Detailed Itinerary

Historical Hyderabad

Duration: 05 Nights / 06 Days
Destinations: Hyderabad - Warangal - Vijaywada - Nagarjunasagar - Hyderabad

Day 01: Hyderabad

Reach Hyderabad and we will assist you in the transfer to the hotel.

Check in at the hotel.

Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and is the fifth largest city in India, being the former seat of one of the world's richest monarchs namely the Nizams. It is a major centre of Islamic culture and is a harmonious amalgam of the South and the North.

Hyderabad became famous when the fourth Qutb Shahi ruler, Quli Qutb Shah created this new capital and named it after his Begum- Hyder Mahal. Before the founding of Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi kings ruled from the fortress of Golconda - 11 kms to the west. Today, the extensive ruins of the fort, with Qutb Shahi's tomb, have become principal attractions for tourists.

Relax at the hotel in Hyderabad.

Day 02: Hyderabad

Compass representative will meet you at the hotel after breakfast to explain the travel documents and the tour.

Start sightseeing of the city.

Visit Charminar and Golconda Fort. The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are separated by the Hussain Sagar Lake.

Eleven kilometers from the city, this fort was originally built by the Kakatiya rulers of Warangal in the 13th century. It became the capital of Qutb Shahi rulers from 1518 A.D. to 1687 A.D. They laid out splendid monuments and parks and designed wonderful accoustical systems. Such is the ingenuity of the system that a clapping of the hand sounded at the entrance gate is echoed in the Durbar hall of the citadel at the very top of the hill. The tombs of Qutb Shahi kings are nearby.

Golconda was once famous for its flourishing trade in diamonds, which has now become a legend of the past. Today tourists visit this palace only to see the ruins.

The Salar Jung Museum - This treasure house of art is located on the bank of the river Musa. Acclaimed as one of the finest one-man collections in the world, this museum is named after Mir Yusuf Ali Khan- Salar Jung III- the prime minister of the Nizam, who was a great connoisseur of art. It houses 35,000 exhibits collected from all corners of the world including illuminated manuscripts, bejewelled armories, wood carvings, exquisite cut glass collections etc. Of the many artifacts, some of the sculptures in marble like the "Veiled Rebecca", "Mestophiles" and the "Lady with the lamp" are some irresistible pieces of art with classic workmanship. The oil paintings acquired from France, an array of vases and pewters, numerous watches and clocks, rich Persian silks and wall hangings, floor coverings, and Chinese tapestry are some of the prize exhibits.

The Charminar Situated in the heart of the old walled city, this edifice is the best known land mark with bustling bazaars all round, where a variety of articles like pearls, jewellery, bangles, chandeliers, silks are displayed. It was built in 1591 A.D. by Quli Shah, as a form of talisman to ward off the dreaded epidemic that was ravaging the city. As the name suggests, Charminar has four minarets rising 49 metres high, typical of Qutb Shahi architecture.

Mecca Masjid - It is the largest mosque situated close to Charminar. It was begun by Qutb Shah in 1614 A.D., but was completed only in1687 A.D. by the Moghul Emperor - Aurangazeb. Granite has been used in the construction of colonnades and door arches.

Naubat Parbhat - Popularly called Birla Mandir this temple built of pure white marble atop a hill and dedicated to Lord Balaji is a very popular tourist attraction. One can get an excellent view of the twin cities and the lake joining them.

Overnight will be at Hyderabad.

Day 03: Hyderabad - Warangal (100 km by surface)

After breakfast proceed for Warangal.

Warangal - One hundred kilometers from Hyderabad is the historical city of Warangal, which was once the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty. The Kakatiyas were the Hindu kings who were patrons of art and architecture. Warangal is described as the "Metropolis of the Kakatiya Dynasty", and the temples built during their reign are fine examples of the Chalukyan style of architecture. The best known among them is the 1000 pillared temple on the slopes of the Hanumakonda hill and the Bhadrakali temple.

Another important monument in Warangal is the fort built by the the Kakatiyas. It has four decorative gateways of remarkable beauty. The outer walls are built of mud bricks, and the inside is fortified by stone walls in which many carved stones are found. These carved stoned are believed to have been taken out of the destroyed Chalukyan temples.

Warangal is also well known for its engraved brass ware which is in great demand abroad.

Afternoon proceed for sightseeing.

The Thousand Pillar Temple - The famous Thousand-Pillar Temple was built in 1163AD by King Rudra Deva and dedicated to the Gods Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The temple is built in the Chalukyan style of temple architecture. It is perched on the slopes of Hanamakonda hill on the outskirts of Warangal. A thousand richly carved pillars are unique to this temple.

The pillars in black stone are three-quarter reliefs carved in intricate fashion. Geometric intricate designs are carved on the stone pillars and only the finest hairbreadth can be inserted into the holes of the delicate stone bangle carvings. A splendidly carved granite statue of Nandi the bull rises six feet in height. There are two "rock - cut" elephants on either side of the main shrine.

Bhadrakali Temple - This famous temple of the Kakatiya period is situated on a hillock between Warangal and Hanamakonda. The 2.7 metre tall stone image of the deity is the main attraction. This temple too is built in the Chalukyan style of temple architecture.

Warangal Fort - Warangal fort lies 12 kms from Hanamakonda. Kakatiya King Ganapati Deva and his daughter Rudramma built the fort during the 13th century. The construction was started by king Ganapati in 1199 A.D and later completed by Rudramma in the 1261. It is a mud and brick structure and is largely in ruins now, but some of the remains stand tall here to this day. These include four huge stone gateways and several exquisite pieces of sculpture. Places of interest in the fort are a temple and four gateways similar to those at Sanchi, reflecting a Buddhist influence. The fort has two walls and the circumference of the outer wall is 49 km, the largest of its kind in India.

