Must see attractions in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh

Set magnificently on a plinth in the Hussain Sagar, a lake created by the Qutb Shahs, is a colossal stone statue of the Buddha (18m tall). The Dalai Lama…

Ramakrishna (RK) Beach stretches 4km up the coast from the large port area in the south of town, overlooking the Bay of Bengal with its mammoth ships and…

This sprawling museum is in a fanciful Indo-Saracenic building constructed by the seventh nizam as a playhouse for one of his daughters. It hosts a…

The ethereal Birla Mandir, constructed of white Rajasthani marble in 1976, graces Kalapahad (Black Mountain), one of two rocky hills overlooking the lake…

This vast collection was amassed by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan (Salar Jung III), who was briefly grand vizier to the seventh nizam. The 39 galleries include…

Illuminated with fancy lighting, the huge million-year-old limestone Borra Caves are 38km before Araku town and can be combined with a visit to the Araku…

This museum has extensive exhibits on the tribal peoples of eastern Andhra Pradesh, including full-scale mock-ups of hunting, ceremonial and other scenes,…

On the east side of Patthargatti, the (mainly) wholesale vegetable market of Mir Alam Mandi has all kinds of fresh produce sold by market traders. There…

Small museum inside the Araku Valley Coffee House. The origin of coffee in East Africa and its cultivation in the Araku Valley are explained. Most local…

The Birla Science Centre comprises a museum of science, dolls and archaeology, plus a planetarium. Displays are somewhat dated, but the Dinosaurium has…

This large dargah (Sufi shrine), dedicated to Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Khamosh, dates from the late 19th century and is an unusual blend of Islamic and…

This museum exhibits photographs, dioramas of village life, musical instruments and some exquisite Naikpod masks. It’s basic, but you’ll get a glimpse…

A throwback to a 1950s classroom, this well-maintained museum houses a bizarre collection of medical and public-health paraphernalia, including a scary…

The home of 'Tollywood' (the Telangana/Andhra Pradesh film industry) is a massive attraction for domestic tourists. Films and TV shows in Telugu, Tamil…

Laad Bazar opens into Mehboob Chowk, a square with a 19th-century clock tower and mosque, shops selling antiquarian books and antiques and a livestock…

Crazy creations here include cars and bikes in the shape of a sofa and stiletto shoe, among other wacky designs. And they all work. The museum is 3km west…

This skilfully curated collection of modern and contemporary art includes paintings by superstars Jogen Chowdhury, Tyeb Mehta and Arpita Singh.

A landmark structure built by the seventh nizam in Indo-Saracenic style on the south bank of the Musi River.

Kailasagiri Hill, rising above Beach Rd in the north of town, is a landscaped park with panoramic views and jogging tracks. You may want to avoid the…

According to legend, this elegant pavilion atop a hill 4km from Golconda Fort was built by Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah for his courtesan, Taramati, whose…