About Hyderabad

Hyderabad, in Andhra Pradesh, is a city that flourished during the rule of the Nizams is a place that you must visit. While it is popular for the monuments and palaces that it boasts of, it also became popular for the increasing craze of cinema and the creative liberty that the artists took to create masterpieces. It is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, both. Hyderabadi is also known for introducing the best Biryanis to the world.

Though Hyderabad has flourished and developed a lot, it has also maintained some of its old charms to keep history alive. The Charminar, which literally translates to four minarets, is a major tourist attraction in Hyderabad. You must also visit the Ramoji Film City, which is a little further away from the main city but it is totally worth it. Not only will you get to visit the magnificent film sets but you will also come across a lot of stories about the place. If you're lucky, you might even run into your favourite actor.

Hyderabadi food tends to be more on the spicier side, and if your taste buds can handle it, you'll want to pack some of it and take it back home. Apart from the monuments and palaces, Hyderabad also has a spot for all you shopaholics. It is known for its pearl jewellery. You get the best pearl and silver jewellery in the city and at an affordable price, too. The city is also popular for the Karachi Bakery, where you get the most delicious cookies, biscuits and other snacks. There's one near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, too. Make sure you stop by to take home some delicious snacks for your family and friends.

Hyderabad also has quite a lot of clubs, fancy restaurants and malls for the youngsters. You'll find a lot of upcoming new cafes and coffee breweries in the city, too. The city has a blend of old and new traditions. The Golconda Fort is a popular tourist attraction in Hyderabad. It is one of India's many architectural wonders and is built on a 400-feet high granite hill. There is a particular location below the entrance dome under which, if you clap, it will be heard a kilometre away at a pavilion. This is one of the major accomplishments of the fort, and this was made so a message could be delivered to the royals in advance, in case there was an impending attack. It was built in the 12th century and is a highly recommended place to visit.

The Chowmahalla Palace was built in the 18th century, and it spells grandeur. Spot the Belgian crystal chandeliers and white marble floors that will make you want to redecorate your own house. The Hussain Sagar Lake is an artificial lake that used to be Hyderabad's water supply before two more lakes were built. A statue of Buddha is lit up at night and stands tall in the middle of the lake. You can go boating here and soak in the serene view. The sunset is breathtaking from the lake.

The Ramoji Film City is the world's biggest film studio complex and welcomes tourists from all over the country. You can even book a hotel within the complex since it is quite far away from the city. You can opt for a tour guide who will show you around the city or one of the tour buses that have a group of tourists to get around the complex. If you are lucky, you might even come across your favourite celebrity in the film complex.

Best Time to Visit Hyderabad

Hyderabad witnesses winters from November to February. The temperature drops down to 13 degrees Celsius and goes up to 25 degree Celsius maximum. Winters are quite chilly and are also ideal for sightseeing in the city. This is also the best time for you to go shopping and there are chances that the markets will be crowded since it's the peak season for the city.

It rains in Hyderabad from August to October. It gets rainfall that's moderate to heavy, which works really well since the city becomes greener. The rains are quite unpredictable, and it might make you sit in your hotel room instead of venturing out. But you can head out when the rainfall is mediocre.

Hyderabad sees a long summer that starts from March and lasts till July. May and July witness the highest temperatures that also brings in humidity. Summer is not a very favourable time for you to plan your trip to Hyderabad, but you can visit the city during winter or the initial days of monsoon.

Places to visit in Hyderabad

The Golconda Fort is one of the oldest and an important place to visit in Hyderabad. Ruins of the fort are worth visiting. It gives you a sneak peek into the history, and you'll even come across a few untold stories. Charminar is yet another monument that is deemed important and is buzzing with tourists all year round.

Ramoji Film City is also one of the most popular destinations in Hyderabad. It is the world's biggest film studios complex, and it even says so in the Guinness World Book of Records. Since Ramoji Film City is quite far from the city, you should dedicate an entire day to exploring the film studio complex. You can book an accommodation stay or within the complex to avoid hectic travelling.

