As the tricolour flutters high on August 15, 2025 (Friday), it isn’t just the country that breathes freedom. This long weekend is your perfect excuse to chase horizons, swap screen-time for starlight, and let your soul roam beyond Hyderabad’s skyline.
Whether you seek nature’s lullaby, echoes of ancient dynasties, or mist-draped hilltop trails, the universe is gently nudging you to pack your bags.
Here's a handpicked list of unforgettable August 15 long weekend getaways from Hyderabad, curated for every kind of traveller, history lovers, forest dwellers, monsoon chasers, and freedom dreamers.
Distance: 80 km | Drive Time: 2 hours
Tucked away like a whispered secret near Vikarabad, Ananthagiri Hills is a symphony of silence, dewdrops, and ancient forest trails.
This is where you trade deadlines for forest lines and rediscover the joy of walking without purpose.
Why Visit This Weekend?
The monsoon has gifted the hills their greenest cloak. Imagine sipping chai on a cliff’s edge as the fog hugs your feet.
Must-Do Experiences:
Sunrise trek through foggy Eucalyptus forests
A visit to the centuries-old Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Hammock camping under the stars
Distance: 215 km | Drive Time: 5.5 hours
For those who seek divinity in both devotion and dense forests, Srisailam is your spiritual-cum-wilderness retreat. Set against the Nallamala hills, it is where the God Shiva resides beside wild tigers and thundering waterfalls.
Monsoon Magic:
Rains awaken the landscape, with streams overflowing and the valley echoing with birdsong.
Unmissables:
Darshan at the revered Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga
River cruise to Akkamahadevi Caves
Jeep safari in Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Distance: 145 km | Drive Time: 3.5 hours
Step across the Telangana border into Bidar, Karnataka’s quiet custodian of Indo-Islamic architecture. Here, forts and tombs rise from the mists like memories of a forgotten empire.
Why August?
The rain polishes the red laterite stone structures, adding drama to every photograph.
Top Spots:
Bidar Fort with its moats, bastions, and Persian arches
Bahmani Tombs – regal yet eerie in the monsoon gloom
Learn the intricate art of Bidriware from local artisans
Distance: 165 km | Drive Time: 4 hours
At Nagarjuna Sagar, the Krishna River transforms into a dramatic cascade, thanks to the mighty dam.
But look deeper, this land has layers of Buddhist history, archaeological mysteries, and riverine beauty.
Weekend Highlights:
Take a boat to Nagarjunakonda Island Museum
Watch the dam gates open (if lucky), a sight of sheer raw power
Visit Ethipothala Falls, a lesser-known monsoon gem nearby
Distance: 145 km | Drive Time: 3.5 hours
Once the heartbeat of the Kakatiya dynasty, Warangal in August is poetry carved in stone and washed by monsoon clouds.
Temples, forts, and lakes, each tells tales of battles, devotion, and forgotten grandeur.
Wander Here For:
The iconic Warangal Fort, framed by toranas and broken bastions
Ramappa Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site), sculpted in floating bricks
A peaceful boat ride on Laknavaram Lake amidst lush islands
Also read: 14 Insta worthy places in Hyderabad: Click your next IG Post here
Distance: 380 km | Drive Time: 8 hours
They call it the Grand Canyon of India, but Gandikota is more than a lookalike, it’s a mood. Its orange cliffs overlook the Pennar River, fierce yet silent.
Combine this with Belum Caves, India’s second-longest cave system, and your weekend becomes a passage through time and stone.
Trip Ideas:
Camp cliffside under the monsoon sky
Walk through Belum’s eerie, echoing chambers
Explore Gandikota Fort and relive tales of lost kingdoms
Distance: 430 km | Travel Time: Overnight train + 2 hours by road
Sometimes, you don’t drive to your destination, you sail. Papikondalu, with its thick green ridges along the Godavari, offers a monsoon boat cruise unlike anything else.
Why Sail Now?
Rains transform the hills into emerald islands, and waterfalls tumble beside your boat like whispers from the sky.
Must Experience:
1N/2D Godavari cruise with overnight stay in floating cottages
Traditional Andhra meals on deck
Visit tribal villages and soak in river stories
Distance: 580 km | Travel Time: Overnight journey
Nicknamed the ‘Kashmir of Andhra’, Lambasingi is a surreal hill village where fog lingers all day and where apple and strawberry farms peek through the drizzle.
In August, it's a realm of romance, ripe fruit, and rolling silence.
Best Enjoyed With:
Long walks, shared umbrellas, and a flask of filter coffee.
