TELANGANA TOURISM

Telangana was the part of Andhra Pradesh and now it is independent state and 29th State of India from 2 June 2014. Telangana has Hyderabad as its capital; Hyderabad is also a popular city of India popularly known as City of pearls. Telangana take you back in its historical journey. This state is popular among tourists who love to discover the past of the place.

FAST FACTS ABOUT TELANGANA

Country	India
Region	South India, Deccan Plateau
Capital	Hyderabad
Largest City	Hyderabad
Area	114,840 km2
Time Zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Official Languages	Telugu
Other Languages	Hindi, English, Urdu
Rivers/ Lake	Godavari River, Krishna River, Bhima, Manjira, Musi
Wildlife	Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kawal wildlife sanctuary, Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
Fairs & festivals	Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara,Bonalu Festival, Bathukamma, Ugadi, Other Major Festivals like Dusshera, Diwali, Christmas, Eid etc.
Best Time to travel	End of October to Mid of March
Weather	Maximum temperature in Summers is 42°C and Average temperature in winters is 22°C.

HOW TO REACH TELANGANA

• BY AIR : The main and largest airport is in the capital of Telangana – Hyderabad, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. It is one of the busiest airport in India. The Airport is connected to other main cities of India and many countries too by daily flight services. Buses and Taxis both are available to your Destinations.

• BY RAIL : The main railhead in Telangana is Hyderabad. Another Railways Station is at Secunderabad. Both Stations connects Telangana to other Major Cities like Delhi. Both Buses and Taxis are available to your Destinations. 

• BY ROAD :  IBG recommends you to say NO to bus services. But  when you are in Telangana, or your city is near to Telangana you should not worry about bus services. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station is one of the largest Bus Stand in Asia which is located in Hyderabad. Jubilee Bus Stand of Secunderabad and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Stand servers best bus services that connects all the cities and Villages.

BEST TIME TO VISIT TELANGANA

• Best time to visit Telangana is between End of October and Mid of March. During This Period of time weather is Cold, pleasant and exhilarating. This State Receive an average rainfall is between700 mm to 900 mm per year in Southern Telangana and 900 mm to 1500 mm per year in Northern Telangana. So Avoid Rainy Season because Water of Rain can Drain your plans. Summers are too Hot in this State, So Avoid Summers and Monsoons.

• The State has three Seasons :
• Summers : March to June - Generally Maximum temperature in  Summers is 42°C. Summer is hot and dry because this state is a semi-arid area.
• Monsoons : June to September -  During this Period of time rainfall occurs upto 900 mm in the southern area and upto 1500 mm in the northern area.
• Winters : November to February -  Generally Average temperature in winters is 22°C. The Winters are dry and mild, starts in late of November.

