PICNIC
SPOTS
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DEER
PARK
 The
300-acre Deer Park is situated at Vanasthalipuram
about 20 km from Hyderabad railway station. With
natural vegetation, it is a home for wild life
such as the Spotted Deer, Black Buck, Chinkara,
Wild Boar and Python. It is also a safe place
for over a hundred species of birds to flutter
around. This is undoubtedly a place for lovers
of animals, birds and mother nature. 
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| DURGAM
CHERUVU |
Durgam Cheruvu (Lake), located near the Shilparamam
Crafts Village at Madhapur, is also fascinatingly
known as the Secret Lake. It is behind the Jubilee
Hills, around 11 km from the airport and the Hyderabad
railway station. The lake lies almost hidden amongst
awesome rock formations and hence the name - Secret
Lake. The rocks here are much favoured by rock climbers
and adventurers. The placid spread of the lake has
facilities of pedal-boating and water-scooter riding
provided by the Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Department.
If visitors are lucky, they can find a film shooting
in progress and their favourite actor or actress
doing the takes at the Secret Lake.
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| HUSSAIN
SAGAR LAKE |
|
The Hussain Sagar Lake, one of the largest man-made
lakes in Asia,  which
is within a 6 km distance from the airport and
railway stations of Hyderabad and Secunderabad,
is a landmark in between the Twin Cities. A wide
bund, skirting the lake, connects the two cities.
The place is popularly called the Tank Bund. The
bund is more than a kilometre long and is lined
with 33 ebony black statues of famous personalities
of the State. Together with the lawns and the
fountains and the newly erected Buddha statue
standing majestically tall in the lake waters,
Hussain Sagar has become a favourite of the local
residents. The Hussain Sagar Lake was built in
1562 on a tributary of River Musi, during the
reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah. Earlier, the lake
had to be crossed by a boat 
to go to the Secunderabad. Today, the lake sees
a gala festive mood on the day the idols of Lord
Vinayaka are ceremoniously immersed in the waters
at the end of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival.
The idyllic setting also witnesses special cultural
events on the bund. Interestingly, the lake has
also become an annual resort to the migrating
birds. Besides, Sailing Clubs are housed on either
side of the lake. The Secunderabad Boat Club provides
yatching facilities and is rated as one of the
best boat clubs in India. National Regattas are
also regularly held here. On the Hyderabad side,
there is also the Lumbini Park, a favourite spot
for children and families. Boating facilities,
especially speed boating, is yet another major
attraction of the Hussain Sagar Lake.
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| LUMBINI
PARK |
Located near the Tank
Bund, about 5 km from the airport, theLumbini Park
is  famous
for its musical fountains. The fountains come alive
everyday (except Monday) between 6:30 p.m. to 8
p.m. The park is ideal for a quiet stroll or a family
outing. The park, at one end, gently slopes down
to the waters of the Hussain Sagar Lake, providing
an access to the Hyderabad Boat Club. The park also
has an amusement centre that keeps the children
thoroughly engrossed and on their feet.
Timings: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Closed on Mondays. |
| NEHRU
ZOOLOGICAL PARK |
Spread across an area
of 300 green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park
is one of the largest zoos in Asia. It has over
1,500 varieties of animals and birds and some of
them are exotic and rare. All inmates of the zoo
are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat
and are well cared for. One of the important sections
of the zoo is the crocodile breeding centre. Other
attractions are a lion safari park, a natural history
museum, a prehistoric animal park and a children's
park. The zoo also has a train which takes a whole
lot of eager children around the zoo.
Timings: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Mondays.
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| MIR
ALAM TANK |
Adjacent to the Nehru Zoological Park is the Mir
Alam Tank. A pathway through the park leads to the
tank. Located 16 kms away from the airport, Mir
Alam Tank was once the city's water source. It was
named after its builder, Mir Alam, who was the Prime
Minister of Hyderabad from 1804 - 1808. This tank
is an interesting piece of engineering skills with
a mile-long bund formed by 21 arches. Andhra Pradesh
Tourism offers boating facilities that include mechanised
boats, steering boats and speed boats. The speed
boats available here are mostly hired for film shootings.
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| KASU
BRAHMANANDA REDDY NATIONAL PARK
|
Situated on Jubilee Hills opposite
the L V Prasad Eye Institute, about 13 kilometres
from the airport, this park is a paradise for walkers
and joggers. Besides, the presence of a number of
species of birds attracts bird-watchers and nature
lovers.
Timings:
6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. |
| OCEAN
PARK |
|
Water slides, wave pools, bumper cars, roller
coaster rides and loads
of fun - that's what awaits visitors at Ocean
Park. Located 15 kms from the Hyderabad railway
station, this sprawling amusement and water theme
park offers every conceivable way of letting your
hair down in water. Some of the outlets to perfect
fun are:
The Kids' Pool: In less than two feet
deep water, the kids can splash about to their
heart's content without causing even the tiniest
worry to their mom and dad.
