There's no better way to spend your days than exploring your own city with a fresh perspective, almost like you're a tourist in the place you call home. In that spirit, here are 18 ways you can experience the best that Hyderabad has to offer.
18 Offbeat Experiences In Hyderabad To Pack In The Fun
Go For A Ride On The Durgam Cheruvu Secret Lake
The Durgam Cheruvu Hanging Bridge has surely caught the fancy of people who love going on drives, those who love photo-ops and leisurely onlookers too. The new bridge connecting Jubilee Hills and Hitech City has changed the face of Hyderabad and given it a swanky new facelift. Scores of people walking onto the bridge for a picture will stand true to the beauty of the Durgam Cheruvu bridge. While you're in the area, visit the Durgam Cheruvu Secret Lake Park where you can hire a boat ride on the serene lake amid the chaos. We found self-pedalling boats, bigger ones for groups and even faster jets for the adventure lovers. With a view of both the city's buildings on all sides and the bridge, the rides offer a super unique experience in Hyderabad.
Go Kayaking At Vikarabad
Adventure lovers, you don't have to travel too far to quench your thirst for kayaking. The Kotapally Reservoir in Vikarabad arranges plenty of water activities and you can head out there for your share of a kayak. Raft in the lake all you like and explore the surroundings when you're done. Several food stalls are set up around the lake and you can indulge in some roasted corn after a strenuous water activity. But you can also picnic at the lake by carrying your own snacks and eatables.
Have A Scenic Meal At Jewel Of Nizam
Overlooking green gardens stands a tall white structure that houses the Jewel of Nizam, a restaurant that sounds (and looks) like something straight out of a fairytale. Jewel of Nizam — The Minar — is a fine dining restaurant located in Golkonda Resort, Gandipet. Get a slice of authentic Nizami delicacies like Anokhi Kheer, Barkas Patthar Gosht, Kacchi Dum Biryani. Their wine collection includes Redvale, Torres Vina Sol, Riff Rosso Merlot Cabernet, and of course, Sula. It calls for a perfect dinner date, y'all.
Go Horse Riding At HPRC
Want to take your horse to the old-time road? Not literally, but there is a place in Hyderabad where you can go horse riding with no worries. Hyderabad Polo Riding Club in Gandipet is a part of Hyderabad's equestrian heritage where you can befriend some horses. When we say befriend, we mean go horseback riding. You can unwind on a weekend here and enjoy their recreational facilities that range from a gym to a bistro with a carefully curated Indo-continental cuisine, and tennis court, basketball court, futsal. Psst, you can take small laps on a horsey too.
Rent A Caravan & Explore Telangana
If you like to take matters into your own hands and dislike pre-planned touristy itineraries while travelling, let us introduce you to the Telangana State Tourism Board's latest offering. You can now rent your own spacious caravans by the hour to explore places within the state. While there are options to rent them for just a day, you could also go big and hire the caravans for a couple of days. Telangana has some untouched hidden gems that are great to drive to and explore on your own. If you're not up for driving, you can also hire cars from the Tourism department.
Have A Meal With Your Pet
Whether you just want to hang out with your pets or are looking for a daycare centre which takes care of your fur-balls, you totally should check out The Pet Cafe, in Banjara Hills. With quirky lights, humorous animal posters, vibrant painting against soft colours on walls, it has nailed the homely vibe. So, your doggo and kitties can feel at home away from home, as well as indulge in some drool worthy treats here. Their menu for pets includes fish rice, sausages, chicken and peanut butter pupcakes, pet-friendly ice cream, and a special Super Bowl, whereas humans can munch on continental food.
Drink Up At The Newest Microbreweries In Town
Hyderabad is popping with new microbreweries in 2022! While we just had one or two places to chug a chilled glass of brewed beer pre-pandemic, there's at least ten places that have opened up now, all with their unique flavours. So gather your friends, get bar-hopping and let us know which one's your favourite!
Visit The British Residency Building
If you've driven past the Osmania University College for Women, or Koti Women’s College before and gawked at the massive British Residency building, we have good news! The 200 year old heritage building that was a part of the college premises and closed to public previously has now been restored. You can now visit the palatial building to marvel at its architecture and history for just INR 100. Take a quick trip to Gokul Chaat later, and you have yourself a budget-friendly date!