• TELANGANA TOURISM ATTRACTION

  Hyderabad : The City of Pearls – Hyderabad, is the Capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. You can reach here via bus if you are living near to Hyderabad (Mahatma Gandhi Bus stand), Railway (Hyderabad Railway Station) and Air (The Rajiv Gandhi Terminal, International Airport). Places to see in Hyderabad are :
• • Charminar :  It is also known as Arc de Triomphe of the East, Located in the heart of the Hyderabad. It is the Historical monument was built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 AD and and symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood. Minaret height is 160 ft or  48.7 meters and surrounded by Markets like Laad Baazar (famous for Bridal Wear, Stone stubbed bangles and pearls). This monument is one of the seven wonder in Hyderabad and very popular among tourists.
  • Ramoji Film City : It is the largest integrated film city in the world. It was set up by Ramoji Group in 1996 on 2000-acre.It is one of Asia’s fastest growing tourism destinations. An amazing place to visit and a fun filled place for the entire family. It is a wonderland studded with parks, striking architectural triumphs, hills, lakes, multi cuisine restaurants, live dance shows, bird park and many more.
  • Golkonda Fort: It is one of the famous forts in Hyderabad and almost 800 years old. It is also known as Golconda or Golla Konda .It is a little city in itself because it is the biggest fortress in the Deccan plateau .It has 4 distinct forts with a 10-km long outer wall with 8 imposing gateways and with 87 bastions rising to a height of 15 to 18 meters.This fort is famous for its palaces, acoustics, passages, diamonds and ingeniously evolved water supply system. This fort is universally famous for the mines and  yielded many diamonds like Kohinoor. Main attraction within Golconda Fort is Sound and Light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life. The show has voice-over of Bollywood living legend Amitabh Bacchan. Available in 3 languages.
  • SalarJung Museum : It is an art museum located at Darushifa. This Museum is the third largest museum in India housing the biggest one-man collections of antiques in the world and comparable to London’s Victoria & Albert Museum .The Art Objects Comprises of Aurangzeb’s sword, a wardrobe of Tipu Sultan, a superb collection of jade, Chinese porcelain, Persian carpets, wood Carvings, bronze images, metal-ware, stone sculptures etc.
  • Falaknuma Place : As according to the Name Falaknuma which means Mirror of the sky is situated in Falaknuma, on top of a hill about 5 km from Charminar.  It has Collection of rare books, painting, furniture, statues etc. Another attraction of this place is A Big dining table made of gold and crystal , can seat up to 100 guests at a time.
  • Hussain Sagar Lake : This lake is famous for the world’s tallest 18-metre high monolith of Gautama Buddha. It is an artificial lake that separates the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.It has many boating facilities and surroundings of Hussain sagar lake are eye capturing.
  • Worship Places :
    • Mecca Masjid : It is the Oldest and Largest Mosque in the India. According to local people the Mosque is made up of some bricks which were brought from Mecca, That’s why is known as Mecca Masjid. It is Situated near the Charminar and popular among the tourists.
    • Birla mandir : The Lord Venkateswara temple was constructed by Birla Foundation.The temple is built of 2000 ton white marble with majestic views of the city and the Husain Sagar (lake).It is one of the must visit places in Hyderabad. Temple is very clean and very well organized. Lift facility also is available but it is for elderly and kids mainly. Photography is strictly prohibited inside the temple premises.
    • Chilkur Balaji Temple : Sri Chilkur Balaji Temple is located at Chilkur in Hyderabad district. This temple is also known as Visa Balaji Temple and one of the oldest temple in Telengana, built during the days of Akkana and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. An important feature of the Chilkur Balaji temple is that they do not accept money or Hundi.
    • Nehru Zoological Park : Also known as Zoo Park or Hyderabad zoo, located near to the Mir Alam Tank. It is the home hundred species of birds, reptiles, Animals like Asiatic Lion, Indian Rhino, Panther, Organutan, Kangaroos, Deers, Gaur, Nocturnal Birds etc. It is popular among tourists and people are also come here to watch Migratory birds, boating and for Elephant Rides to enjoy beauty and greenery of this Park.
    • Other Places to See in Hyderabad : Birla Planitorium, Sanghi Temple, Lumbini Park, NTR gardens, Gandipet, Shamirpet, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Paigah Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace, Osman and Himayat Sagar Lakes are the other tourist places in Hyderabad.
    Warangal : Beautiful and Capital City of Kakatiyas, Warangal is located 145 kilometers northeast of Hyderabad. It is the second biggest city of Telangana. You can reach here via Road, First Take Bus from Hyderabad to Jangaon then take a taxi for Warangal, Railway (About 21 direct trains from Hyderabad to Warangal) and Air (The Rajiv Gandhi Terminal, International Airport – nearest airport). Places to see in Warangal are :
    • Warangal Fort : The Structure of the fort is an example of architecture of south Indian and was built in 13th Century.  Nice Historic Place to visit in Warangal.
    • Pakhal Lake : It is a picturesque artificial lake situated near to the Warangal Town. The Views of lake and surroundings are Breathtaking. Nearby attraction of this Lake is Wildlife Sanctuary which has stunning range of plants and Animals.
