Telangana

Forested northern plateau bordering Maharashtra, with Gond tribal culture.

• CultureKeslapur Nagoba JataraAnnual Gond tribal festival in January with ritual dances.
• OffbeatPochera WaterfallOffbeatHidden waterfall in a gorge, most spectacular after the monsoon.

Eastern district on the Godavari with temples and coalfields.

• SpiritualBhadrachalam Sri Rama TemplePilgrim temple on the Godavari with grand Ram Navami festival.
• WildlifeKinnerasani Wildlife SanctuaryForest and reservoir with deer and many birds.
• OffbeatParnasalaOffbeatVillage where Rama is believed to have lived during exile.

Twin city to Warangal with Kakatiya heritage.

• HeritageThousand Pillar TempleKakatiya temple with finely carved pillars and a black basalt Nandi.
• SpiritualBhadrakali TempleAncient goddess temple overlooking a lake.
• SpiritualPadmakshi TempleHill temple with panoramic views of Hanumakonda.

Pearl city: old Qutb Shahi quarter, bazaars and Nizam palaces.

• Must-seeCharminarFour-minaret monument at the heart of the Old City.
• HeritageChowmahalla PalaceFour-courtyard palace of the Nizams, restored.
• CultureSalar Jung MuseumHuge private collection of art and antiques.
• NatureHussain Sagar and Buddha statueLake with a giant Buddha on an island.
• OffbeatPaigah TombsOffbeatMarble tombs with delicate stucco work, rarely visited.

Fort town on the Godavari tributary with ancient temples.

• HeritageJagtial FortEighteenth-century fort built by a French engineer for Nizam Ali.
• SpiritualDharmapuri TempleNarasimha temple on the Godavari bank.
• SpiritualKondagattu Anjaneya TempleHill temple of Hanuman with a forest setting.

Rural district between Hyderabad and Warangal with Kakatiya remains.

• OffbeatPembarthiOffbeatVillage known for brass-craft with Kakatiya-era influence.
• CulturePalakurthiWeaving town with traditional crafts.

Forest district and Godavari belt with Kakatiya treasures.

• SpiritualKaleshwaram Mukteswara TempleTwin-linga temple at the Godavari-Pranahita confluence.
• CultureKaleshwaram ProjectGiant lift irrigation project on the Godavari.

Southern district known for Gadwal saris and a Krishna river fort.

• HeritageGadwal FortFort with traditional ramparts and moats.
• SpiritualJogulamba TempleOne of the 18 Shakti Peethas, at Alampur.
• HeritageAlampur Navabrahma TemplesGroup of early Chalukya temples on the Tungabhadra.

Forests and reservoirs northwest of Hyderabad.

• WildlifePocharam Wildlife SanctuaryForest and lake, the home of nilgai and sambar.
• NatureNizamsagar DamOldest large dam in the state, on the Manjira river.

Godavari-fed district with old forts and Kakatiya temples.

• HeritageElagandal FortHill fort on the Manair with Bahmani and Qutb Shahi traces.
• NatureLower Manair DamReservoir with gardens and boating.

Eastern district with a hill fort and the Godavari basin.

• HeritageKhammam FortSeventeenth-century hill fort with Kakatiya and Qutb Shahi additions.
• HeritageNelakondapalli StupaBuddhist stupa site with a hilltop monastery.

Gond tribal heartland and forested northeast.

• OffbeatKerameriOffbeatForest hill village with a waterfall and tribal hamlets.
• OffbeatJodeghatOffbeatMemorial to Komaram Bheem and Gond leaders.
• HeritageSirpurOld paper-mill town with ancient temple remains.

Rural district with forests and hill temples.

• SpiritualKuravi Veerabhadra TempleHill temple with a Kakatiya inscription.
• NatureBayyaram TankOffbeatLarge lake near the Kakatiya-era Bayyaram village.

Southern plateau district with Pillalamarri's banyan and forts.

• NaturePillalamarriGiant banyan reportedly several centuries old with a small museum.
• HeritageKoilkonda FortHill fort with ramparts and gateways.

Coalfield district on the Godavari with temples.

• WildlifeKawal Wildlife SanctuaryTiger reserve's wetter belt with sambar and gaur.
• SpiritualGudem Satyanarayana TempleRiver-island temple, with boat ride to a hill shrine.
• OffbeatSivaram Wildlife SanctuaryOffbeatSmall sanctuary on the Godavari bank.

Cathedral and fort district with lakes.

• HeritageMedak FortKakatiya fort with fortified gateways and cannon.
• HeritageMedak CathedralOne of the largest churches in Asia, with stained glass.
• OffbeatPocharam DamOffbeatDam and lake with a bird sanctuary.

Peri-urban district north of Hyderabad.

• NatureShamirpet LakeLake with deer park and bird life near the highway.
• SpiritualKeesaragutta TempleHilltop Shiva temple near Medchal.

