Nature Discovery
Durgam Cheruvu
Hyderabad has many glorious feathers to its hat. The royal city of Nawabs is home to a secret lake which is popularly known as the Durgam Cheruvu. This secret lake is situated close to Shilparamam craft village, at the city’s software hub, Hitech city. The reason behind this intriguing name is indistinct but old timers assert that for many years the lake remained hidden as there were no roads to reach the place and it was well kept away from naked eye for twenty years. The Durgam Cheruvu is a secluded location that is spread over an area of sixty-three acres and is a picturesque location surrounded by green pastures and scenic hills of the Deccan Plateau. This secret lake has now been developed into a haven for visitors. The authorities maintaining the lake have introduced boating facilities to lure the people visiting the exotic place. The visitors throng this place for the entertaining activities like fishing, which is very rare in the city. There is a restaurant for people looking for some refreshments. This appealing lake serves as one best place for the film shootings. It is also the most recommended picnic spot for busy Hyderabadis who look for a rejuvenating weekend. The lake is shielded by granite rocks which are said to be only one of its kinds in entire Asia. The stones date back to more than some 2,500 million years. Nature lovers are very attracted to this place. The Tourism Department has provided camping, pedal boating, and trekking facilities.
Gayatri Waterfalls
You may have heard about the famous Kuntala and Pochera Waterfalls in Adilabad. But there is this little known waterfalls in the same district. Gayatri waterfalls, a less known water body is situated on Kadam River. The river is a tributary of the grand Godavari River. Away from the human eye, the waterfalls found its habitat in a very secluded place inside a deep forest. It is at a distance of approximately 5 Km from Tarnam Khurd village, near Neredigonda of the Adilabad district. The villagers living around the waterfalls call it Gadidha Gundam or Mukdi Gundam. It is a definite treat to your eyes to see this amazing waterfall plunging down from a height of 100ft into the valley to create a magnificent sight. We humans feel truly blessed to witness such artistic creations of mother nature. If you travel 257 kms from Hyderabad towards Adilabad, on NH 7, you can reach Neredigonda village. After reaching Neredigonda village, you have to travel 6 Kms to reach Kupti village, where you will find a sign board indicating to take a right turn to reach Tarnam village. The turn and drive for 2 Kms on a dirt road will take you to the Tarnam Khurd village. From the Tarnam village, we have to walk 5 Kms to reach waterfalls. Make sure you are accompanied by a villager to guide you, or you might get lost in dense jungle. When you stand to face this inviting falls, you will see the beautiful falls with a huge pool of fresh water under it. The sight is just so amazing, as the drizzling water pecks you on your cheek. Such a modern way to welcome guests! When you climb up to get a top view of the falls, you will feel captivated with a panoramic view.
Laknavaram
Lakhnavaram Lake, located in Govindaraopet Mandal about 70 kilometers away from Warangal, is a trending picnic spot. The lake is an exceptional thing of beauty. The lake was formed by closing down three narrow valleys. Each valley is replaced with a short bund, and hills act as their natural barrier. The lake has been constructed by the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty in 13th Century A.D. An added advantage is that the lake takes shelter in isolated surroundings and this makes your holiday very private. The entire region seems bountiful with green crops and pleasant water resources. The Lakhnavaram Lake which hides itself amidst the hills was discovered during the Kakatiya reign and the rulers expanded it to grow as a source of irrigation. An added attraction to this mystic beauty is the suspension bridge. The hanging bridge takes you to the mini island in the lake. The authorities maintaining the lake also provide boat riding facility which will take you close to the most serene part of the lake.
Ananthagiri Hills
Ananthagiri Hills is located 10 km from Vikarabad, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana, India. The hills are the main water source for Osmansagar and Himayathsagar. It is considered as one of the dense forests in Telangana region. Ananthagiri has a famous temple located in this forested region, which is also the birthplace of Musi River. It is situated at a distance of about 90 km from Hyderabad City and a popular destination for trekking and for those who love adventure. It is also considered one of the earliest human habitat areas in South India. Ancient caves, medieval fort like structures and ancient temple shows the history of the area. It is a much sought after place, which is covered, by red soil and ideal for some adventure sports. Visitors rate it as one of most beautiful places for a weekend get away from Hyderabad. The road is in good condition, which takes you into the dense forests with beautiful trees and streams all along the way. Near the lighthouse if you take a 2 km diversion, you can reach the topmost point in the Vikarabad region, which offers an excellent view point. A trip to Vikarabad on a cloudy day with a little drizzle is simply an unforgettable experience and it is a poor man’s Ooty in summer. For accommodation in Ananthagiri hills you can choose Hairtha Resort at Ananthagiri Hills which has a tariff of INR1500 per day and the second option is Deccan Trails. Haritha valley resort operates a restaurant serving both vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisines. The small reservoir, the lush green jungle, the jungle trail are all an added attraction to this place covered by thick vegetation, small rivulets and beautiful streams with fresh water.