    • Ramappa Lake : The lake is Serene situated near the Ramappa temple and spreads across 82 square kilometer area. The Views of Lake and Surroundings are Spectacular and Walking along lake and Boating Facilities make this place center of attraction for tourists.
    • Gardens : Kakatiya Rock Garden, is the popular tourist attraction which has Rock – made statues of Antelopes, Deer and Lions. It is located near the Fort temple and beautiful artificial waterfalls and playgrounds attracts children as well as tourists. Kakatiya Musical Garden, is attractive tourist attraction which has 15 acres of gardens, musical fountains and artificial waterfalls. It is located near the Bhadrakali temple and Boating facilities of this garden also attracts tourists.
    • Worship Places : Thousand Pillar Temple, situated near the Hanamkonda-Warangal highway on Hanumakonda hill’s slope. Thousand pillar temple is dedicated to Lord Surya, Lord Shiva and LordVishnu. It is the Never-miss-out Destination. Bhadrakali Temple, situated near the city on a Hill. The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali and naturally formation of rocks make this temple more worthy to visit.Other temples are Padmakshi Temple, Ramappa Temple, Siddeshwara Temple, Sri Veeranarayana Temple.
    • Other Places to visit in Warangal are : Eturnagaram Willife Sanctuary, Govindarajula Gutta and Pembarthi Village.
    • Khammam : Khammam is located about 193 kilometers east of Hyderabad. It is one of the biggest city of Telangana. You can reach here via Buses (From Hyderabad, Warangal, Tallada, Vijayawada etc), Railway (Directs connects from major cities like New delhi and Chennai) and Air (The Rajiv Gandhi Terminal, International Airport and Vijayawada Airport – nearest airport). Places to visit in Khammam are :
    • Worship Places : Kallur(Lord Venu Gopala Swamy temple), Parnasala(Lord Rama Spent days here with this Brother and wife), Kusumanchi(Ancient Shrine), Nelakondapalli(22 km from Khammam, Archaeological evidences of Mahabharata can be seen here), Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple(also known as Telangana tirupati, situate din Jamalapuram), Theerthala(dedicated to Lords Sangameswara and Venkateswara, situated at Prentalapalli), Jeella Cheruvu(lord Venkateswara shrine known as Chinta Tirupathi), Sri Lalitha Parameswari Temple(Goddess Aadi Parashakti shrine), Lord Sangameshwara Temple(Situated in Garla) and Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy Temple are famous worship places in Khammam.
    • Other Tourists Places are :
    • Khammam Fort, It is about thousand year old fort which is located in the Stambhadri Hill. It is one of the major tourism attraction in Khammam.
    • Lakaram Lake, is also a famous tourist spot and offers boating in this lake. The atmosphere and surroundings of this lake is relaxing and spectacular.
    • Gundala, famous for Hot springs, Perantalapalli, famous for picturesque landscapes and breathtaking views of Papi Hills and Munivaatam Falls and Kinnerasani Wildlife sanctuary are the other most popular tourism attraction of Khammam.
    • Nizamabad : Also known as Indur, is located about 171 kilometers north of Hyderabad. You can reach here via Buses (Regular Bus services From Hyderabad and Mumbai), Railway (NZB railway station Directs connects from major cities like Mumbai and locally connected too) and Air (Neares Airports are The Rajiv Gandhi Terminal, International Airport and Warangal Airport). Places to visit in Nizamabad are :
      • Kanteshwar : It is an ancient temple which was built by Satakarni II. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and architecture of this temple is about 500 years old. The Temple is beautiful and in North-Indian Style. Another Popular worship place is Hanuman Temple which is in Sarangpur, about 8 km from Nizamabad.
      • Forts : Nizamabad Fort, is the popular and historical fort in the city. It is situated at an altitude of 300 meters on top of a hill. It is popular because of its architecture and of worship sites located within the fort premises. Another Fort in Nizamabad district is 400 years old Domakonda Fort which has temple complex and Two Palaces.
      • Beauty of Nature and Wildlife :
        • Alisagar Reservoir, is a picnic place full of flower garden with lush greenery, located about 13 km from Nizamabad. It is the most popular and memorable destination in the city. Boating facilities is kind of icing on the cake.
        • Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary, It is located near to the Pocharam Lake and spread over 130 square kilometer area. It is the home of different animals like wolf, chital, jackal, peacock etc.
        • Mallaram Forest, is the adventures and eco-tourism spot and located about 7km to the south-western part of Nizamabad. It is the Best location for trekking and camping.
        •  Alisagar Deer Park(serveral species of deer, most popular Golden Hued Deer) and Ashok sagar(7 km from Nizamabad) etc are the other tourist places for visit.
      • Dams : Pochampad Dam, is popular among tourists. Nearby attraction of this dam is Sree Ram Mandir. Nizam Sagar Dam, located near Manjira River and main water resource of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
      • Other Tourist Places are : Bada Pahad Dargah, Archaeological and Heritage Museum and Dichipalli Ramalayam.
