SPECIAL

| SPECIAL Looking for a weekend getaway near Hyderabad? We’ve got you covered!!

Now that things are back to normal post lockdown, we cannot deny the urge to break from the hustle and treat ourselves with a stress-free escapade. With no long weekends this month to travel afar, a picturesque and calming stay that isn’t far away from the city sounds like the perfect choice. So, if you are looking for a weekend getaway that won’t burn a hole in your pocket or if you are looking to spend some time away from the city noise, hustle, pollution, and in the presence of nature’s soundscape, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the best getaways for your perfect weekend.

The Hidden Castle

As the name suggests, The Hidden Castle is a hidden gem just an hour’s drive away from Hyderabad. This awe-striking castle-themed resort takes you back into the medieval period as soon as you step onto their property. Sprawling majestically over 30 acres of untamed terrain, it is just what adventure and nature lovers dream of. From the circular, domed reception to the arch bridge with quaint boats plying in the waters under it and the drawbridge lowering for your welcome, The Hidden Castle is one rare architectural piece put together with luxury and fine art. What’s unique about this one of its kind getaway stay is that there is an experience here to choose from, for every preference. Be it camping in private tents under the moonlight with a bonfire or catering to your royal senses with extravagant and vintage interior royal suites, The Hidden Castle is an imperative experience for everyone. This place is also flooded with Aqua Sports and Adventure circuits to cater to your adrenaline rush. This charming castle is also open to hosting events, photoshoots, conferences, and much more.

Location: Hyderabad – Karimnagar Highway Day trip timings - 10 am - 6 pm Overnight stay - Check-in: 12 noon Check-out: 10 am Instagram: @thehiddencastlein

| SPECIAL Life at Prakasham

Offering comfortable and cozy rooms spread out across a property connected through walkways to various activity spots, Life at Prakasham is a literal breath of fresh air as you live amidst greenery. The theme of this unique stay lies within the combination of its creative designs and simple homestay experience, a place to exercise a perfect balance between leisure and healthy living. Be it their exclusive Zen rooms, Ponderers room, Weaver’s nest, Hives, Burrows, Zen Den, or the Village House, every room is unique and backed by tedious research, impeccable architecture, and various unique concepts leaving you in awe of their beauty. For instance, the lower room’s ceiling of a two-tier structure, the

Hive is aesthetically embedded with mud pots in a honeycomb fashion which enhances acoustics while keeping you cool. The tropical pool, beautiful lawns, private dining space, 30 feet Machan, Children’s play area, lots of places for meditation and relaxation, snooker pool, various indoor board games, and bird watching are just the icing on the cake. Life at Prakasham has 2 restaurants that offer thoughtfully curated menus bringing various of their favorite recipes together, both veg & non-veg. This farm is located next to Kammadanam urban forestry. Life at Prakasham is open to hosting events and is a pet-friendly venue.

Location: Shaadnagar Check-in: 12 noon Check-out: 10 am Instagram: @lifeatprakasham

Little Utopia

Little Utopia is a container homestay nestled in the outskirts of Hyderabad, simply an hour away, making it the ideal location for a fun weekend getaway to recharge your spirit! Little Utopia rents out the full property to you, giving you exclusive, private access to all our amenities. This venue offers three gorgeous container cabins that encourage you to indulge in the comforts of country home nostalgia. They rent out all three cabins to a single party leaving you with full access to their property and amenities, along with complete privacy. Other amenities that attract people here include swimming pools, an outdoor theatre, an in-house chef, swing seating, hammocks, a gazebo, a bonfire area, and camp tents immersed in nature. Chilkur Balaji Temple and Gandipet Lake stand as special attractions around this luxurious stay. And what’s better, you ask? They love hosting pets. In short, Little Utopia gives you a glimpse of paradise amidst your daily life.

