of the sun God commonly known as Lord
suryanarayana Swamy Varu under the following circumstances.
Once Lord Devendra , Ignoring the words of Dwarapalaka Nandi ,
attempted to force his entry for Darshan of Sri Rudrakoteswara Swamy
varu at an untimely hour when Lord siva was along with his consort .
The Dwarapalaka Nandi in the discharge of his duties kicked the
intruder . Thus kicked and injured by the Devine attendent Indra fell
down senseless. And in his unconscious state Indra dreamt that he would
be relieved of his pain of injury in his chest caused by Nandi if he
had built a temple and install an Idol of the Sun God . After regaining
his consciousness, he remembered what he dreamt
Amaravathi is a town located on the banks of the River Krishna in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Amaravathi is also called the Abode of God.It is a familiar name for the Buddhists in India and is a prime hub for pilgrimage and sightseeing.
This is also renowned for being a site of a great Buddhist Stupa, which is a mound-like or semi-hemispherical structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of Buddhist monks, used by Buddhists as a place of meditation. it was during the reign of emperor Ashoka,one can see the Stupa decorated with carvings of life and teachings of Buddha. The 95 ft tall structure is made of brick with a circular dome and platforms towards all four directions. It is decorated with carved panels which tell the story of Buddha's life. Art historians regard the Amaravathi art as one of the three major styles or schools of ancient Indian art, the other two being the Gandhara style and the Mathura style.
Amareswara Temple, Amaravathi
The Amareswara Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva, the 'Destroyer of the Universe'.
The holy place embraces a 15 ft high marble Shiv Ling. It is believed that Lord Shiva is present in the structure of five lingams - Pranaveswara, Agasteswara, Kosaleswara, Someswara and Parthiveswara. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, 'Maha Shivaratri' of 'Magha Bahula Dasami' is the main festivals celebrated here. This holy place has a pious aura that seeps into the heart, mind and body of all patrons.
Amravati Museum, Amaravathi.
Amravati
Museum in Guntur District showcases several fascinating Buddhist relics
as well as helps visitors understand the history of the town. The
museum has a wide array of spellbinding images of Lord Buddha, some of
which are in unique poses. In addition, the museum houses many other art
and artifacts, such as the elephant of Ajatshatru and vibrant art
showing how Gautama Siddhartha left his palace in search of nirvana. Amravati Museum offers an insightful journey into the past of Buddhism and visitors can enjoy this journey.
Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh tourism with Krishna district Administration is conducting Masula beach festival in Machilipatnam (Manginapudi Beach) and Food festival in Vijayawada from June 9 to 11. Machilipatnam colourfully decorated to welcome the visitors from across the state. Beach volleyball, Heli ride, flowers and mangoes show, musical concert, cultural programmes and cooking 100 feet Dosa are some of the highlights of beach festival. Visitors can have helicopter ride for Rs 2,500. A 100 feet Dosa will be cooked by expert chefs to create new Guinness record. Three-day mega beach festival will also cover horse raid, camel ride, food park, joy riding, archery, painting ball, sand arts and para-sailing. Machilipatnam beach festival has been named as Mysolia, which is the ancient name of the port town. As part of promoting temple tourism operating special buses to Vedadri and Ghantasala in the district. There is a Food festival will be organised in Vijayawada at the SRR and CVR Government college. It has variety of dishes with fish, crab, lobster, shrimp and other sea food and many varieties of dishes will be made with millets. Cultural programmes including traditional dances organizing at the SRR and CVR Government college.
Convenient Pilgrimage Trips to Lord Venkateswara Temple from Hyderabad.
For millions of devotees, visiting Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is a lifelong dream. To make this spiritual journey easier, Telangana Tourism offers well-planned Hyderabad to Tirupati tour packages. These packages provide safe travel, darshan arrangements, and comfortable accommodation, ensuring devotees can focus on the divine experience without worrying about logistics.
1. About the Hyderabad–Tirupati Pilgrimage
Tirumala is one of the most visited pilgrimage destinations in the world.
Daily, thousands of devotees from Telangana and neighboring states travel for darshan.
Telangana Tourism ensures affordable, reliable, and hassle-free packages with guaranteed darshan.
2. Telangana Tourism Tirupati Packages
Here are some popular Hyderabad–Tirupati tour options:
🚌 A/C Bus Package
Travel: Luxury Volvo or A/C Sleeper bus from Hyderabad.
Inclusions: To & fro bus journey, darshan ticket, and local transfers.
Duration: ~2 days (overnight journey).
🚂 Train Package
Travel: Train journey from Hyderabad to Tirupati with reserved seats.
Inclusions: Darshan ticket, transfers from Tirupati station to Tirumala, and guide assistance.
Duration: 2 days.
✈️ Flight Package
Travel: Hyderabad to Tirupati by air (direct flights).
Inclusions: Flight tickets, transfers, darshan ticket, and accommodation.
Duration: 1–2 days (ideal for those short on time).
3. What’s Included in Packages
Confirmed Darshan ticket (Special Entry).
To & Fro Travel (Bus / Train / Flight).
Accommodation (Hotels / Guesthouses arranged by Telangana Tourism).
Local Transfers at Tirupati and Tirumala.
Experienced Tour Coordinator for assistance.
4. How to Book Telangana Tourism Tirupati Packages
Online Booking: Visit the official Telangana Tourism website.
