Weekend Getaway from Hyderabad - Warangal

   

Warangal is located about 143kms away from Hyderabad. Once the ruling seat of Kakatiya Dynasty, Warangal is famous for its temple architecture and its majestic fort.

The main places of interest in Warangal are Warangal Fort, Bhadrakali Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, Ramappa Temple, Ramappa Lake

If you have decided to drive on your own, you can visit many places en route to Warangal from Hyderabad like Bhongir Fort, Pembarti, Kolanupaka (Jain Temple) and Jangaon

Pembarti is worth a stop. Tourists visit this village to have a real hard view of making brassware and a visit to this traditional artisan’s village is very fascinating.

Ashtavinayak Tour from Pune

This would be a two day trip which offers scenic, spiritual and historic places

Book Pune to Ashtavinayak tour package daily with Prasanna Purple, Ashtavinayak darshan or pilgrimage is conducted by luxury bus.

Ashtavinayak tour covers eight holy temples of Ganesha. They are Moreshwar, Mahaganpati, Chintamani, Girijatmaj, Vigneshwar, Siddhivinayak, Ballaleshwar and Varad Vinayak.a

Day 1: Departure from Pune. En route breakfast and proceed to Morgaon (Mayureshwar) the first Ganpati of Ashtavinayak. After Darshan proceed to Siddhatek (Siddhivinayak). Lunch at Daund and proceed to Theur (Chintamani). Proceed to Ranjangaon (Mahaganpati) Darshan. After tea proceed to Ozar (Vighneshwar). Overnight stay at Ozar OR Lenyadri. (B.L.D)

Day 2: Early morning proceed to Lenyadri (Girijatmaj)Darshan, it is situated on hills around 350 steps. After breakfast at Lenyadri proceed to Mahad (Varad Vinayak) Darshan. Lunch at Mahad and proceed to Pali (Ballaleshwar) Darshan. After tea proceed to Pune. (B.L)

Lenyadri is a series of about 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves, located near Junnar, along the Kukdi river in Pune district. Cave 7 has Lord Ganesha - Girijatmaj

Price:

Rs. 2190/- per person Pune to Pune (non-AC)

According to shastra, the Darshana of the Eight Deities is taken in following order-
*1* Mayureshwar of Moregaon
*2* Siddhivinayak of Siddhatek
*3* Ballaleshwar of Pali
*4* Varadavinayak of Mahad
*5* Chintamani Temple, Theur
*6* Girijadmaj of Lenyandri
*7* Vighneshwar of Ozar
*8* Mahaganapati of Ranjangaon ........and then back to *Mayureshwar of Moregaon.

Additional Observation: Beware of the a large no of very very steep steps, in a total 338 stairs to reach the caved temple. Not an easy task for elderly people. Palki available @ Rs. 500/- carried by four person to reach top. Beware of monkey, and carry a lot of lemon water.

One hotel very near to spot, "Hotel Lenyadri International"(Tariff Rs.1,800 → 2,500) & a YatriNivas.

Hyd- Mantralayam - Alampur - Kurnool - Yaganti - Belum Caves - Gandikota Fort - Ahobilam - Nandyala - Mahanandi - Srisailam - Hyd

This is another weekend or short break trip that you can make from Hyderabad. It has both spiritual and historic places in this trip. This would be a drive from Hyderabad. It will be 4-5 days trip.

Start from Hyderabad and drive till Mantralayam and visit Raghavendra Swamy Temple and Panchamukha Anjaneya Swamy Temple and then proceed to Kurnool. Visit Alampur Jogulambha Temple (27 Kms / ½ Hr) (a Shakthi Peetam) and back to Kurnool.

Start from Kurnool and drive to Yaganti to visit Yaganti Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple and Venkateswara Cave. From Yaganti drive to Belum Caves. Belum caves are the second largest natural caves in Indian Sub-Continent after Meghalaya Caves. Belum caves are longer than Borra Caves near Araku Valley. You can also visit Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, which is about 60 kms from Kurnool, Nandikotkuru village of the district is the exact location

Later visit Ahobhilam (100 Kms./ 3 Hrs.), the famous Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple that dates back to the early 16th century and where all the nine forms of Lord Narasimha Swamy are worshipped.  After the visit to temple departure to Nandhyal (90 Kms./ 2 Hrs.).

Depart from Nandyala to Mahanandi - A noted pilgrimage centre, Mahanandi is surrounded by dense (Nallamala) forest and is famous for the Mahanandishwara that dates back to the 7th Century AD. The remarkable feature here is the crystal clear water which flows throughout the year from perennial springs.

Later depart for Srisailam. (160 Kms / 4 Hrs). On arrival, transfer to A.P. Tourism Guest House.

Visit Srisailam Temple (One of the Jyothirlinga Temple). Visit Lord Mallikharjuna Swamy & Shri Bhramarambika Devi (a Shakti Peetham) Temples and other local sightseeing places such as Srisailam Dam, Akka Mahadevi Caves, Phaladhara Panchadhara, Pathala Ganga,

Depart back to Hyderabad (210 Kms. / 5 Hrs.). The road between Srisailam and Hyderabad is good.

