Hyderabad happens to be an amazing city and it has consistently come up in rankings as the most livable city in the country. However, for all its brilliant features and infrastructural facilities, the city, like any other metropolitan, could get chaotic from time to time and it is in times like these that one must venture for small trips to rejuvenate oneself. A picnic is ideal for the purpose and what can be better than spending the day with one’s friends and family, without a care? Hyderabad has quite a few picnic spots in and around the city which are ideal for the purpose and there are both conventional and off beat locations to choose from. Here are some of the picnic places in Hyderabad which you can opt for whenever you think you need a break for a day:
Ramoji Film City was originally developed as a complete shooting spot for films, replete with lavish sets and gardens but today it has evolved into a picnic spot as it has been opened to the public. You can go inside the park like any other amusement park and there are places to sit and lounge around. The children love the openness of the space as there are parks to run around and the rides to try on at the Fudustan. There is also a Meena Bazaar inside the premises and it is great for buying local handicrafts. The park also has a great eatery and some food chains inside the premises, which serve delicious food and will take care of your hunger pangs. Visit the sets that are open to the public and they are great for taking fun pictures.
Location: Hayathnagar Mandal
USP: Fun rides and film sets
Opening Time: 9 am
The Osman Sagar Lake is quite historical and it is also known as Gandipet. If you want to get away from all the noise and chaos of the city, then the banks of the lake are just what you need for your day off. You can go for long walks here, enjoy boat rides and hold a picnic. Moreover, if you happen to visit sometime right after the monsoons, then the verdant greenery of the region will take your breath away. You can carry a few games with yourself and a picnic basket and your day is made. Have a day in the laps of nature and there is no better place to spend quality time with your family.
Location: Ranga Reddy District
USP: Stunning greenery
Opening Time: 6 am
This Hyderabad picnic spot is another popular one in the city and this place will let you enjoy a peaceful and fun time without having to leave the city premises, which is why you can come here even if you have to plan your picnic at a short notice. There are a few activities here you can enjoy, like going for a boat ride. The Rock Garden is a wonderful place to explore and if you happen to visit after the monsoons, then you will come across a stunning green and beautiful park, where all kinds of flowers bloom. All you need is a picnic basket and some games for a lazy day in the park.
Location: Necklace Road
USP: City center location
Opening Time: 7 am
Although not a conventional picnic spot, this is still a great park to enjoy your day. For those who love the outdoors, this is a delightful spot, complete with a waterfall and also a musical fountain. The park also has a light and sound laser show which many city dwellers come to watch in the evenings. There are toy cars to be ridden around the park and there are video games as well. The adults can opt for rifle shooting and there are some small rides as well. It is a great place to hang out and there are plenty of good place to eat in and around the park as well. A day at the park is just what you need after a hectic week. This is one of the best picnic spots in Hyderabad.
Location: Khairatabad
USP: Laser show and musical fountain
Opening Time: 8 am
One of the first zoos to have opened its doors in India, this zoo is a fun place for the children as well as for the adults. A wide number of animals can be seen here like the African elephant, white peacocks, chimpanzees, and rhinoceros as well. The enclosures have natural habitats as much as possible and there is also a Natural History Museum within its premises. It provides a lot of learning experience to the youngsters and the Nocturnal Animal House is the most exciting as owls, bats and other animals and reptiles which are only active at night are housed here. The Lion Safari will take you through the lion enclosure and you can catch them up close and personal. The battery operated cars and train rides inside the zoo are always full to the brim and since the zoo is spread over acres, you may also book a bicycle to go around it if you are not inclined to walk so much.
Location: Bahadurpura
USP: Wide species of animals, Lion Safari
Opening Time: 9 am
The Golkonda Fort is a major historical landmark in the region and has become a great spot for day trips. The lawns around the fort are wide and expansive and you can have a great day out, with the stunning fort in the background. If you happen to arrive here early in the morning, you can soak up the brilliant sunshine and the magnificent royal palaces are a joy to explore. The famed whispering walls lend a mysterious charm to the place. The fort has great acoustics and it is said that even a whisper can be heard at the other end of the fort, depending on the exact location. The fort is truly an architectural marvel. After sunset, the light and sound show in the premises will ensure a fitting end to a wonderful day.
Location: Ibrahim Bagh
USP: Palaces and whispering walls
Opening Time: 8 am
It is said that the granite rock formations in this region are over 2500 million old, almost from the time the planet came into existence. It is a secret lake in Telangana, hidden by the rock formations and getting to it is quite an adventure. You can simply sit by the lake and let the beauty of nature seep into you. On the other hand, if you love outdoor activities, you can go for a boat ride in the lake, trek around the region and also opt for rock climbing. There is also an amphitheater and an art gallery nearby and the sculpture park is quite amusing. A nearby artificial waterfall adds beauty to the place and the floating fountain never fails to amuse the kids. And if you do not want to carry your own food, it is perfectly fine and there is a cafeteria nearby which has some yummy snacks and bites on offer. It is a splendid location for a day out.