      Karimnagar : It is located about 165 kilometers north of Hyderabad. You can reach here via Buses (TSRTC zonal headquarter in Karimnagar District), Railway (Peddapalli- Jagtial- Nizamabad line. ) and Air (Neares Airports at Basant Nagar Kesoram Cement Factory at Ramagundam,50 km from Karimnagar and Rajiv Gandhi Internation Airport).
      • Popular Places to visit in Karimnagar are : Elgandal fort (located on the banks of the Manair river), Ujwala park(famous among tourists for its Atmosphere), Rajeev Deear Park(Cover 30 acres area), Rakhi Hills and Singareni Coal Mines.
      • Famous Religious Places are : Vemulawada(35 km from Karimnagar and known for Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple Complex), Dharampuri(Shrine Dedicated to Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Kondagattu(35 km, dedicated to Lord Anjaneya Swamy)andKaleshwaram(famous Lord Shive Temple called Kaleswara muktheswara Swamy).
      Adilabad : It is second largest city in Telangana. It is known for its waterfalls, Parks and Handicrafts. You can reach here via Road, Rail and Air directly or indirectly.
      • Worship Places : Basar Saraswathi Temple, is the most famous ancient temple in the Adilabad. It is located on the Bank of Godavari River. It is dedicated to the Goddess Saraswati. Another worship place is Jainath Temple.
      • Waterfalls : Kuntala Waterfalls, are the highest waterfalls about 45 meters tall that comes from River Kadam, in the Adilabad, Telangana  and located in the middle mountain ranges of Sahyadri. The View is beautiful and breathtaking. Pochera Waterfalls, are about 20 m tall comes from River Godavari after merging with the stream of water. The surrounding of waterfall is covered with dense forests.
      • Art and Handicrafts : Nirmal Toys and Paintings are very famous in the section of Handicrafts and Paintings. Kala Ashram has a wide range of books that are relevant to rural society.
      • Wildlife Sanctuaries : There are three wildlife Sanctuaries Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary and Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary.
        • Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary : It is established in 1964, located in amidst dense forests which offers best surroundings for animals. It is the home of Tigers, Python, owls, Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Panthers and so on.
        • Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary : It is established in 1980, spread over 136 square kilometer area. It offer natural vegetation because Pranahita river flows near to Sanctuary. It is the home of Leopards, Sloth Bear, Tigers, Hyenas, Some birds like Ducks, Teals, Herons and so on.
        • Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary : It is established in 1987, spread over 36.29 square kilometer area. It has a rich variety of flora and fauna as it located on the bank of Godavari River. It is the home of Panthers, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Tigers, Python, Crocodiles an so on.
      Nalgonda : It is Situated between two hills. Nagonda is dervied from telugu words Nalla means black and Konda means hill. It is popular among the tourists because of its monuments, temples and hill forts. Places to see in Nalgonda are :
      • Forts : Bhongir Fort, It is about 45 km from Warangal-Hyderabad highway. It is famous because it is located at 500 feet altitude, on the single stone hill. It is constructed somewhere around 12th Century.Rachakonda Fort, is the ruined fort constructed somewhere around 14th Century. If you are adventures, Trekking towards fort is Best option for you. Another famous ruined fort is Deverakonda Fort.
      • Ethipothala Waterfalls : 60 meter high Ethipothala Waterfalls, located about 11 km from theNagarjuna Sagar Dam. It is popular among the tourists because of many cave temples near to the waterfalls and It is also a good spot for trekking, caving and Camping.
      • Other Tourist Attractions : Pillalamari and Mellachervu(Both villages famous for ancient temples), Nagarjuna Sagar Dam(124 meter high dam, tallest masonry dam and third largest manmade lake in the world), Kolanupaka(architectural delights, famous for temples like Kolanupaka Jain temple), Yadagirigutta( 50 km from Warangal-Hyderabad Highway, Famous Laxmi Narasimha swamy Temple) and Nandikonda.
      Medak : This place is famous for various things like Rock Paintings, Medak Fort, Outstanding Medak Church etc. If you are Nature Lover or want to see wildlife Medak offer you some places like Narsapur Forest, Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary which is famous for Migratory Birds. The beautiful Devnoor Village, Sri Kasi Visweshwara Temple and Veerabhadra Swamy Temple are great places to visit.
      Mahbubnagar : It is located about 100 km from the Hyderabad. The Most Popular attraction of this place is the 800 years old banyan tree which known as Peerlamarri.  Nava Brahma Temples, another major attraction of this place. It is a group of nine temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and located at Alampur.
      Rangareddy :  It is the one of the most popular district of the Telangana. It is near to the Hyderabad so you can cover tourist places of this district in a single day. Ranareddy is famous for its temple like Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple. It is the most popular tourist place of this District. Another Major attraction of this place is Osman Sagar Lake. It is the popular picnic Spot and also known as Gandipet. The Lake also offers you Swimming pools for swimming. Other Tourists attraction of Rangareddy and near to Rangareddy are Himayath Sagar Reservoir, Maheshwaram, Chilkur, Ananthagiri Hiils and Durgam Cheruvu.