Nagarjuna Sagar
A site to behold when its gates are opened during peak flood season in Monsoon, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is considered one of largest dams built in the recent times in Asia. As the tallest masonry dam, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is also the pride of India. The project has catchment area of roughly 215000 sq.km. The project also boasts of the largest canal system network in India .The mighty dam was completed in the year 1969 and has a majestic height of 124 meters. It is 1 km long, and has 26 crest gates. The dam can store upto 11, 472 million cubic meters of water in the reservoir. The project commenced in February 1956 and after a brief gap, due to lack of modern equipment it was constructed with stone rather than concrete. The dam was completed fully in 1972 once the crest gates were installed. The dam has two canals, the left and right canals that supply water from the reservoir. The dam is also one of the earliest projects built in post independence India for irrigation and hydro-electricity generation. Exclusively for the purpose of tourism, a lake developed behind the dam, which boasts of its status as the third largest man-made lake anywhere in the world. A beautiful landscape and strikingly scenic water body adds beauty to the impressive structure. The turbines for power generation are located towards Nalgonda (Telangana) district. The dam derives its name from a nearby hillock and island called Nagarjunakonda, where an ancient Buddhist Guru had once lived. There is a famous and well-maintained museum here that houses ancient artifacts. Apart from the lake where regular boating facilities are provided, tourists can also visit other attractions such as Ethipothala waterfalls, and Srisailam Wildlife Reserve close by. The dam was envisioned to be a temple of modern India, according to India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Apart from meeting drinking water needs, irrigation and power requirements, the dam is an attractive tourist destination owing to the large reservoir, the mighty flow when the crest gates are open present a panoramic view which enthralls tourists. Hyderabad is the nearest airport, which takes you to Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.
Pocharam Reservoir Lake
Medak, which is situated close to 80 kms from Hyderabad, is definitely an ideal location for one looking for quick weekend getaway. Pocharam located around 20 kms away from Medak boasts of a reservoir and a small animal sanctuary. The Pocharam Project stands as a reservoir and wildlife sanctuary located in the Medak district of Telangana. Its construction, spanning from 1916 to 1922, saw the creation of a dam over the Allair, a tributary of the Manjeera River. This sanctuary spans a vast area, covering around 130 square kilometers. The Nizam’s Bungalow, situated near the reservoir, was constructed in 1918. The island located in the center of the reservoir is home to various species of shrubs. Boats are available near the reservoir for reaching the island. The reservoir serves as a storage point on the Allair River and is also a favorite picnic spot for travelers who thoroughly enjoy fishing at this reservoir. Medak can be reached by NH7 highway from Hyderabad within two hours.
Kuntala Waterfalls
Kuntala waterfalls is located at a distance of 270 km from Hyderabad and 42km from Nirmal town and is accessible by road. After travelling around 30 Km you will reach a village called Neredikonda. A right turn into a small road just after this village, takes you to your destination. One has to be a little conscious here as there is no sign board that directs to the waterfalls. After driving straight for around 10 Km, cutting your way through lush green fields, and a dense forest, your eyes will open up to heaven on earth. The place is hidden from the noisy external world and offers you the best of nature. It is covered with valleys, dense forest, and chirping birds. After entering the area, you will have to walk around half a kilometer and you will reach a place where you find a series of 408 steps down to the waterfalls. 408! But a little effort may heal your heart. And then, you gaze at the amazing waterfalls. One simply falls short of words to describe this untouched beauty. To add adventure, you can enjoy trekking though big boulders to reach the footsteps of the waterfalls. The water gushes through rocks making its own path from a height of 200 feet and splits in to multiple streams. While there are many such scenic waterfalls, this one is just so amazing and very accessible. Climbing up further to reach to top of falls may seem as a good idea, but one has to be very careful as it is too steep and very risky.
Kanakai Waterfalls
The exact location is near a small village called Girnoor of the Bazarhatnoor Mandal. Ichoda is at a distance of 272 Kms from Hyderabad towards Adilabad on National Highway 7. From Ichoda, tourists have to drive towards bazarhatnoor, and reach Girnur. After driving for 1 Km from Girnur village, tourists can spot a sign board that indicates them to drive through a dirt road to reach the waterfalls. The place Ichoda is at a distance of 272 Kms from Hyderabad towards Adilabad on National Highway 7. From Ichoda, you have to drive towards bazarhatnoor, on your way you will cross the villages, Adegaon khurd, Pipri and reach Girnur. After driving for 1 Km from Girnur village, you will see a sign board that indicates you to drive through a dirt road on the left to reach the Kanakadurga temple and waterfalls. You vehicle can go only till here. From the temple, you need to go on foot to reach the beautiful waterfalls. If you want to make it a safe trip, you can stop at Girnur village and hire a guide.
The drive to the temple resembles a way paved to reach paradise. The location brings you in direct contact with luscious grasslands and fields. The place also has a lot of varieties of birds, which are rare find in our busy cities. After walking for somedistance, you will notice a stretch of river flowing down making its path by breaking through the rock formations. You can easily find your way down near water. You may see that the river has still water, this means that the depth of it could be more. At the end of this beautiful and breath taking waterfall, the stream becomes narrow and the surrounding gets shady, covered by overgrown trees on both sides of the banks. When you stand to face this inviting falls, you will see the beautiful falls with a huge pool of fresh water under it. The sight is just so amazing, as the drizzling water pecks you on your cheek. Such a modern way to welcome guests! When you climb up to get a top view of the falls, you will feel captivated with a panoramic view.
Bogatha Waterfalls
The water fall is located 120 km from Bhadrachalam. From Bhadrachalam, village Koyaveerapuram G can be reached by road. Bhadrachalam can be easily reached from Hyderabad by road. The distance has come down from 440 km because of the newly constructed Eturnagaram bridge on National Highway 202. A magnificent waterfall in the district of Khammam and second biggest waterfall in the State, Bogatha waterfall presents a splendid spectacle of falling waters and rich landscape and therefore, aptly gets the epithet the Niagara of Telangana.. As motorable road is not available, visitors need to trek for some distance. Visiting this waterfall gives an excellent opportunity to those who are interested in trekking and looking for a chance to indulge in adventure sport. The right time to this waterfall is to June to November, when there is enough water to enjoy the best.