Created in 2019 with Eturnagaram forest and Laknavaram.

• WildlifeEturnagaram Wildlife SanctuaryTeak forest with deer, bison and Medaram jatara.
• CultureMedaram Sammakka Saralamma JataraTribal fair every two years, called the Kumbh of tribals.
• Must-seeRamappa TempleUNESCO-listed Kakatiya temple built of floating bricks.
• NatureLaknavaram LakeLake with suspension bridge and island trips.
• NatureBogatha WaterfallsTelangana's Niagara, best August to October.

Large forest district along the Krishna, with Amrabad Tiger Reserve.

• WildlifeAmrabad Tiger ReserveLargest tiger reserve in the south, with Nallamala forests.
• NatureSrisailam backwatersCruise from Somasila to Srisailam, in season.
• NatureMallela TheerthamWaterfall in a ravine reached by a steep stair.

Krishna valley with Buddhist heritage and old forts.

• Must-seeNagarjuna Sagar DamOne of the tallest masonry dams; viewing gallery and boat to the island.
• HeritageNagarjunakonda MuseumIsland museum with Buddhist relics, reached by launch.
• SpiritualPanagal Chaya Someswara TempleTemple with a shadow of a pillar that never moves.

Created in 2019 on the Krishna with its handloom sari tradition.

• CultureNarayanpet HandloomsFamed for cotton and silk saris with temple borders.
• OffbeatMakthalOffbeatOld Krishna river town with a historic fort.
• OffbeatDamaragiddaOffbeatQuiet village famous for its Venkateswara temple.

Home of Nirmal paintings and toys, with Kuntala Falls.

• CultureNirmal Toys and PaintingsWooden toys and Nirmal art on show in craft centres.
• NatureKuntala WaterfallLarge cascade over rock terraces; steep steps down.
• SpiritualBasar Saraswati TempleRare Saraswati temple on the Godavari bank, with Akshara Abhyasam rites.

Turmeric hub with a hill fort and Sri Ram Sagar.

• HeritageNizamabad FortOld fort with a mosque and Qutb Shahi additions.
• NatureSri Ram SagarLarge reservoir with boating and sunset views.
• OffbeatAlisagarOffbeatLakeside deer park and retreat on the outskirts.

Coal and thermal power district with a hill fort.

• OffbeatRamagiri KhillaOffbeatFortified hill with Kakatiya ramparts and a temple.
• SpiritualManthani Gautameshwara TempleGodavari bank temple town of Manthani.

Weavers' district with Vemulawada's Raja Rajeswara temple.

• SpiritualVemulawada Raja Rajeswara TemplePilgrim temple of Shiva with a unique Rajanna cult.
• CultureSircilla HandloomsFamous for saris and hand-woven textiles.
• OffbeatMid Manair DamOffbeatReservoir and picnic area.

Southern ring around Hyderabad, with forts and the airport.

• SpiritualChilkur Balaji TempleVisa Balaji temple with a mild pilgrim following.
• WildlifeMrugavani National ParkDeer park near Chilkur Reserve.

Industrial district with temples and lakes near Medak.

• NatureSingur DamLarge reservoir with a sailing club.
• HeritageKondapur MuseumArchaeological site and museum with Satavahana-era finds.

Home of Komuravelli and the Koheda market.

• SpiritualKomuravelli Mallanna TempleHill temple of a Shaiva deity, with a lively fair.
• NatureRangnayaka SagarReservoir and picnic spot.

Historic district between Nalgonda and Khammam.

• SpiritualMattapalli Narasimha TemplePilgrim temple on the Krishna bank.
• SpiritualMellacheruvu Shiva TempleOffbeatOld Shiva temple in the Krishna valley.

Hilly district west of Hyderabad with a popular forest retreat.

• NatureAnanthagiri HillsForest hills with trails and a Vishnu temple, weekend escape.
• OffbeatDamagundam ForestOffbeatReserve forest around a naval radar station; deer and quiet trails.
• SpiritualVikarabad Anantagiri TempleHill temple of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy.

Rural district with an old palace and forts.

• HeritageWanaparthy Samsthanam PalaceOffbeatFormer royal seat of the local rulers.
• SpiritualSrirangapur TempleRanganatha temple dating to the Vijayanagara era.

Former Kakatiya capital with a fort and unique gates.

• Must-seeWarangal FortKakatiya fort with ornate stone gateways (kirti toranas).
• SpiritualSwayambhu TempleShiva temple inside the fort complex.
• HeritageKhush MahalOffbeatSmall hall in the fort complex with an old durbar.

Home of the Yadagirigutta temple and Bhongir hill fort.

• SpiritualYadagirigutta Lakshmi Narasimha TempleRebuilt cave temple on a hill, with a new complex.
• HeritageBhongir FortLarge monolith fort that offers a steep rock climb.
• OffbeatKolanupaka Jain TempleOffbeatJain temple and basalt Mahavira statue.