      FOR FOODIES AND LADIES

      Cuisine : The Cuisine of Telangana is famous for gutsy and robust flavors. The Cuisine of Telangana is divided into two categories. One is Telugu Cuisine which is highly spicy Cuisine and Another is Hyderabadi Cuisine which is combination of Cuisines of Turkish, Telugu, Mughali and Arab. The Cuisine of Telangana is prepared with different types of spices, Spring Onions (Scallion), Coriander seeds, herbs, Tamarind, Red Chilies etc. The Cuisine is serve with the pickles in which Chintakaya Tokku (Tamarind Pickle) is the popular one. Unique Dishes of Telangana are Jonna Rotte, Sajja Rotte and Hyderabadi Biriyani.
      • Telugu Cuisine :
        • Vegetarian Food of Telangana : Roti / Bread made up of Millet, Uppudi Pindi (Rice), Gongura Chana Dal (prepared with spices, mustard and Curry Leaves), Bachali Kura (Spinach Curry), Pachi Pulusu ( South Indian Soup prepared with tamarind, onions and Chili), Onkkaya Brinjal Pulusu, Arintikaya Banana pulusu and Palakoora ( Lentils cooked with Spinach ) are the Vegetarian Telugu Cuisine of Telangana.
        • Non-Vegetarian Food of Telangana : Oorru Kodi pulusu (special Chicken Curry) and Golichina Mamasm vepudu (special Mutton fry) are the most popular non-vegetarian Telugu Cuisine of Telangana.
        • Sweet and Savories : Karijelu (like Gujiya stuffed with Sweet or for non vegetarians stuffed with Mutton or Chicken), Sugar Madugulu ( Sweet prepared with Mik and Butter), Pharda Pheni(Sweet-Crispy Wafer) and Chakinalu or Sakinalu (deep fried snake prepared with Rice Flour, Sesame seeds and Ajwain/Carom) are most popular in Telugu Cuisine of Telangana. Chakinalu is essential dish on the occasion of Makara Sankranti.
      • Hyderabadi Cuisine : Hyderabadi Biryani is the most popular Cuisine of Hyderabad. Another Famous Cuisine of Hyderabad is Hyderabadi Haleem. Hyderabadi Cuisine is prepared with Tamarind, Red Chilies, Spices and Dry Coconut which make Hyderabadi Cuisines different from other state Food.
      If you are a real foodie this place will definitely satisfy your Tongue and Stomach. Visit Telangana for more yummy, delectable and Mouthwatering Telangana Dishes.
      Shopping : Shopping in Telangana is more attractive for ladies and girls because Capital of Telangana is the City of Pearls. This State has plenty to offer to tourists who are looking for Artificial Stoned Bangles, Cheap Jewelry, Saris, Woodcraft, Unique Metalwork, Brass Ware, Carpets etc. to take home as the sweet memory of  Telangana. The Most Common Visited Markets for Shopping in Telangana are Laad Bazaar (famous for Stone Bangles) at Hyderabad, Park Lane (famous for textile and Garments) at Secunderabaad and DCWRA Bazaar (if you are looking for bargains), Hanumakonda (famous for khadi items), Lepakshi Handicrafts Emporium (famous for Brass Products) and Kothawada (famous for hand crafted durries) at Warangal and So on. Handicrafts, Scroll Paintings and stoned bangles are good buy if you are not concerned about the weight of your luggage.

