Make Your Next Visit to Hyderabad Fun, Exciting and Rejuvenating. Top 10 Must Visit Places Around Hyderabad and Where to Enjoy Hyderabadi Cuisine and Shopping in 2020

Jummerat Bazaar is one of the oldest shopping centres in Hyderabad. Times have changed but this 80 year old bazaar’s popularity remains intact. A weekly flea market is held on this street every Thursday. Even though many items that this bazaar offers are second-hand and do not come with a warranty, this does not dissuade customers.

You can buy a wide variety of traditional and antique items from this flea market. Many different stalls offer decoration products, jewellery, conventional furniture, kitchen items and even house tools at a much cheaper rate. Some shops also sell electronic parts. So, if you’re a tech savvy individual looking for shopping at affordable prices, this is the place to be. The bazaar opens from 6 am till around 6 pm and it is located near Begum Bazaar.

Laad Bazaar was built more than 100 years ago, near the Charminar. To be precise, it is present on one of the streets branching out from the exquisite monument. You can buy jewellery items at a very affordable price from Laad Bazaar. It is particularly popular for the colourful, vibrant and fresh bangles that are found everywhere in this market around the time of a traditional festive event such as Eid. Laad Bazaar is also famous for zari, embroidery work, sarees and so many other traditional clothing items. The market’s precious stones such as pearls are just as famous. From superb food delicacies to jewellery and clothing stores, Laad Bazaar offers a wide range of items at very reasonable and attractive prices. The stores in Laad Bazaar usually open at 11 am and it is located near the Charminar.

Shahran Market is another one of the oldest markets in Hyderabad. The market is situated in Pathergatti near Gulzar House. It is particularly well-known for hijabs and burqas but you will also find yourself surprised at the variety of various ladies’ wear such as salwar suits.

The burqas dominate this market for there is a producing unit inside the market that manufactures high-quality burqas for exports. Men's clothing items are also available in Shahran Market. If you are a clothing fanatic, this is definitely a must-visit. For a quick yet delicious bite during your shopping trip, you can visit the Shahran hotel which is adjacent to this market and try their mouth-watering haleem. The market opens at 11 am and is also located near the Charminar.

The exquisite scenic beauty of ancient sites at Warangal will remind you of the times of the emperors and the queens. Warangal city is the 5th largest city in the state of Telangana. There are numerous intriguing stories about there being an enormous hillock in the city which was made using a single stone which has earned Warangal various names including Orugallu, Ekasila Nagaram, and Omtikonda. Spots in Warangal such as the Pakhal Lake, with its abundantly aesthetic appeal, are a famous tourist attraction. The beauty of the historical sites including gigantic forts and temples, is even more enchanting than the wildlife sanctuaries or other amazing places in India. The National Institute of Technology, a well-known and savoured student hub, is also situated in Warangal. You must spare at least 2 days to visit the entire place. The recommended season to visit Warangal is from October to February.

Borra Caves are located in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley situated on the east coast of India. The exotic mountainous terrain, magnificent scenery, lush greenery, dense woodlands and natural vegetation of the Borra Caves are very appealing to the eyes.

Borra Caves, considered one of the biggest caves in India, rest at a huge height of about 705 meters. They are composed of limestone rocks, going as deep as 80 meters, and are deemed to be the deepest cave in India. A spectacular creation, these caves were naturally developed when stream water rushed by a limestone range, and the calcium carbonate transformed to calcium bicarbonate. The most prominent characteristic of the Borra Caves is the abundance of speleothem.

You might also find the golden geckos and bats lurking in these caves. The exotic combination of light and darkness enhances the beauty of the caves to a great extent. You can visit these caves any time of the year to absorb its beauty.

This temple is built adjacent to the village of Chilkur, nearly 30 km from Hyderabad, and situated on the banks of the Osman Sagar Lake. Chilkur Balaji Temple, one of the oldest temples in the state of Telangana, was built nearly half a millennium ago by the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas, Akkanna and Madanna. The temple is also known as the Visa Balaji Temple.

It is believed that if you pray here, your grandest of wishes will be granted by Bhoodev, Sridevi, and Balaji Venkateswara. The temple also boasts of a delicate and appealing architecture. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Balaji Venkateswara. It is also the only Indian temple that is out of governmental control and does not accept any financial donations from its devotees. The temple is visited by around 75,000 – 1,00,000 devotees every week.

Ramoji Film City, situated near Hayathnagar, is the biggest film studio owned by the film producer Ramoji Rao and is a famous tourist attraction that dates back to 1996. The gigantic film city is spread over 2,500 acres; this is highlighted by the fact that around 50 films can be filmed here all at once. It has produced both national as well as international films in various languages such as Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Bengali, etc.

The popular gateway of the film city is an ideal location for lavish marriages to corporate meetings. To notch things up a bit, it also incorporates various recreational activities. The hotels of Tara and Sitara situated at the Ramoji Film City are built for guests to stay. Its major attractions include Princess Street, Sun Fountain, Eureka, Film World, Angel's Fountain, a temple, an airport, and gardens among other things.

Nagarjuna Sagar is situated in Andhra Pradesh and is distinguished from other attractions by its lush green gardens. The town is named after the Buddhist scholar and saint, Acharya Nagarjuna. In ancient times, the town was also called Nagarjunasagar or Vijayapuri and is more than fully blessed by Mother Nature.