Location: Outskirts of Hyderabad
USP: Rock climbing and Sculpture Park
Opening Time: 9 am
If you want to enjoy a day with your family amidst thrills and rides, then this is the place for you. This is a theme park which will allow you to have a picnic and day out at the same time. This is also a popular hangout zone for the younger people and there are all kinds of water slides here. The Wave Pool is especially popular and there is the Aqua Snake, and the Zip Zap Zoom as well. If you want to enjoy water sports without having to leave the city, then this is the ideal spot. This is an excellent place to beat the summer heat. There are cafes in and around the place so there is no need to carry your own food. All you have to do is carry towels and a fresh change of clothes and you are sure to have a lot of fun.
Location: Gandipet
USP: Water sports
Opening Time: 10 am
Another popular theme park in the city, this wonderful place is ideal for having a summer picnic and a day out. Can you imagine being transported to the snowy hills in the heart of Hyderabad? This is what the place will offer you with and you can enjoy all kinds of sports here like ice skating and snow slides as well. The toboggan rides are very popular and the park also offers a number of packages, depending on what you would like to do inside. If you do not have a lot of time on your hands to plan an extensive vacation in the hills, then this park will take away your woes. The snow inside is of course artificial, because of the carefully controlled temperatures, but you will get to build snow castles and also climb snowy cliffs inside. Sip on hot coffee and savory snacks and you have all the ingredients for a perfect day out.
Location: Lower Tank Bund Road
USP: Snow rides and snow castles
Opening Time: 10 am
The ideal location for a picnic should be in the laps of nature and the Hyderabad bio diversity Park will give you a chance to do just that. With more than 600 species of plants to be found here, this park is replete with greenery and naturally, a large number of birds, butterflies and insects are to be found here, which are a joy to watch. In fact, it would be quite an educational trip for the children in the family. The park is beautifully designed, with pathways and lanes to take you through the various trees. Trees of the same family are grouped together and there are lakes and rock formations inside as well. Guided tours are also offered, along with nature walks and bird watching. Do not forget to bring your camera because you will get the opportunity of clicking some very interesting life forms. Guided tours and excursions from schools are also frequently organized in this park.
Location: Gachibowli
USP: Over 600 species of plants
Opening Time: 9 am
This park happens to be the most popular spot in the city for family picnics and outings and on holidays and weekends, this park is indeed quite crowded as well. People come here from all walks of life, just to hang out in the expansive laws. This well designed, and equally well- maintained public park in Hyderabad has dancing fountains and rock gardens, which is a pleasure to explore. The mini toy train ride is always popular with the kids. If you are too much taken in by the chaos of city life, then this park will provide you a welcome respite. Because of the large number of trees which the park sustains, this park is also very cool, even in the summers. Bird watching is a popular activity here and one can also go for skating. There are many food stalls inside the park, so your hunger pangs will be easily satiated. The park also has a delightful nursery and you can buy saplings from here for your home.
Location: Kavadiguda
USP: Bird watching and nursery
Opening Time: 6 am
Popularly known as the KBR Park, this park is popular among those who love greenery and tranquility. This is like a small forest located in the heart of the city, so if you want to have a picnic, there is no need to venture out of the city. The park looks straight out of a picture postcard due to its beauty and the historical Chiran Palace is located within its premises. Exploring the palace itself takes quite some time as you walk through the various galleries and admire the art work and architecture of the palace. The park houses over 500 species of plants and trees and over a hundred different species of birds and butterflies. The park is rich in flora and fauna and it is a joy to know about new kinds of plants and their names. A walk around the park is great exercise as well.
Location: Jubilee Hills
USP: Chiran Palace inside the Park
Opening Time: 8 am
This Lake is located in the outskirts of Hyderabad and is a great spot for a picnic if you want to head out of the city for some time. This is a popular place to spend a lazy afternoon. The lake and its surroundings were conceptualized and built during the time of the Nizams and the wonderfully landscaped garden around the lake is a beloved picnic spot and a large number of people are to be found here during the weekends. The Lake also acts as a watering ground for a large number of birds and the eco-system here is sustained by it. Bird watchers have a lovely time and if you want some exercise and excitement, then head for rock climbing in the surrounding rocky terrain. Or, you can simply lounge around and enjoy the spectacular sunset before you head home.
