The oasis in the concrete jungle

Situated quite close to the Hi-tech City, Durgam Cheruvu is one of the popular sightseeing places of Hyderabad. Presenting captivating scenic beauty, the lake is also known as the ‘Secret Lake’. This can be because of the fact that it is hidden by the surrounding granite rocks.

The rock formations surrounding the lake are spread across an area of 63 acres of land and are said to be approximately 2500 million years old. Currently it has been developed into a hangout place where people come and spend some time in a relaxed environment by the side of a calm water body. Durgam Cheruvu now has an artificial waterfall and floating fountain which attracts more visitors. It is nothing less than a pleasant wonder to see a calm lake and rocks, beside the concrete buildings of offices and a shopping mall. There is an amphitheatre, and the On the Rocks cafeteria. Boating is also available, the lake front has been transformed into an amazing park.

The newest addition is the Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge over the lake which is quite a crowd puller with its light display in the evening and on special events.

India’s Silicon county

At the heart of Hyderabad’s technological progress juggernaut is the cybercity called HITEC City. The name stands for Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City and it provides a stark contrast to the historically-laden monuments and sites present in Hyderabad. The formation and birth of the HITEC City is the consummation of a state’s vision of becoming a contender in the information technology boom, largely reminiscent of Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah’s dreams when he started building Hyderabad itself.

HITEC City was a project borne by Telangana chief minister’s desire to include Telangana in the roll of global performers in the field of information technology and IT-enabled services. It is a city within a city that is planned to have integrated infrastructural facilities such as offices spaces, production areas, auditoriums, housing for employees, and even shopping complexes. It is a massive site, and looking at it, it really isn’t stretch to think that 25% of computer personnel and services in the United States are from Hyderabad.

The centerpiece of HITEC City is a cylindrical structure 10 stories high, aptly called Cyber Towers. It offers five lakhs (one lakh is equivalent to 100,000) square feet of executive space.

Phase 2 of the HITEC City project is known as Cyber Gateway, the companion structure of Cyber Tower. The name is derived from the giant arch in front of the building that serves as the gateway to the rest of HITEC City. The whole structure has a glass facade, landscaped gardens, and a waiting lounge. The whole place is designed as business process outsourcing models and IT-enabled services; as such, full power connectivity and multiple redundancies in case of emergencies are enabled.

HITEC City is still expanding, with more and more global companies opting to settle in due to cheap labor, nice working environments, and competent workers. It will not be surprise if Hyderabad becomes a global powerhouse when it comes to information technology, with HITEC City leading the charge.

In tune with nature

Botanical Garden of Hyderabad is also one of the interesting sightseeing places in Hyderabad offering a refreshing setting and rich flora. The park has been designed beautifully with water bodies complementing the lush greenery of the place. This garden was created with the objective of generating awareness among masses about the varied species of flora along with offering an ideal place to relax and enjoy the bliss of naturally beautiful surroundings. It is a perfect place to spend few refreshing moments away from the pollution and chaos of the cities. It also act as stock-house for plants which are later used for researches and other scientific purposes.

Botanical garden boasts of more than 600 varied species of plants. The garden is bestowed with dense flora with a few sparsely grown areas for visitors’ walking. Along with its vast flora variety, it also attracts many birds and insects, which further enhances the natural charm of this garden. Bamboo sector is the major attraction of the garden. All the bamboo trees have specific signboard with the scientific name and generic name of the trees. Another popular sector of the Botanical Garden is the Palm sector. Variety of flowers such as yellow and purple, blue Salvia, red Roselia and many more makes the place all the more attractive and picturesque. Along with meadows, it was created with ample of space for water bodies and natural rock formations as well.

Many people visit to relax and spend some time amid the refreshing nature, away from pollution and noise of vehicles of the city roads. Garden management also conducts natural camps for groups which offer a guided tour of the garden along with nature walks, bird watching, etc. There are also interactive sessions on the natural habitat and flora during these camps. Golconda fort is the nearest tourist place that you can visit from botanical gardens.

For the art & craft lover!

Shilparamam is a craft village which presents various traditional arts and crafts by artisans from all over the country. A perfect place for art lovers, Shilparamam is one of the popular tourist spots in Hyderabad.

Spread across an area of 50 acres, Shilparamam not just showcases various artefacts and traditionally made handicrafts but is also a home for various performing artists. In its complete form, the complex of Shilparamam is supposed to have Crafts Museum, Cultural Museum, Art Gallery & Library, Multi-purpose Auditorium, Common Facility Workshops and Research & Design Centre along with accommodation facilities for artists and visitors. This is an ideal place for long walks too; its natural greenery dotted with carefully laid out sculptures and intricately designed buildings. There is also the facility of battery operated car which takes you for an enchanting tour of Shilparamam with a minimal charge.

Shilparamam shopping is the famous not just residents of Hyderabad but also among tourists. Craftsmen from all over India, display their works here, varying from traditional jewellery, hand-woven saris, shawls, dresses, bed sheets, etc; and hand-crafted wooden and metal wares. If you are looking for some street shopping, you have option for that too. There are many shops selling clothing of every kind in cheaper rates. All you require is some flair for bargaining.

However, along with shopping in Shilparamam, visitors can also relish some spicy chaats and mouth watering snacks. For art lovers, there are always dance performances and activities conducted on the open theatre with ample of seating facility which you can see free of cost. There is also the facility for boating.