Into the Wild! Best Wildlife Weekend Getaways from Hyderabad

India hosts an astonishing variety of birds, beasts, flora and fauna. Known for having a large number of biodiversity spots and a range of habitats suited for wildlife to grow and prosper – India’s wildlife safaris are guaranteed to bedazzle visitors.

So, if you’re planning to take a wildlife weekend getaway from Hyderabad, here are the spots you should consider.

Adilabad

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With three wildlife sanctuaries in its kitty, the lush green environs of Adilabad are perfect for wildlife lovers. Hosting the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary and the Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary – there’s lots of flora and fauna to encounter on your weekend getaway here. Ancient ruins, pilgrimage spots, handicraft stalls and trekking trails are other features you’ll come upon, making this a well-rounded holiday destination.

How to Get There: Take the NH 44 to cover the 300 kms that get you to Adilabad. The journey should take you about 4 hours.

Where to Stay: Hotel Vaibhav (Rs. 1200 per night)

Book Your Stay at Hotel Vaibhav 

Black Buck Resort, Bidar

Most people visit the walled city of Bidar to see the relics of the medieval rulers of the Bahmani Kingdom who reigned here. Bidar Fort is certainly one of the top tourist attractions here. Lesser known is the black buck sanctuary located between the Honnikeri Reserve and the Vilaspur Lake. Take a trip to catch a glimpse of this magnificent creature indigenous to the region, along with other exquisite species such as the black-naped hare, porcupines, and wild boars.

How to Get There: Bidar is located about 3 hours away by car. Take the NH 65 to get there.

Where to Stay: Hotel Shiva International (Rs. 900 per night), Vikas Lodge (Rs. 460 per night)

Book Your Stay at Hotel Shiva International 

Andhari Tiger Reserve, Chandrapur

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The oldest and largest tiger reserve in Maharashtra, the Andhari Tiger Reserve boasts a fine collection of the rare striped tigers. Jungle safaris are offered here in open-top jeeps and minibuses, so you’ll get many opportunities to chance upon these majestic animals along with avian species of many hues and sizes.

How to Get There: Andhari Tiger Reserve is located at Chandrapur, Maharashtra – about 431 kms from Hyderabad.

Where to Stay: Tristar Hotel (Rs. 1500 per night), Risha Hotel (Rs. 1950 per night), ND Hotel (Rs. 2150 per night). All hotels are located in Chandrapur.

Book Your Stay at Tristar Hotel 

Pench National Park

Rumoured to be the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, Pench National Park occupies a haven along the southern slopes of the Satpura Range. Follow the course of the River Pench on your jungle safari to come across tigers, pheasants, drongo and chitals. Pench is famous for a reason – the quintessential wildlife reserve, it provides a beautiful backdrop for nature lovers to catch a site of wildlife at its most primeval.

How to Get There: It’ll take you 10 hours to reach Pench National Park from Hyderabad via the NH 44. Granted, not an ideal distance for a weekend getaway, but Pench is lovely enough for you to take a couple of days off from work.

Where to Stay: Tiger N Woods Resort (Rs. 2800 per night), WelcomHeritage Jungle Home (Rs. 6000 per night), The Riverwood Forest Retreat (Rs. 5200 per night)

Book Your Stay at Welcome Heritage Jungle Home 

Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Sanctuary

At a distance of about 173 kms from Hyderabad lies the Nagarjuna Sagar – Srisailam Sanctuary, home to the largest tiger reserve in the country. Spread across 3568 sq. kms, the reserve lies between the Nagarjuna and Srisailam reservoirs and offers jeep safaris to view the magnificent array of wild beasts in the region. These include - apart from tigers – panthers, wild dogs, sloth bears, spotted deer, black buck, mouse deer, mugger crocodiles, wolves, sambars and nilghai. You can also visit Srisailam (about 30 kms away) and check out the Malleka Teertham Falls.

How to Get There: It’ll take you about 2.5 hours to reach the reserve from Hyderabad along the NH 765.

Where to Stay: Hotel Grand Akka Mahadevi (Rs. 840 per night)

Book Your Stay at Grand AkkaMahadevi

Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary

Located about 156 kms from Hyderabad, the Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary offers a scenic landscape to witness the wild at its best. Common beasts spotted here include tigers, leopards, hyenas, wolves, wild dogs, langoors, jackals, cobras, pythons, monitor lizards, bears and large herds of deer. The sanctuary is spread across 839 sq. kms so there’s plenty for you to explore over a weekend. 

How to Get There: Follow NH 163 from Hyderabad, crossing Warangal to reach Pakhal Lake.

Where to Stay: Stay in Warangal (50 kms from Pakhal Lake) at Surya Hotel (Rs. 4000 per night), Venkataramana Hotel (Rs. 1400 per night)

Book Your Stay at Surya Hotel 

Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary

Birdwatchers, ahoy!

Home to more than 50,000 migratory and resident birds, the Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary is a sprawling avian hotspot spread over 260 sq. km of lake waters. You’ll find a number of rare and exotic varieties such as Glossy Ibises, Painted Storks, Red Crested Pochards, Teals and many more. The sanctuary has gone through a number of conservation efforts to preserve the natural habitat of the birds here, which means you’ll get to witness a number of clusters here. Do bring your binoculars and a good camera for this one, people. 

How to Get There: It’ll take you 6 hours to reach Kolleru Lake from Hyderabad via NH 65.

Where to Stay: Gateway Hotel (Rs. 4200 per night)

Book Your Stay at Gateway Hotel 

Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra’s Vidharba region, Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary is a blend of thick forested lands, wetlands and grassy pastures spread over 104 sq. kms – providing an ideal habitat for birds and beasts of an overwhelming variety. Home to tigers, leopards, black buck, sambhar, chital, blue bulls and a number of birds, Bhamragarh should be combined with the Andhari Tiger Reserve to make for an excellent wildlife weekend.

How to Get There: Bhamragarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chandrapur, about 431 kms from Hyderabad. No reason why you shouldn’t make this a destination for an extended weekend getaway, owing to the distance.

Where to Stay: Tristar Hotel (Rs. 1500 per night), Risha Hotel (Rs. 1950 per night), ND Hotel (Rs. 2150 per night). All hotels are located in Chandrapur.

Book Your Stay at ND Hotel 
 

So, now that you have your camera and your mosquito repellent cream packed, where are you going to visit to get closer to nature’s finest?