Wave Pool: This is the right place to
experience the great ocean waves. Let the waves
lap your feet or float on a raft, gently rocked
by the waves.
Other star attractions for children include the
crocodile ponds, electronic games  and
the Kid Car Safari. Advance booking can be made
for parties and conferences. Swimsuits are a must
and those who do not have one, can buy or rent
at the park. Food lovers can choose from the multicuisine
restaurants to whet their appetite. Food from
outside is not allowed. Discipline combined with
fun makes Ocean Park the perfect place for a day
out.
Timings: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all days
Entry Fee: Rs. 125 for adults, Rs. 75 for
children
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OSMAN
SAGAR LAKE (Gandipet)
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The Osman Sagar Lake was built in 1920 by damming
the River Musi
. The city draws its drinking water from this
lake. Beautiful gardens, built on either side
of the bund and the Sagar Mahal guest house make
this a popular picnic and outing spot. Osman Sagar
is locally known as Gandipet. The lake is located
nearly 20 kms away from the city.
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HIMAYAT
SAGAR
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 Running
parallel to the Osman Sagar is the Himayat Sagar
Lake. Located 22 kilometres away on the Bijapur
highway, Himayat Sagar provides a picturesque
picnic spot. The tank was named after Himayat
Ali Khan, the eldest son of the Nizam VII.
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| RAMOJI
FILM CITY |
The Ramoji Film City is a standing testimony to
one man's entrepreneurial ability. Named after Ramoji
Rao, this city, surrounded by hillocks, is built
on 2,000 acres of land. The tiny citadel provides
a perfect setting for an outing. Ramoji Film City
has opened itself to tourism in a big way. A large
theme area depicting varied cultures has been set
up. This area also has restaurants and shopping
areas. Both the audio and video studios are well-equipped
with state-of-the-art equipment. With Persian boulevards,
lavish palaces, rural fields and villages, make-believe
airports and railway stations and a host of other
settings, this place is a land of fantasies. An
added attraction is the possiblity of bumping into
your favourite film or TV star.
Entry Fee: Other than weekends: Rs. 150 for
adults, Rs.100 for children. On weekends : Rs. 200
for adults, Rs.150 for children .
A special Honeymoon Package awaits the newly weds.
Phone: (08415) 46555
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RUNAWAY
9
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Runaway 9 is the place for go-karting. The first
of its kind racetrack of international standards,
Runaway 9 is located at Kompally 11 kilometres
from the airport on the Nagpur Highway. A dream
project of Nihar Modi, a high speed driver at
National Rally Championship, Runaway 9 combines
serious racing with some exciting fun. The karts
are of 6.5 bhp and are driven on 710 metre-long
cement tracks and can stretch up to 70 kmph. With
excellent safety measures, including provision
of jackets and helmets to go with strong tyre-fencing
at the borders, Karting is rendered absolutely
safe here. Karting apart, Runaway 9 is also up
for multi-dimensional entertainment with pool
parlours, open-air conferences, pulsating music
and lots more!
Phone: 309 7107 / 309 7109.
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| DHOLA-RI-DHANI
|
 A
mini-Rajasthan in Hyderabad? That's what Dhola-ri-Dhani
is all about. A dream project of Mahendra Agarwal,
it is situated 11 kilometres from the airport at
Kompally village on Medchal Road. Visitors are welcomed
in a typical Rajasthani style with an offer of a
glass of rabdi or jal-jeera and dhol. The restaurant
Maan Mannar offers the choicest of Rajasthani cuisine.
At the amphi theatre, Ghoomer-Jhoomer Rajasthani
dances, music and plays and a host of other programmes
are held regularly. Dhola-ri-Dhani has a 
small lake with facilities for boating and a Kund
with a facility to swim. Shilparama, the emporium
showcasing Rajasthani handicrafts, has some of the
finest woodworks, art pieces made out of camel bones,
handlooms and textiles and the irresistible ethnic
jhoolas.
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| SHAMEERPET
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Shameerpet, a pleasant holiday resort, is about
29 kilometres from the airport. It houses a deer
park and a natural lake which makes it an ideal
place for a pleasant outing. A resort called The
Escape has 12 cottages of which six are air conditioned.
Extensive lawns, toy train for kids and facilities
for sports add pleasure to the visitors' stay.
Boating on the calm waters can be another experience
to cherish. The resort has become a favourite
venue for informal business meets and kitty parties.
Cottages and lodges can be rented through the
Andhra PradeshTourism Development Corporation
or through the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department,
Hyderabad.
Phone: 844 510 / 520
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7:39:29 PM 