Location: Shamirpet, about 30 km from Hyderabad
USP: Lake and rock climbing
Opening Time: Anytime
This small and picaresque hill station in the outskirts of Hyderabad is a popular spot for anyone who wants to get away from the city for the day. This is a great location for first time trekkers as the terrain around is easy to navigate and yet very pretty. There are small meadows in between and freshwater streams to cross and when you are tired, you can find a cozy nook on the trail and have a picnic. Those who come here, head for the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located near a cave. Those who love legends and history find this to be a very interesting spot. However, do carry your own food because unless you get out of the hills, you will not find many places to eat.
Location: Vikarabad, 81 km from the city
USP: Trekking trail and the beauty Padmanabha Swamy temple
Opening Time: Any time
This fort sits atop a small hill and climbing up to the fort is quite an adventure in itself as one has to climb over 500 steps to get to the top. Once there, you can enjoy a stunning view of the surrounding landscape. The fort has a history of its own and a 17th century mosque of the Qutub Shahi era also happens to be located inside the premises. You can have a picnic inside the lawns of the fort and explore the fort after. The carvings inside the fort are unique, having strong Indo- Islamic influence. This also happens to be a great location for photography. This is one of the best picnic spots near Hyderabad.
Location: Medak, 95 km from the city
USP: Exploring Medak
Opening Time: 7 am
Also known as Peerla Marri, this happens to be the spot of perhaps one of the oldest banyan trees in the country. This tree is said to be over 800 years old and if trees could talk, this tree would have had much to relate. This tree alone spreads over three acres, and the trunk is many meters in diameter with roots running probably for miles below the earth. The tree can throw a shade for about a thousand people. Apart from the main trunk, lots of other hanging roots grow from the plant. The tree now shelters a mini zoo, a bird park and also a science museum under it, so huge it is. There are some other interesting artifacts here as well. Having a picnic in the shade of this wondrous tree is quite an experience and children have a great playing hide and seek here!
Location: Mahbubnagar, 102 km from Hyderabad
USP: The 800 year old tree!
Opening Time: Any time
Warangal is an important town in this region and the fort is the main landmark here. The fort has been declared as a monument of national importance and it is a stunning beauty. Although sections of the fort are in ruins because of the many battles that it has seen, the architecture still inspires awe. A guided tour of the fort will fill you in on the history. The fort has three layers of fortification, all with unique architecture of its own and the craftsmanship on the walls and pillars are stunning. There are quite a few temples inside and they have their own shrines and idols. If you want to have an enriching day of picnic, this is the ideal spot for you.
Location: Warangal, 150 km from Hyderabad
USP: The fort
Opening Time: 9 am
This behemoth of a dam, which is the third largest in the world, is built on the River Krishna. There is a view point which allows a great view of the dam and the river together. The majestic Ethipothala waterfall is located here, so is the Nagarjuna Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary and all three of them together will keep you bust through the day and make your picnic worthwhile. In the middle of the river, you will find Nagarjunakonda, which is an ancient site of Buddhist excavations. It has to be a visited by boat and the ride is very pleasant, so is exploring the site. If you are interesting in seeing the turbines at work near the dam, then you have to take a steamboat and the power of the churning water is sure to throw you off balance just looking at it.
Location: Between Nalgonda and Guntur District, 154 km from Hyderabad
USP: Nagarjunakonda and the Wildlife Sanctuary
Opening Time: 6 am
The Ethipothala Waterfall alone makes for a great picnic spot and the waterfall itself is formed as three mountain streams converge into one- the Nakka Vagu, the Tummala Vagu and the Chitandravanku Vagu. The waterfall has a sheer drop of seventy feet and it is said that the lagoon below is bottomless. There is also a crocodile breeding center here which is always interesting to visit. There are quite a few trails around the waterfalls which are great for a hike and the greenery around will fill you with joy.
Location: Between Nalgonda and Guntur district, 154 km from Hyderabad
USP: The falls and the crocodile breeding center
Opening Time: Any time
This is another stunning waterfall in the heart of the magnificent Nallamala forest. If you want to have a day trip or a picnic, this is an ideal spot. The waterfall can be accessed from steps which lead down from the road. A path leads directly to the bottom of the falls and during the summers, it is a joy to splash around or simply sit with your feet dipped in the cool waters. The natural beauty of the place is further heightened after the monsoons. There are some trails through the forest which will get you acquainted many kinds of flora and fauna as well.
Location: Mahbubnagar, 185 km from the city
USP: The falls and the surrounding beauty
Opening Time: Anytime
These splendid picnic spots in and around Hyderabad will give you the chance to beat the city blues with ease and you will end up having a great time with your friends and family.
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