      PERSONAL ADVICE

      Before planning to visit Telangana go through these personal advises by IBG based on common questions of tourists visiting Telangana.
      I am confused with Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.Telangana is a newly formed state in 2014 after partitioned by Andhra Pradesh. So some of the major tourism attractions are in Telangana and other are in Andhra Pradesh region, you can refer to both articles if you are confused in tourism attractions in whole region.
      Is it worth to have trip of Telangana?
      Yes if you like to discover different historical, cultural, and environmental aspects of different places then Telangana is for you.
      How much days would be enough for trip to Telangana?
      It is based on your interests and budget, as firstly set your budget, and then only add specific destinations in your plan as per your interests. You can refer to tourism attractions and it will help out you to decide destinations.
      Is there anything special for Photography Enthusiast?
      If you like to capture monuments with unmatched beauty then Telangana offers you a lot, there are also some wildlife sanctuaries for those who like to capture wildlife.

    • ABOUT TELANGANA

      This is a small overview of Telangana State, as everyone wants to collect brief input about the destination which they are going to visit.
      Telangna word have been derived from the word Trilinga (telugu) which means “the country of three lingas“. Lingam is a Sanskrit origin word which means a stylized phallus object that represents the god Shiva. Telangana Newest State of India, Located in the  region of South India. Telangana was the part of Andhra Pradesh and now it is independent state and 29th State of India from 2 June 2014. Capital and Largest City of Telangana is Hyderabad. Hyderabad is capital of Andhra Pradesh also. Other Major Cities of Telangana are Secunderabad, Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Nizamabad.
      It is the 12th Largest State in India with the total area of  114,840 km². This state touch the state borders of Andhra Pradesh(to the East and South), Maharashtra(to the North-West and North), Chattisgarh(to the north-east) and Karnataka (to the West). Telangana is Mostly Semi-arid Area but is drained by 79% of the Godavari River and 69% of the Krishna River Catchment area. About 45 % of Andhra Pradesh forest area is located in this State. Major Language Spoken in Telangana is Telugu. Other Languages are Urdu, English, Hindi etc.
      The Major Regional Festival starts from the February with the Tribal festival, Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara. The Festival begins at Warangal District in Tadvai Mandal and celebrated upto four days. Other Regional Festivals are Bonalu Festival which is dedicated to Goddess Mahakali and Celebrated in month of July or August and Bathukamma Festival which is dedicated to Goddess Gauri and Celebrated by Hindu Women in month of September to October as per Lunar calendar.  Other Major Festivals celebrated per year in Telangana are Ugadi (celebrated on New year according to Saka Calendar in the month of March or April), Dusshera, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Sankranti, Eid al-Fitr, Muharaam, Mawlid, Christmas and Good Friday.
      Have a trip to Telangana, and don’t forget to share your experience, your images, and videos with us. Your images and videos will be showcased on idharbhighumlo.com India’s only travel website with the aim to showcase beauty of India in front of whole world.