Thrilling Rides, Wave Pools, fun and Adventure Activities in Hyderabad
Wild Waters Amusement & Water Park, located near Shankarpalli, is one of the largest amusement and water parks in India. Spread across 30 acres of greenery, the park combines water rides, amusement rides, and adventure activities, making it a must-visit destination for families, friends, and thrill-seekers.
1. Attractions at Wild Waters
🌊 Water Rides & Pools
Wave Rider & Rain Dance – Dance under rain showers and ride the tides.
Lazy River – Relax and float through calm waters.
Speed Slides – Adrenaline-pumping water slides for thrill lovers.
Kids Splash Zone – Safe and colorful water play for children.
🎡 Amusement Rides
Roller Coasters & Giant Wheel – Exciting rides for families.
Carousel & Mini Train – Perfect for kids.
Thrill Rides – Pendulum swing, free fall rides, and more.
🧗 Adventure Activities
Ziplining & Rope Course – Test your skills and courage.
Rock Climbing – Fun for both adults and kids.
2. Best Time to Visit
October to March – Pleasant weather and perfect for outdoor fun.
Summers are ideal if you want to enjoy water rides all day.
3. Timings & Tickets
Timings: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM (all days).
Tickets: Prices vary for kids, adults, and weekends. Online booking is available on their official website.
4. How to Reach Wild Waters
By Road: Located in Shankarpalli, about 35 km from Hyderabad city center. Easy access via car, cabs, and buses.
By Train: Nearest station – Shankarpalli Railway Station (~3 km).
By Air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (~50 km).
5. Suggested Itinerary
Morning – Arrive early, start with thrilling water rides. Afternoon – Enjoy amusement rides and grab lunch at the food courts. Evening – Adventure activities, rain dance, and sunset photography.
Pelican Festival - Kolleru: Kolleru, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country, will host Pelican Festival at the Atapaka bird sanctuary on February 4.
Making elaborate arrangements to attract tourists for the ‘Pelican Pakshula Panduga’ at Atapaka village, located on the borders of the Krishna and West Godavari districts.
More than 5,000 spot-billed pelicans will visit the lake, roost, breed and fly with their young ones during the winter season. Hundreds of painted storks and other bird species will nest in all seasons.
Students and bird watchers will enjoy the scene in the lake and the neighbouring island villages after the break of dawn.
“The sanctuary will be decked up for the festival. Film artistes, noted singers and other celebrities will perform cultural programmes. The Environment Education Centre (EEC), the children’s park and the boating facility will entertain the tourists,”
Students of different educational institutions will visit the lake. Parking, drinking water, toilets and other facilities are arranged on the lake bund.
“The EEC will provide information to the visitors on different birds nesting in Kolleru and the neighbouring habitations. Different species, their food habits, the sounds they make, roosting, brooding and other information will be displayed in the centre,”.
Beach festival December 2017 Kakinada Everyone in the city is very much excited about our grand event "NTR BEACH FESTIVAL". As all of us know that event will start on 19th December and end on 21st December. But a lot of questions raising regarding the festival.
Food Stalls:
25 food stalls will serve wide varieties with all tastes of both Veg and Non-Veg from 10 am to 12 pm
Play Area for Children:
Play area with fun activities games etc. for children of all ages.
Water Sports:
The beach festival offers water sports activities like
Bumper ride
Jet Skies
Water zorbing
Banana Boat Ride
Sand Art:
The artists work with sand to depict a theme that mesmerizes the audience.
Dog Show:
20 breeds of dogs will be shown to the people which give the chance to play with the different breeds of dogs.
Time: 2 pm to 6 pm
Adventure Sports:
The Kakinada Beach Festival is the place for the People who crave for adventure. It offers various adventure sports like
Paramotoring
Parasailing
Paragliding
Trampoline
Rock climbing
Heli Joy Ride
Timings: 10.00 AM To 5.30 PM
Rate per Head: Rs. 2,500/- (All Inclusive)
Dates: 19-12-2017 to 21-12-2017
Paramotor - Standard Flying
Timings: 6.30 AM To 6.00 PM
Adult: Rs. 1,500/-
Child: Rs. 1,500/-
Dates: 17-12-2017 to 21-12-2017
Paramotor - Aerobatics Flying
From 6.30 AM To 6.00 PM
Adult: Rs. 2,500/-
Child: Rs. 2,500/-
Dates: 17-12-2017 to 21-12-2017
Parasailing
From 6.30 AM To 6.00 PM
Adult: Rs.700/-
Child: Rs. 700/-
Dates 17-12-2017 to 21-12-2017
Entertainment
19th December - SPB Musical Night
On 19th December legendary playback singer S.P.Balasubramanyam, the musical night will start at 5 pm. SP Balasubramanyam is a veteran singer, for the past thirty years. He is best known for his unique style of singing.
Time: 5 pm
20th December - Star Night
On 20th December Vande Mataram Srinivas, Geetha Madhuri, Sunita Upadrashta, Hemachandra, Sravana Bhargavi, Simha, Usha, Dhananjay, Sri Krishna will entertain with their songs.
Time: 5 pm
21st December - AR Rahman Live Concert
On 20th December AR Rahman will perform along with the selected participants from the 'Share ARR Stage' Competitions.
Time: 7:30 pm
All the three days Entry free for everyone
Venue: NTR Beach, Kakinada (12 km from Railway Station and 10 km from RTC Bus Complex)
In a three day event, Legendary playback Singer SP Balu Musical Night and Music maestro AR Rahman Live concert will be the highlight of the event. We can say this time Beach festival is going to be the feast for Music lovers.