Have The Most Romantic Dinner Date At The Gol Bungalow
Gol Bungalow at the Taj Falaknuma Palace is probably the most romantic restaurant in Hyderabad. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to visit the restaurant, overlooking a stunning view of the city. The entire experience speaks royalty, with an exclusive horse carriage ride arranged to take you to the palace entrance where you will be welcomed with a shower of rose petals. The dinner reservation includes a tour of the palace, including the royal study and library. Your meal is accompanied by live music as a group of singers regale you with qawwalis of both the golden years gone by and some current ones from Hindi movies. While dining here is expensive, we recommend visiting on special occasions.
Watch A Movie At The Cosiest Movie Theatre in Hyderabad
Have friends that avoid going to movie theatres because it's just too uncomfortable and they'd rather watch them on OTTs? Let us introduce you to the cosiest movie theatre in Hyderabad. We were surprised by the range of pampering we experienced at The Platinum Cinemas by Movie Time at SLN Terminus. The experience is unlike your typical movie outing, what with all seats in the theatre that recline, doubled up with cosy personal blankets and tiny pillows! You can charge your phone with your personal USB outlet, and enjoy the latest movies playing on the big screen while placing orders for popcorn from your seats itself.
Play Badminton With Your Buddies
If catching up with friends over coffee or a meal is getting too mundane for you, head to the Sportika Badminton Arena for a fun game. The indoor courts are super well-maintained and are ideal for groups of friends looking to enjoy some physical activity together. We recommend booking slots in advance, since the courts get booked pretty fast, especially on weekends.
Take A Private Pizza Making Class
Want to take your love for pizza to the next level? You can now learn to make one from scratch from a professional chef! Roy's Pizzeria run by Chef Vaibhav Roy regularly organises private pizza making sessions for cooking enthusiasts. You will learn the chef's secrets on how to make your own pizza base and sauces in the session. If you love subtle flavours but miss out on them in store-bought pizzas, you can learn how to make your own gourmet pizzas at home right from the expert!
Go Skydiving Indoors
ZNMD gave us all major travel goals, some of which included going skydiving. If you're not up for the rigorous training, or are scared of heights but would still love to experience the euphoria, head to Gravity Zip at Gandipet. The indoor skydiving arena ensures you're safe enough to experience skydiving in a controlled yet fun environment. You could also visit the newly cropped up cafes like Old Madras Baking Company and others and make a fun day out while you're out there!
Have Your Own Exclusive Private Theater Experience
Most people love watching movies in the privacy of their homes so they can kick their feet up and enjoy with just their loved ones. However, some movies demand that big-screen drama. If you're looking to rewatch some of your old favourites on the big screen with just your buddies or family, head to the Star Track Home Theater Experience at SP Road. The private theatre can also be hired for occasions like bridal showers and other small get-togethers. The theatre can seat up to seven people at a time and you get to bring your own content to watch.
Book a Private Baking Class
Escapades Culinary Studio has been conducting baking workshops in Hyderabad for thirteen years now. What's cool is that you can book a baking class just for your loved ones and yourself, if you'd like to gift them a unique experience on a special occasion. We found siblings getting together for a fun day of baking, here. If you're looking to learn baking seriously, they also offer five weekend courses and 25 day courses taking you through the nitty-gritties of baking and pastry making.
Take a Long Drive to Vizag Colony
One of the more unexplored places in Telangana, Vizag Colony is a quiet getaway if you'd like to go somewhere that has less crowds. The place has coracle rides and boat rides that take you up to a little island amid the fresh backwaters. You can also contact the local families to cook for you at a nominal cost. They offer delicacies like Fish Fry, Fish Pulusu and Hot Steamed Rice made from fresh catch from the waters.
Visit The Bansilal Step Well
Built in the 17th Century, The Bansilal Step Well was once used as a drinking water tank and has been in ruins for years. It has been restored to its full glory this year. Also known as the Nagannah Kunta, the stepwell now has a swanky tourist plaza overlooking the step well, complete with a cafeteria, history interpretation centre and washrooms. The open ground connected to the step well also makes for a great garden, and amphitheater now. If you've always been enamoured by the step wells in temples around Hyderabad or in Rajasthan, head to this hidden treasure in our own Secunderabad.
Hoard Books at Luna Bookstore
There's a new bookstore in town and it's being welcomed warmly by the readers' community in Hyderabad. What's unique about Luna Bookstore is, it does away with popular, trending titles and focuses on the magic of discovering new authors and books. We found at least five authors we've never heard of before, here. The space is warm, inviting and super quiet, welcoming you to spend hours gawking at the collection here. Get a gift card for your book lover friend or pay a visit for their awesome book collection. Either way, the friendly neighbourhood bookstore is a must-visit.