Location: Chilkur to Pragathi Resorts road, Moinabad. Check-in: 4 PM Check-out: 12 noon Instagram: @littleutopiaofficial

| SPECIAL Hornbill Retreat

Hornbill Retreat is a retreat that’s secluded in a lush organic retreat within the ORR limits of the city. Set on a 5-acre plantation, one can find all kinds of organic fruits here, fresh off the trees such as Dragon fruit, Papaya, Alphonso Mangoes, and Jackfruit. The Hornbill Retreat is in short, an oasis where one finds homely comforts along with the tranquillity of mother nature. Their stay options range from Cottages to Safari tents and treehouse options. Hornbill offers a walking trail tour around the retreat, games on site, and also a small library. Hornbill also has an in-house cook available, who cooks home-style veg and non-veg dishes. Hornbill is also open for hosting day events. Carnivals and mango plucking fests are often an attraction at this Organic plantation retreat. Fox Sagar Lake and Shamirpet lake apart from the Oxygen park are some of the attractions in and around Hornbill.

Location: near Kompally, Medchal Highway Check-in: 12 noon Check-out: 10 AM Instagram: @hornbill_hyd

Rustic Vogue

Rustic Vogue is a premium resort offering conceptual stays spread across 8 acres. Every detail of this resort has been meticulously considered to achieve an ideal balance of coziness and luxury. Rustic Vogue is an eco-friendly resort offering a variety of accommodations to suit the guests’ moods. Every property at Rustic Vogue is precisely designed to provide clients with a unique experience all in one location. Be it with their restaurant ‘Aroma’ that offers an incredible assortment of authentic and specialized Indian & Chinese delicacies or fun activities like BBQ, a hiking route, zip line, volleyball, and a children’s play zone, complimentary campfire, moonlight dinners, and floating breakfast, Rustic Vogue serves as a perfect family escape. Rustic Vogue is Hyderabad’s only resort with an in-house decor team that can help you take your celebrations to the next level. Their lush spacious lawns are open for planning your birthdays, proposals, & photoshoots. The doors of their Lake Chambers, Twin Suites, Nirvana (waterfront campsite stays), Cabana (tent stays), and Santorini-inspired rooms are all open to fourlegged visitors.

Location: Shamirpet, about 30 km from Hyderabad Check-in: 1 PM Check-out: 11 AM Instagram: @rusticvoguehyd

| SPECIAL The Box Home Stay

The Box Home Stay is a Container Farmhouse, known for having

India’s first container swimming pool. This unique stay has huge lawns for the perfect evening strolls and a huge screen with a projector in front of the huge 20ft patio for the perfect movie nights. This calm and private stay is tucked away in the lush farms on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The in-house cafe serves both veg and nonveg, but the Arabic cuisine here sure stands out from the rest of the menu. Customers can pick a buffet or ala carte service. The

Box Home Stay is welcoming to host events with prior intimation.

The rich and pampered farmlands around this getaway spot and the

Maheshwaram pyramids situated from this stay about 3 km definitely make The Box Home Stay a worth visit. Also, this eccentric structure is located on a 5-acre farm with 70 + different types of fruit plantations that the customers get to access. With luxury camping, bonfire pits, and their version of classic and premium rooms, The Box Home Stay definitely knows how to spoil you with comfort and luxury, and your pets are most welcomed here.

Location: Kadthal village opposite butterfly city Check-in: 2 PM Check-out: 11 AM Instagram: @theboxhomestay

Fargo

Fargo is a Container room stay built with a belief that Less is more. If you are a minimalist or someone who gravitates toward minimalist aesthetics, this getaway where minimalism meets luxury, with nature’s presence is a match made for you. “The brand Fargo speaks more of enhancing the idea and importance of design in a business space. Though we are a smaller team, for now, every person has specialized in different fields of expertise and has a strong penchant for designing”, says the team of Fargo in our conversation with them. This man-made structure not only complements the surrounding natural beauty but also offers a striking view over the hills of Hyderabad’s outskirts. Fargo offers 3 containers that are in a form of a U, where each container has a different angle of view. Apart from serving both veg and non-veg, other services include 24-hour personal stewards’ service, whole access to the property, a portable Bluetooth speaker, and a small on the house décor (based on the event requirement). The outdoor deck, with a waterbody, serves as an incredible added beauty to this distinctive stay. Bibi Nagar lake, Bibi Nagar forest park, and the many viewpoints in the resort itself stand as attractions in and around Fargo. The fact that this space is located amidst a privately owned family resort certainly creates a more secure environment. Fargo opening doors to your four-legged friends just hits the bull’s eye.

Location: Kondamadugu Road, Bibinagar Check-in: 11 AM Check-out: 3 PM Instagram: @thefargohyd