Ramappa Temple - Marco Polo has described this breathtakingly beautiful temple as the "brightest star in the galaxy of mediaeval temples in the Deccan". Rich, intricate carvings adorn the walls, pillars and ceilings of this marvellous edifice. It is located at Palampet, 64 km from Warangal. The temple dates back to 1234 AD and is a Shivalaya. It stands majestically on a six feet high star-shaped platform in a spacious compound and picturesque surroundings dotted with countless date palm trees. The platform has been constructed in such a way that one can walk around it and look at the carved figures which decorate the outer walls of the temple. The hall in front of the sanctum has numerous beautifully carved pillars that have been positioned to create an effect that combines light and space wonderfully.

Overnight will be at Warangal.

Day 04: Warangal - Vijaywada (253 km by surface)

After breakfast leave for Vijayawada enroute visiting Kondapalli Village.

KONDAPALLY: The name popular with the 14th century fort of Hindu Rajas. At the foothills, is a small village with the artisans working on the Puniki wood and painting with enamel colors on it. The human figures depict different occupation in the villages, birds and animals, Ambari elephants, mythological subjects like God and Goddesses figures etc with water color paintings.

VIJAYAWADA: The name literally means "City of Victory'. It is situated in ideal surroundings between the Krishna River and Budameru, its tributary. The third biggest city in Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada is a large railway junction on the Calcutta- Chennai line. It is also the place from which travelers visit the Buddhist centre of Amaravathi.

Arrive Vijayawada and check in at your hotel.

Overnight will be at the hotel.

Day 05: Vijaywada - Nagarjunasagar (65 km by surface)

A city called Vileyapuri flourished here seventeen years back which was a centre of Buddhist learning. The city went on to serve as the capital of the Ikshwaku kingdom. Today in its place flourishes Nagarjunasagar, a modern township named after Acharya Nagarjuna, the founding father of Mahayana Buddhism. Nagarjunasagar beckons the tourists with its enigmatic charm. Here, river Krishna snaking through the hills and forests in full flow is halted only by the world's largest masonry dam.

One of the earliest hydroelectric projects of India, the Nagarjunasagar Dam is a modern symbol of human triumph over nature. The construction of the dam resulted in the formation of the world's third largest man-made lake. A captivating sight of nature's electric beauty matched only by the fascinating creation of man.

Morning drive to Nagarjuna Sagar. Checkin at your hotel. Afternoon visit the Nagarjunakonda. It was one of the largest and most important Buddhist centres in South India from the 2nd century BC until 3rd century AD.

Also visit Nagarjunasagar Dam. One of the earliest hydroelectric projects of India, the Nagarjunasagar Dam is a modern symbol of human triumph over nature. The construction of the dam resulted in the formation of the world's third largest man-made lake. 124 metres high and about 1 Km long is the Nagarjuna Dam one of the largest masonry in the world. The lake, which it straddles, is the third largest manmade lake in the world. On a pylon not too far from the dam, is the image of Nagarjuna, the patron of the ancient city.

Visit Ethipothala Water falls (11 km) on the Chandravanka river, a tributory of Krishna. A mountain stream named Chanravanka cascades down the hills from a heigh of 22 m is near the Nagarunasagar. The Ethipothala waterfalls are a radiant sight of the power and beauty of nature. The dazzling lagoon formed by the falls has a crocodile breeding centre.

Day 06: Nagarjunasagar - Hyderabad (149 km by surface)

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Proceed to Srisailam (70 km) to visit the famous Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, where one of the 12 Joytilingas is situated.

Srisailam with Brahmarambha Mallikarjunaswamy temple is a famous pilgrimage Centre in South India located in the Nallamalai range of Hills and Forests. This Temple Town is situated in Kurnool District on the banks of River Krishna. Srisailam is also the venue of an engineering marvel in the form of a hydroelectric project across the River Krishna and the reservoir created by it houses crocodiles. A famous wildlife sanctuary is also located here. Srisailam is 235 Km. from Hyderabad. The State-owned Tourism Development Corporation and also private tour operators operate package tours to this Temple Town. The Temple is visited by about 5,000 pilgrims daily. On important occasions and festivals the number of pilgrims is lakhs.

Visit to Srisailam Tiger Reserve which is the largest in India. It is home to not just the Tiger but also a wide variety of other animal and bird species.

With an area of 356,000 hectares and sprawling over five districts of central Andhra Pradesh, the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest tiger reserve in the country. It has also been one of the largest wildlife habitations in the country. Off the regular tourist circuit, a visit to the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve helps in gaining a closer look into a forest that was almost given up as lost until a few years ago. It is not possible to see the entire reserve at one go but one trip can always lead to another.

The sanctuary lies in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh in the catchment area of the Krishna River. The region comprises five districts of the state namely Kurnool, Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda and Mahboobnagar. The sanctuary extends between latitude 16°15¢-16°45¢ in the North and longitude 78°45¢-80°00¢ in the East. It is surrounded by the Nallamalai Hills on the southern and eastern side while the Krishna River forms the boundary on the other side. The sanctuary is 13 km from Macherial.

Thereafter drive to Hyderabad. Proceed directly to the airport for flight to the next destination or to the hotel for your schedule.


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