The Hussain Sagar Lake is another major attraction and best way to spend the evening. Catch the sunset at the manmade lake and grab your favourite chaat at the stalls around the lake. Chowmahalla Palace is another place you must visit to experience the grandiose and luxe of palace life.

Things to do in Hyderabad

Hyderabad is a city for all kinds of tourists. You can go on a historical tour to all the monuments, forts and museums or you can go partying at some of the most happening places. Or just make a list of restaurants that are popular in the city and eat at all of them. Book a tour to the Ramoji Film City instead of trying to take things in your own hands. It will be more comfortable, and you won't feel all lost when you reach the location on your own. Not to mention, a tour guide always has interesting, untold stories to tell while taking you on tour. Go for a drive at the Queen's Necklace in the evening, and you won't regret it. It will be an evening well spent.

You can also visit the NTR Gardens which was made as a tribute to former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and celebrated actor, NT Rama Rao. If you are travelling with your kids, they will surely enjoy spending time here. Learn more about the history of Hyderabad and everything that has changed over time. Hyderabad is also known for the gems that it sells. You can buy as many pearl or silver jewellery as you please. There are a lot of authentic jewellery stores in the city where you will find precisely what you want without shelling out more money.

Food and Restaurants in Hyderabad

You can order a Hyderabadi Biryani wherever you go in Hyderabad. It's one of the most famous biryanis in the country, and you can order it without hesitating from any restaurant that you find. Try the Boti Kebab at Hotel Shadab in Ghansi Bazaar or Paradise at Paradise Circle in Secunderabad. It's a special kebab that you will enjoy from the first till the last bite. Qubani Ka Meetha is yet another Hyderabadi dessert that you must try. While you are at Hotel Shadab, do try the Mirchi ka Salan, another popular dish in Hyderabad.

How to reach Hyderabad

By Air

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to Hyderabad but is quite far away from the main city. The flight connectivity is pretty strong. It connects all the domestic routes to Hyderabad and international routes from the city, too. All the major cities are well-connected by air. Do look for decent flight deals online and see if you can manage to get cheap flight tickets. Though the main city is quite far from the airport, you will get a private taxi or bus quite easily from the airport.

By Rail

Hyderabad is well-connected to all the other cities by rail through Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda railway stations. Most trains that are travelling to and from major metropolitan cities pass through Secunderabad station. Train journeys are quite comfortable, and if you do not have any time constraints, you can opt for a train journey.

By Road

Buses and private taxis run to and from Hyderabad quite frequently. In fact, you can get private buses that run to Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, too. There are quite buses connecting Andhra Pradesh to other neighbouring states, too.

  About Agatti Island

One of Lakshadweep's finest islands and well-connected places is Agatti. The 6km long Agatti island is not just home to a wide range of marine life but is also the only place in the archipelago to sustain an airstrip. The fact that the island has an airstripe makes the flight connectivity to Agatti Island extremely convenient. With regular flights from Kochi and Bengaluru and ships services, Agatti easily becomes a place that can be visited. Folks who wish to escape from the noise of the city or multitude of people on beaches should pick this island as their destination.

With pristine white-sand beaches, clear blue waters and opportunity for a bunch of water sports activities, Agatti island easily manages to draw a certain kind of crowd. You can find yourself swayed by the quaint vibe and beauty of the island. Not to mention, the population is also quite less, which makes it all the more tempting. Not just underwater but diversity prevails even on the surface with Islam as the main religion for the habitants. While Malayalam and Tamil are the primary languages spoken here, English is also becoming a native tongue for the locals as it is easier to communicate with travellers.

The island might be easy to reach, but there are some restrictions which make travelling a wee bit difficult. Even though tourism is open and the island sees a lot of tourists, there are some essential documents and paperwork that the traveller must carry with them. You will require an Entry Permit from the administration of Lakshadweep to enter the island. The permit is granted to individuals who have already confirmed an accommodation, ahead of their voyage. Interestingly, the island also has only two hotels which means you must be certain of making your hotel bookings for Agatti Island before time to secure a worry-free trip. The tropical island is undoubtedly beautiful and definitely worth visiting.

