Telangana
The newly christened 29th state of India shares its capital city of hyderabad with its sister state Andhra Pradesh. Located primarily in the Deccan plateau the place is well known for its rocky terrain and hence is home to several forts and palaces (the terrain proving safety in the days of yore), Telangana is also famous for its carefree lifestyle, delectable spicy food, bustling cities peppered with monuments and socio cultural unity of diverse religions. One can truly experience the “unity in diversity” here.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Telangana lies in the South, and the best time to visit is from October to March, when the weather is pleasant and dry. Summers can be scorching and monsoons too wet.
CUISINE
Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, The sumptuous meals and the spicy flavors of Telangana offer a treat to the tourist.
LANGUAGE
Telugu, the most widely spoken language of south India, is the state language of Telangana.
CULTURE
Telangana has a vibrant up-beat culture. Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form from Telangana which has been received in recent times. It is called ‘Dance of Warriors’. Warriors before leaving to the battlefield enact this dance before the idol of Lord Siva.
LOCAL TREASURES
One can shop for articles made out of Bidri working, the lac bangles of Charminar glittering in glass work or shawls and silks of various kinds.
HYDERABAD
The capital city for both the states, Hyderabad is a buzzing city where old meets new. IT hubs, cafes, pubs get along with traditional places like Charminar, the Golconda fort and Birla mandir. It is also the birthplace of the world famous Hyderabadi dum biryani. Charminar is the most iconic symbol and a boat ride across the man-made Hussain Sagar is well worth a weekend. The Salar Jung museum houses some of the best works of Mughal and Deccan art work. The city of NIzams is sure to wow you with its pomp and culture.
SECUNDERABAD
One of the two cities that make twin-cities in Telangana. Secunderabad is certainly worth exploring. Reflecting the rich culture and tradition of the state, this city is an absolute delight to be visited.
WARANGAL
Fondly referred as Telangana’s historic gem, Warangal is the place to find solace and serenity. The famous man-made Pakhal Lake and Pakhal wildlife sanctuary is buried amidst acres and acres of lush green deciduous forest. Another crowd puller is the 12th century thousand pillar temple and Warangal fort.
NIZAMABAD
Famed for their beautiful stone-engraved temples and historical monuments, a visit to NIzamabad can be a religious affair for pilgrims. Take a peek into an ancient temple Kanteshwar, The Nizamabad known for its simplicity. Indulge in nature at the Pocharam wildlife sanctuary and Mallaram forest.
KARIMNAGAR
Endowed with a rich history it would be hard not to fall in love with the nature infused ruins of Elganadal Hill Fort, Jagtial Fort and Ramagiri Fort. A popular pilgrimage is the Manthani temple and the riverine forest of Shivaram wildlife sanctuary makes Karimnagar the perfect package.
ADILABAD
The second largest city after Hyderabad, Adilabad is well known for its lush greenery and the highest waterfall in the state – Kuntala falls in the Sahyadri hills. This treat to the eye destination is a definite off beat spot for all nature and wildlife lovers.
MAHABUBNAGAR
One of the major destinations in Telangana that offers religious and historical places is Mahabubnagar. Here, the local sites may be limited to shopping around Tipu Sultan Chowk and exploring is confined to the Saint’s Tree – Pillalamarri. The tiger wilds jungle camp and mallari theertham waterfalls are also worth a visit.
NALGONDA
A place popular for its old forts and temples with alluring architecture. This place sees hordes of tourist population every year. Devarakonda Fort, Bhongir fort and Rachakonda fort are quite popular. However no visit to Nalgonda is complete without visiting the famed Nagarjuna Sagar dam, possibly the largest of its kind in South India.
PAPIKONDALU HILLS
Popularly known as the Papi hills, the region is technically a gorge in the Godavari River. Located in the east Godavari district, the place is most popular for its cruise along the scenic river. Overnight stays along the banks is an experience to be cherished.
KHAMMAM
Perhaps a major highlight of Khammam is its majestic fort located in Stambhadri hill. The fort is about 1000 years old and it is a major tourist attraction that receives a lot of praise for its architecture that has a blend of HIndu and Islamic style and also for the view of the city you get from the fort.