Overall around 4D/3N break that includes Raghavendra Swamy, Panchamukha Anjaneya Swamy, Alampur Jogulamba Devi, Yaganti Uma Maheswara temple, Venkateshwara swamy, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy, Shiva Mallikarjuna Swamy and Brahmarambika Devi along with Belum Caves, drive through Nallamalla Forest and back to 

Hyd - Bhubaneswar - Konark Sun Temple - Chilika Lake - Puri Jaganath Temple - Hyd

Golden Triangle of Odisha is the combination of three destinations in a Triangular shape – Bhubaneswar – Puri and Konark.

Bhubaneswar is popularly known as the “Temple City of India”. Puri Jagannath Temple and magnificent Sun Temple – Konark and nearby to Chilika Lake

Panthanivas is maintained by Odisha Tourism - OTDC, similar to Haritha in Telangana

Day – 1:

Arrival Bhubaneswar Railway Station or Airport at Morning. Transfer to Panthanivas Bhubaneswar. After fresh up & breakfast, sightseeing of Lingaraj, Mukteswar, Rajarani temple, State Museum. Khandagiri – Udayagiri caves. Evening witness light & sound show at Dhauli (1st show – 6.30 P.M. to 7.05 P.M. & 2nd show – 7.15 P.M. to 7.45 P.M.). Night halt at Panthanivas Bhubaneswar. 

(Tea, Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Snacks and Dinner at Panthanivas Bhubaneswar.)

Day – 2:

Morning after breakfast proceed to Konark, enroute covering Dhauli – Buddhist Monastery, Ashokan Rock Edicts & Pipili – appliqué market. Sightseeing of Konark Sun temple (The World Heritage Monument), Chandrabhaga beach and Ramachandi temple. Night halt at Yatrinivas Konark.

(Bed Tea, Breakfast at Panthanivas Konark, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Snacks and Dinner at Yatrinivas Konark.)

 

Day – 3:

Early morning witness Sunrise at Chandrabhaga beach. After breakfast proceed to Satapada (Chilika). Boat Ride in Chilika Lake, sightseeing of Sea – Mouth & Irrawaddy dolphin site. Back to Puri. Evening darshan of Lord Jaganath & visit sea beach. Night halt at Panthanivas Puri.

(Bed Tea, Breakfast at Yatrinivas Puri, Lunch at Yatrinivas Satapada, Afternoon Tea, Snacks and Dinner at Panthanivas Puri.)

Day – 4:

Early morning darshan of Lord Jagannath (Mangal Arati). After breakfast proceed to Bhubaneswar enroute covering Raghurajpur - Artisan pattapainting village & Sakhigopal temple. Sightseeing of Nandankanan Zoo & shopping at local market. Evening drop at Airport or Railway Station. 

(Tour ends) (Bed Tea, Breakfast at Panthanivas Puri and Lunch at Restaurant Nandankanan.)

Flight from Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar costs around 4550/head round trip. Hotel costs around 2500 on twin sharing basis. Transportation might cost 2500 / day - ~14K per head for a 4D/3N tour of Odisha temples, beaches and lakes

Trains are plenty as well, but needs advanced booking, Howrah Express, Konark express are some of the trains via Vizag and it is a ~23 hrs journey from Secunderabad to Bhubaneshwar/Puri

Ajanta Ellora Caves

The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India are about 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 or 650 CE.


Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple caves complexes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Maharashtra, India. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from the 600-1000 CE period. Cave 16 of Ellora features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailasha temple, a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Shiva.  They were built in proximity and illustrate the religious harmony prevalent in ancient India.

How to travel to Ajanta and Ellora Caves? How to reach Aurangabad?

Fly from Hyderabad to Aurangabad(5K).
Or take an overnight train to Manmed and get down at Aurangabad Junction.
Or take a private bus(3K) from Hyderabad(or other major cities) to Aurangabad, easier if last minute planning

There are direct flights from other major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur

Stay at Aurangabad. Decent selection of hotels available.

Either do the Ellora first day and Ajanta the second day or vice versa. If you have evening flight, then keep Ellora to the last day as drive to Ajanta is 2 hrs.


Journey to the caves

Ajanta is a 2 hr drive from Aurangabad and can be visited on the day you arrive. Sunrises on these caves

Wake up early the next day for going to Ellora caves and sunsets here.

Carry water bottle, white torch light if you want to see the intricate designs clearly.

Opens at 9 am and closes at 5:30 pm

Best time to visit is from November to March

The Ajanta caves are closed on Mondays, and the Ellora caves are closed on Tuesdays

Must visit place for a weekend or rather a weekday when rush is less. Suggest land in morning, watch Ajanta caves which is 2 hr drive. Watch Ellore caves the next day which will be closer to hotels and stay overnight or travel back.

So much history and archaeological splendor, that it is a must visit for any of us.