You should know that while the tropical island has some of the best beaches, it has a very humble background. The people, the lifestyle, the hotels and basically the entire experience here would be nothing like what the Maldives has to offer. However, the simplicity of Agatti Islands will draw you to the island and especially the shores.

Best time to visit Agatti Island

Monsoon is a bane to islands, and Agatti is no different from the phenomenon. Hence, it is usually advised not to venture out to take up a trip to the quaint island between May to September. Since monsoon begins in the second half of May at the Arabian Sea, travelling becomes a big risk. In fact, the cruises and ship services are also suspended, owing to the challenges involved during this season.

The months between October to the first half of May are practically perfect, though. The weather is delightful and relaxed, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 36. It is ideal, especially for a tropical setting. The bearable heat further makes it an attractive travel option for individuals who wish to escape from the city's bustling. These months are also perfect for sailing and to pick up a cruise as a travel option. With lesser disturbance at sea, the risk of seasickness also drops tremendously.

The clearer summer and winter months also make it easy for divers to explore reefs and the wide sea. The added benefit of this is how it will enable you to experience the tropical bliss that Agatti Island has in store. With Agatti Island, picking the right season is imperative as that will decide how your trip will transpire.

Places to see in Agatti Island

The options of places to see in Agatti Islands is quite minimum since the place is rather tiny. Interestingly though, you can take up island-hopping and explore more of the islands such as Pitti Island or Bangaram Island as these two are close to Agatti. It'll take you minutes of a ferry ride to reach both the islands mentioned. Here's a fun fact, the Bangaram Island is the only place with a private resort. The accommodation is swanky and beautiful. The best way to spend time in Agatti is to put your energy towards exploring the sea and the marine habitats.

Things to do in Agatti Island

Agatti's azure blue waters touching the white sand coasts don't just make for a postcard-worthy setting but also offer a fun underwater adventure. The beauty of the place makes it possible for you to sit by the beaches and relax your soul. The calm waters and soothing sound of waves hitting the shores make for the perfect getaway from the city's noise. Soaking yourselves under the scorching sun is not the only fun activity that you can do on this island. From scuba diving to exploring the reefs, there are a plethora of activities that you can indulge in during your stay.

The place promotes water sports so you will get to sail on the waters as well as ski on it. Take a lovely kayak for yourself and go rowing towards the sea. You can explore Agatti's waters by kayaking. At the same time, if taking up scuba diving is something that you have always wanted to indulge in then that option is also available here. The crystal clear waters will make you spot an abundance of quirky and colourful fish. It is definitely going to be a joyride for all the water babies.

Snorkelling, fishing, water skiing and diving in the delicious seafood platter are some of the other things that will keep you occupied during your Agatti trip. Much of the cuisine has seafood, and if you are an enthusiast, their curries will go down well with your system. If all the water activities sound a little too overwhelming for you, then you can take it easy, throw on your flip flops and plop on a beach chair.

Restaurants and food in Agatti Island

The island is a tiny place with a bunch of activities to do but hardly many places to eat. There are literally only two hotels and limited restaurants too. Thanks to the small population and the few travellers who visit Agatti, there aren't many restaurant options to pick from. However, the positive here is that these hotels do offer phenomenal seafood. You will be amazed by how perfectly they emulate the traditional Kerala cuisine and service to the customers. If seafood is something that excited you, then Agatti would undoubtedly be the best place to explore more of the food sphere. From giant fish to octopus, you can experiment with the seafood that they offer.

How to reach Agatti Island (Transportation)

By Air

Agatti Island is the only island in all of Lakshadweep to have an airport. Since the islands are spread out on the Arabian Sea and not all of them, have the capabilities to host an airport Agatti is the only island to make it possible. In fact, the bird's eye view of the airport is simply marvellous and the kind to blow your mind. Do not fall asleep ahead of landing for you should definitely witness the beautiful airport's setting.

There is only one airline that offers services to charter planes to Agatti Aerodromes. You can make your flight bookings to Agatti Island by selecting Air India Regional. Although Agatti Island is not well-connected in terms of air as well as other modes of transport, you can always find flights to the island from Kochi, Chennai and Bangalore. In fact, the flight connectivity to the Agatti Island from the major metropolitan cities, including Mumbai and Delhi, is excellent so you can easily get your travel plans in order.