It is also famous for housing the tallest masonry dam across the globe that is built on the Krishna river. The dam has an estimated potential of watering about 10 acres of land and is a marvel of modern architecture. There is an island called Nagarjuna Konda in the midst of the spectacular man-made lake which elevates the tourists’ experience still further. This bewitching tourist attraction will absolutely amaze you with its beauty so definitely go for it!

Pattadakal, home to majestic Hindu and Jain temples, earned the UNESCO World Heritage recognition for more reasons than one can decipher. Pattadakal is a part of Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal and represents the delicate and remarkable Chalukyan architecture. It is situated on the banks of the Malaprabha river and shows a rich legacy that goes back to the 4th century. The temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva and are a blend of the South and North Indian architecture. These were built by Lokamahadevi Queen to portray both the lavish South Indian architecture and give the town its present identity.

The must-visit temples, enriched with heritage and remarkable architecture are the Jain temple, Sangameshwara temple, Papanatha temple, and the Galaganatha temple. A traditional dance festival is held here every year in January that highlights the cultural and traditional values of this region in rich colours. Another amazing feature of this historical site is the versatile food.

Srisailam, built on the banks of the Krishna river, is a town located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Srisailam is particularly famous for the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple. This also makes it a divine pilgrimage spot for Shaivism and Shaktism.

Situated on the banks of river Krishna, Srisailam is also known for a wildlife sanctuary and a dam. By visiting Srisailam, you will experience holy, relaxed, and peaceful feelings all at once. Merely sitting around the temples to contemplate about one’s life in a peaceful yet exotic place is just one of the many reasons to visit Srisailam. Another must-visit place in Srisailam is the Nallamala forest. The Nallamala forest close to the Srisailam hills, is full of diverse vegetation. This rich green forest is also an important tourist attraction particularly for trekkers, hikers and other nature lovers.

This ancient site, located in a shaded valley is a dream spot for tourists from all across the globe. It is known as the city of ruins because of its rich cultural heritage. Hampi has almost 500 classical buildings, street bazaars, magnificent temples, bastions, treasury monuments and charming remains of the Vijayanagar Empire that make it a backpacker's delight. The temples and other historical buildings are scattered over a vast area.

Hampi has more than a 100 sites to visit. It has an open museum for all the history fanatics. It is also popular for the magnificent temples, particularly the Virupaksha temple. You can also see the remains of old channels, canals, army shelters and barracks in Hampi. UNESCO recognised Hampi as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Since then, even more efforts have been put in to revive the lost beauty of this city.

Situated in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, Rollapadu wildlife sanctuary is spread over 614 square km. Set up in 1988, it is particularly known for housing many endangered species like the great Indian bustard and the lesser florican. Rollapadu allows its visitors a delightful trip in the wild, close to the natural beauty of several diverse varieties of plants and animals. Tourists from all across the globe travel to this sanctuary to get a closer look at the endangered species in this sanctuary.

The sanctuary is also a habitat for many reptiles and birds. Sparrows, blackbucks, Indian cobras, Russell vipers, mynah, and so many other species of animals can be found here. If you really want to get close to nature as well as learn more about it, add the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary to your bucket list.

Konaseema is a delta-like area located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The region is surrounded by streams of the river Godavari as well as the majestic Bay of Bengal. This exotic region also has features resembling those of the glorious Kerala backwaters; thus, it is sometimes referred to as ‘God’s Own Creation’ after ‘God’s Own Country’ that is Kerala.

The fishing villages of this region are the major tourist attractions. Konaseema is lined with a large variety of fruit-laden mango trees, lush-green paddy fields, coconut spinneys and fertile grounds. The most important place in the area is the town of Amalapuram. Other towns include Razole, Ravulapalem, Kothapeta, and Mummidivaram. Apart from the aesthetic elegance, rich green lands, and exquisite synagogues, the area also has beautiful scenery and weather to flaunt about.

The world-famous Hyderabadi Biryani has a magical recipe and is the most delicious delicacy you will find in Hyderabad. You can get this at any eatery in Hyderabad. Thus, you can relish the same mouth-watering taste at any eating join in and around Hyderabad. The main ingredients of this dish are fresh meat in rice sprinkled with hot lip-smacking spices. The most preferred places to try this heavenly dish are: Meridian Cafe & Restaurant, Punjagutta, Hotel Shadab, Ghansi Bazaar and Shah Ghouse Cafe & Restaurant, Toli Chowki.

Using traditional ingredients and hot spices, the famous finger-licking Haleem was first introduced during the Nizam rule. It is the go-to dish for not only the local public in Hyderabad but also for residents throughout India. This delicious dish has many healthy ingredients including meat, lentils alongside whole wheat powder with many conventional spices. All of these ingredients are cooked into a thick yummy paste. Haleem is a common dish in the holy month of Ramadan. You can try it out while shopping in Shahran Market. Other recommended places to enjoy Haleem include Pista House, Shalibanda Road, Charminar, Paradise, Paradise Circle, Secunderabad and Shah Ghouse Cafe & Restaurant, Toli Chowki.

Mirchi ka Salan is a traditional dish of Hyderabad that is not to be missed in any case. Green chillies are used as the main ingredient for making the gravy along with peanuts, coconut and sesame seeds. Long hot chillies are added to the gravy to make this special Mirchi ka Salan. Thus, whenever you decide to visit Hyderabad do not forget to taste Mirchi ka Salan. You can easily find it on any food street but recommended places are Hotel Nayaab, Ghansi Bazaar, Hotel Rumaan Restaurant, Toli Chowki and Hotel Shadab, Ghansi Bazaar.