Hyderabad India – Top-10 Thrilling Things to Do

Sitting at a height of 542 metres on a hilly terrain with a number of artificial lakes, Hyderabad is a delight for even the most discerning traveller. Not only is it a city of a rich cultural history, but there are also a number of interesting things one can do here. In fact, the only thing that we were left wanting for was more time!

Here is our list of top 10 things to do in Hyderabad for a truly memorable trip.

1. Sudha Car Museum

Who hasn’t had a childhood fantasy of designing cars? But most of those dreams are sidelined as we grow up. That is why the Sudha car museum is a must do activity in Hyderabad. It is the only handmade car museum in the world! The museum houses a range of vintage cars, modified cars and cars designed by the owner, Sudhakar Yadav, who has to his credit the Guinness World Record for making the largest tricycle in the world. It took us around 30 minutes to cover this unique museum, but one would be forgiven if they get lost in the artistic display for hours.

The entry charge is only INR 50 and it stays open from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm.

2. Dark Dining

It is said that the taste of food depends a lot on its smell. Now, imagine eating at a place where you only rely on your sense of smell before tasting the food. Sounds interesting, right? That is exactly what Dialogue in the Dark offers. Located in the Inorbit mall in Hitech city, this special restaurant serves food in pitch darkkess. And not just the restaurant, even the guests have to remove all articles which could either produce light or reflect it, so that the ambience is not ruined. The venue has a massive following so we suggest that you book your table in advance.

The meals are decently priced and the place stays open from 10 am to 10.30 pm.

3. Boating at Durgam Cheruvu

When on holidays, we often look for peace and calm. That is why when we heard about the Durgam Cheruvu, which literally means ‘hidden lake’, we knew it was a must visit place for us. Situated close to the Hi-tech city, the lake, also known as Madhapur Lake, is surrounded by granite rocks which are over 2500 million years old. The serene beauty of the lake, the artificial waterfalls, the floating fountains and its pristine surroundings were enough to give us the peace we were looking for and there are also a few treks you can take if you are feeling adventurous.

In fact, it is suggested that you take the boat trip around the lake as it offers some truly remarkable sights. The lake is open to visit from 10 am to 6.30 pm and the entry is free. Do remember to take your camera though as it offers some truly spectacular scenery.

4. Rock Walks

Hyderabad sits on the Deccan plateau which is over 2500 million years old. And so, it was safe to assume that there would be some spectacular specimens of rocks that we could see here. And much to our gratitude, a local initiative called The Society to Save Rocks organises nature treks called ‘Rock Walks’ every weekend to different parts of Hyderabad where one can see some really ancient stones. The walks are free of charge and is an effort towards making people appreciate the history of the rocks around Hyderabad.

There is also an annual Hyderabad Rockathon which has activities like rappelling, rock photography and rock balancing. The walks can be exhaustive though, so we do recommend wearing a cap and carrying enough drinking water.

5. Mythological Awareness Centre

Mythology has always been a fascinating subject and one can understand a lot of things about a culture through its mythological tales. Feeling intrigued? Then Surendrapuri, or the Mythological Awareness Centre, is something you must visit. Situated about 40 km outside Hyderabad, the giant statues of the various Hindu gods will definitely leave you spellbound. Inside, a number of tales from the Hindu mythology are recreated including the stories of Swargaloka, Mahabharata, Ramayana and Ganga at Haridwar. Not just that, there are also replicas of famous Hindu temples and statues.

The entry fee to the museum is INR 300 and the visiting hours are between 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. It is easy to get lost in the beautiful tales on display here and we recommend that you leave at least 2 hours for exploring this fabulous place.

6. Heritage Walks

Heritage walks are a part and parcel of any tourist destination but when a city is as steeped in culture as Hyderabad, they become a necessity as they help you understand the local culture better. While there are many such walks in Hyderabad, the one we recommend is that between the Charminar and Badshahi Ashurkhana. These are organised by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism and one can see monuments such as the Charminar, Jama Masjid, the 4 Kamans or arches, Diwan Devdi and Badshahi Ashurkhana. The experienced guides gave us a detailed run through each monument and its history and also told us some amusing and astonishing tales of the Nizams and other rulers of the city.

It takes approximately 2 hours to complete this walk and since it covers some religious places, we advise you to dress appropriately as the people tend to be a little conservative. The price for the tour varies depending on the kind of guide you opt for but we do suggest taking an experienced one so that those interesting titbits aren’t left out!

7. Food and Spice Trail

Hyderabad is famous for its food. Be it the biryani, halim or the cookies from Karachi bakery, the aromatic and flavourful food of Hyderabad has to be enjoyed first hand. If you call yourself a foodie – well, and even if you don’t! – the Food and Spice trail organised by Thrillophilia should be on your list.

At the cost of INR 2000, this 4-5 hour trail takes you on a phenomenal gastronomic journey starting with Irani chai and Osmania biscuits through of a range of foods like dosas, nahari kulcha, bheja curry, Biryani, kebabs to heavenly sweet treats like double kameetha, malai and many others. A word of advice though: most of the dishes are spicy and if your stomach is not up to it, do go a little easy on them, although that will be a test of your will power. The trail also takes you to some spice shops where you can load up on them if you ever fancy cooking a Hyderabadi dish.

8. Ananthgiri hills

This scenic locale is situated about 70 km from Hyderabad and is being developed as a small hill station for a day outing from the city. It is located in the dense forests of Ranga Reddy district and is the birthplace of the Musi river, along the banks of which Hyderabad is spread. October to March is the best time to visit this beautiful, peaceful place which is ideal for meditation. There are also a couple of trekking options and an ancient Vishnu temple if you are inclined towards a little sightseeing. Take a book and your favourite music and enjoy nature in all its pristine glory.

9. Lamakaan

The arts are something that must be appreciated and promoted. And Lamakaan does just that. It is an inclusive cultural space which hosts some very memorable artistic escapades including concerts, book launches, plays and seminars. It is located in the Banjara hills of Hyderabad and is a charming place to visit. On our visit we encountered many theatre artists, painters and authors there. Several years ago the venue was about to be shut forever but after numerous petitions of the visitors the project of the closure was cancelled. Do visit Lamakaan as it truly is a refreshing experience.

10. Laad Bazaar

Situated very close to Charminar, the Laad bazaar is a market that stretches along 4 roads starting from the monument and covers an area of 1 km. The market stays open from 11 am to 11 pm and is home to a number of shop where craftsmen sell their produce. It is famous for its vibrant bangles and has been in existence since the times of the Qutb Shahis and the Nizams. The numerous shops in the market also offer some exquisite embroidery works, saris, semi-precious stones and other every shopoholic’s gems. It is easy to spend hours in the market looking for that perfect item but be careful though. The shopkeepers are known for hiking prices and if you are not good at bargaining, we recommend that you take someone with you who is.

These are just some of the activities that we suggest for you in Hyderabad and while the list is by no means exhaustive, it will give you a fair idea of what to do in Hyderabad.