By Water

Since the Lakshadweep Islands is located in the middle of the Arabian Sea, there are no routes to Agatti by rail or road. The only way for the islands to connect to India is via the air route or the waterway. Luckily, for those who have never travelled by ships and cruises, this could be the best opportunity to give waterways a go. Two ship services can be found in Cochin. The ships named Bharat Seema and Tipu Sultan are the only ones to voyage to Agatti.

While these are government-run ships to Agatti, there are some private cruises too namely Star Cruises and Ocean Cruises. These private ships come with a plethora of luxurious benefits with swanky lounge settings, first-class accommodation, jacuzzi and more. They easily become a choice for many travellers as a journey by water can be quite tedious, especially if you are seasick. The luxury cruises run from Mumbai and Goa.

Aside from the government and private services, there's a travel-centric cruise service too that takes the domestic route to Agatti Island from Cochin and back. These trips basically have five islands listed out and will only go as per the itinerary. Going by the name Lakshadweep Samudram, the cruise goes on an island-hopping voyage from Agatti to Kavaratti. However, this is subjective to the kind of package that you choose and the perks that come with it. The cost of the package is also quite reasonable, so many couples do opt for this over the other ways.

  About Hyderabad Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or Hyderabad Airport serves as the international airport to the city of Hyderabad in Telangana state. The airport is situated about 24 km in the South of Hyderabad, in Shamshabad. The Hyderabad Airport has one passenger terminal which caters to both, domestic and international airlines. The airport also has a cargo terminal as well as two runways. An aviation training facility is also prevalent at the airport along with a fuel farm and a solar power plant. It is recognized as the sixth busiest airport in India, in terms of passenger traffic. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also caters as a hub to airlines such as Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Lufthansa Cargo, TruJet, Quikjet Cargo and IndiGo. Hyderabad is a focus city for Air India.

About Hyderabad Airport Terminals

The Hyderabad International Airport has one only terminal which integrates the domestic and international sides of terminals. The area covered is 1,133,000 sq ft and has a scope to accommodate 12 million passengers in a year. While the western wing of the airport terminal takes care of the international flights, the eastern side takes cate of domestic flight operations. There are about 96 check-in counters, 19 self-check-in kiosks and close to 46 counters of immigration. A total of nine gates are present at the airport, located on the south of the terminal whereas there are two more in the north. Passenger lounge facilities are available and provided by the Plaza Premium Lounge. Separate lounges for VIP are also available in the terminal. The airport has ten aerobridges and about 57 parking bays. GHIAL recently added 26 more parking bays to the are, taking the new tally to 83 parking bays.

About airport authority

The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport or RGIA is possessed and operated by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. (GHIAL). It is a public-private undertaking which comprises of public entities, including the Airports Authority of India and the Government of Telangana, along with private organizations namely, GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. While the AAI and Government of Telangana hold 13 per cent respectively, the private entities such as GMR Group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad have 63 and 11 per cent holdings respectively. According to the agreement acknowledged by GHIAL and the Central Government, GHIAL has the right to function the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport for 30 years. Further from the completion of the years, GHIAL further receives an option to choose if they wish to continue another 30 years of association.

Facilities at Hyderabad Airport

Special assistance - The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport has provisions to cater to the travellers ranging from escorting senior citizens to portage facilities. Some of the special assistance features include asking for baby strollers, to help expectant mothers or senior citizens with wheelchairs, helping passengers with mobility issues, helping accompany minors, catering to passengers who are travelling with pets, buggy services and other such concerns. You can avail the services at the information desk. Or you can make prior intimation with the airlines that would help the staff be prepared for your demands.

VIP facilities - The airport does have several VIP services available. As it is one of the top 10 international airports in the country, the services are quite world-class, including the lounge accommodation. There are meeting rooms and lounge areas for travellers with first-class or business class tickets. There are showers and spas also available at the airport to help in-transit passengers to relax. In fact, the VIP lounges and hotels where travellers can relax before they take their connecting flight.