Don’t Miss:
Lambasingi waterfalls and coffee plantations
Local markets selling pepper and eucalyptus oils
Sunrise at Kothapalli Waterfalls, a secret in the hills
Distance: 380 km | Drive Time: 8 hours overnight
A timeless escape, Hampi is where the soul of Vijayanagara still strolls among the banana groves and boulder-strewn temples.
Come August, the ruins glisten, and the Tungabhadra flows bold and deep.
Why It’s Worth the Drive:
Monsoon lends a magical sheen to these rocks, and crowds are fewer, perfect for reflective moments.
Do Not Miss:
The musical pillars of Vittala Temple
Coracle boat rides on the river
Café-hopping in Hippie Island
Also read: Top 10 Underrated Places in Hampi That Only a Few Know About
Distance: 270 km | Drive Time: 6 hours
Nestled in the Adilabad district, these twin falls come alive like thunderbolts crashing through the forest. If you crave untamed nature, cascading power, and road-trip romance, this is your call.
Weekend Itinerary:
Morning dip at Kuntala Falls
Visit tribal villages nearby
Camp in nature with a bonfire under drizzle
Also read: 11 Hidden Waterfalls Near Hyderabad for a Refreshing Quick Getaway
Distance: 430 km | Drive Time: 9–10 hours
Not all forests are silent, Maredumilli and Rampachodavaram sing with cicadas, waterfalls, and wind that carries the scent of rain and bamboo. This eco-tourism haven in the Eastern Ghats is a dream come true for monsoon lovers.
Why It’s Special:
It’s one of the few places where you can drive through dense rainforests, stay in tree-top cottages, and sip tribal-made bamboo chicken by a campfire.
Weekend Highlights:
Trek to Amruthadhara and Jalatarangini Waterfalls
Watch fireflies light up the forest at night
Learn about indigenous cultures and their healing herbs
Distance: 210 km | Drive Time: 5 hours
Nestled beside the river Godavari, Basar is more than just a religious site, it’s where spirituality meets serenity.
The Gnana Saraswati Temple, where children are initiated into learning, gives this village a quietly divine aura.
Why It’s Ideal for a Short Retreat:
Less crowded, slow-paced, and deeply peaceful. Monsoon adds a gentle touch to the riverside walks.
Things to Do:
Attend the morning aarti at the temple
Take a boat ride on the Godavari
Enjoy simple yet soul-satisfying local cuisine
Distance: 160 km | Drive Time: 3.5 hours
Too close to be counted, yet too rich to be ignored, Karimnagar is an underrated blend of archaeology, devotion, and scenic tanks.
From rock-cut caves to majestic lakes, it’s ideal for travellers who like culture without the crowd.
Why Now?
The Ramagiri Fort and Lower Manair Dam glow in the monsoon drizzle, perfect for slow travel and long evening walks.
Must-Visit Spots:
Elgandal Fort
Ujwala Park and boating in Manair River
Vemulawada Temple
Distance: 530 km | Travel Time: Overnight train + 2 hrs drive
If you crave the old-school charm of colonial hill stations, Horsley Hills in Andhra Pradesh won’t disappoint. It’s like stepping into a Ruskin Bond story, with eucalyptus-scented air, chirping birds, and cottages with tiled roofs.
Perfect For:
Couples, readers, and those who want to hear the rain on a rooftop while sipping masala chai.
What to Do:
Hike to the Wind Rock viewpoint
Visit the Environmental Park and the 150-year-old eucalyptus tree
Enjoy horse riding, rappelling, and nature trails
Distance: 105 km | Drive Time: 2.5 hours
Short on time but still want to escape? Head to Mahbubnagar, where history meets horticulture.
The town’s pride, Pillalamarri, is a 700-year-old banyan tree with a canopy so vast it feels like a forest in itself.
Why Visit in Monsoon?
The surrounding parks, lakes, and heritage sites are revived and humming with life.
Don’t Miss:
Jurala Dam during monsoon overflow
Alampur Jogulamba Temple – one of the 18 Shakti Peethas
A quiet moment under the sprawling Pillalamarri banyan
Also read:Guide to Plan Your Perfect Weekend in Hyderabad
With fifteen soulful getaways unfolding like verses of a travel anthem, this long weekend is your chance to celebrate freedom not just in spirit, but in motion.
Whether it’s a misty hilltop, a riverside temple, or a cave that hums with ancient echoes, every road from Hyderabad leads to a story waiting to be lived.
So this Independence Day, step away from the ordinary and set your spirit free, because the most meaningful journeys are the ones that begin with a spark of spontaneity.
Where will your heart take you this August 15?
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