Restaurants and cafes - You will find some excellent restaurants and food establishments at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. This includes small food and beverage kiosks and a dedicated food court. There are global food joints such as KFC, Subway, McDonald's and more. Some of them are also available at the departure and arrival areas. The departure zones at domestic and international terminals also have upscale restaurants and bars that you can check out.

Lost and found - The airport also offers lost and found services that you can avail. The centre is open 24/7, so you can visit the room whenever there is an item that you have lost. You will need your boarding card, photo identity card (this could include passport, visa, driver's licence, voter's card, etc.) and a proof that substantiates the fact that you are the rightful owner of the lost item. In case you are unable to visit the lost and found centre yourself, you can send a representative. However, while you do that, you will need to provide an authorized letter from the passenger and include a description of the lost item. The said person will also need to show relevant ID proofs.

Prayer room - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has convenient prayer/multifaith rooms within the premise of the passenger terminal building. There are two rooms present at the airport.

Baggage - The luggage facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport are also top-notch. As the airport caters to domestic and international passengers, the airport does have luggage services include wrapping and porter facilities. To avoid theft and mishandling of luggage, you can opt for baggage plastic wrapping. There are trolleys also available at the departure and arrival gates of the terminal building.

Child care centre - There are dedicated child care rooms available at the arrival and departure zones of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The rooms are well-maintained and cleaned properly. The airport staff also keep the child care rooms clean and sanitized. There are baby products also available as are provisions of a comfortable chair for feeding and changing table for a diaper change.

Medical services - The airport also reserved medical services to aid to emergency cases. They are available at proper intervals to ensure that the help arrives quickly in time of immediate assistance. You can also visit the information desk to get hold of some medical assistance. The medical services are provided by Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. It is a 24/7 service with pharmacy and paramedics. The airport also has well-trained doctors available who cater to the treatment centre. There is a dedicated ambulance service also available at the airport.

Airport transit hotel - One of the highlights of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is that the airport accommodates a hotel for in-transit passengers. You can get more details on the same at the information desk, available at all intervals. The airport has lodge services with AC and Non-AC dorms. The prices of the same are mentioned on the website of GHIAL as well as at the information desk. You can further opt for deluxe rooms and shower booths as well, to freshen up.

Top airlines flying from Hyderabad Airport

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is known to serve about 18 international destinations and 45 domestic cities. As one of the top ten busiest airports in India, Hyderabad Airport's connectivity in terms of domestic as well as international cities is excellent. It manages to connect several cities and is also known to operate a plethora of airlines. The Hyderabad airport is recognized to serve domestic airlines such as Air India, Alliance Air, Vistara, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and TruJet. Not just major cities in India but Hyderabad also provides great service to connect to smaller cities and towns too. While the prominent domestic airlines from Hyderabad Airport cater to major cities such as Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Visakhapatnam and Guwahati, it also has connectivity with smaller cities.

As the city also caters to connecting 18 international destinations, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport also has tremendous globally recognized airlines. Air Arabia, Air Asia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Gulf Air, Jazeera Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Silkair, Srilankan Airlines, Thai Airways and Flynas, are some of the airlines that operate from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. The airport also plays the role of connecting domestic cities to international airlines to fly abroad. Cities such as Sharjah, Kuwait, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, London, Colombo-Bandaranaike, Doha, to name a few, have good connectivity from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

How to reach Hyderabad Airport

Thanks to the services provided by the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation, the accessibility to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is excellent. There are direct buses that are provided for individuals travelling from the city centre to the airport. It is one of the most comfortable transport facilities to reach Hyderabad Airport. A flyover was constructed to reach the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport without facing excess traffic. The flyover has been constructed on the National Highway 44 and National Highway 765, interspersed with the Outer Ring Road. Called the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway, the flyover is perfect and helps reach the Hyderabad Airport without dealing with the city traffic. Although the Hyderabad Metro Rail's second phase is in the works to connect a line to the airport terminal, it is still in the process. Taxi cabs are the best modes of transport that can be considered to reach Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.