Hyderabad holds within its embrace multiple identities. It is home to the Telugu film industry, boasting of the biggest film stars of the recent decade, is a student hub with institutes like IIIT Hyderabad, ISB, and Hyderabad University holding forth on the outskirts of the city and has also been dubbed the hi-tech city. With many identities to call its own, Hyderabad has emerged as a bubbling and bustling city waiting to be explored. Here are some great ways the younger generation can discover and connect with the capital of Telangana:
With the emergence of social media and OTT platforms, films today can no longer just be associated with Mumbai and Bollywood. An increasingly growing number of young individuals are discovering both world cinema and regional cinema back home. Ramoji Film City is the perfect destination if you are one such enthusiast. Spread over an area of 2500 acres, it is considered to be the largest film studio complex in the world, situated 28 km outside the city of Hyderabad. It takes an entire day to explore and you are bound to have a variety of experiences. Enjoy plenty of rides and games, take a tour on the toy train; visit the Japanese Garden, Mughal Garden, and Askari Garden.
For the commercial movie lover in you, visit the Filmy Duniya and Movie Magic Park to enjoy sound effects, practice free falls, and enjoy the breathtaking sets. Performers also put on live shows of music, dance, theatre, and stunt performances by accomplished performers
Ramoji Film City can be accessed by bus or taxi from Hyderabad. It is on National Highway No 9 on the way to Vijayawada. It is advisable to book a full-day tour of the Film City and the cost is INR 999 per person.
Pizza has been a popular choice of snacks and meals in the country ever since the opening of Dominos, but over the years this extremely popular Italian delicacy has found different versions of itself across India. Paying homage to our love for pizza, chef Vaibhav Roy of Roy’s Pizzeria in Hyderabad has started pizza-making classes in the city.
It is a two-hour class from 3 pm to 5 pm and students are taught the importance of using fresh ingredients, along with the technique of kneading the dough, rolling it into balls, and making the base. It is a completely new experience for many and a chance to learn the secrets of pizza making. The class lasts for two hours and the per person cost is INR 3000. Interested individuals need to book their sessions 24 hours in advance.
The Telangana government’s newest offering takes going on a drive with your friends to the next level. Now you can rent a spacious caravan by the hour to explore landmarks within the state. While you can rent them for a day, there are also options to rent big caravans for a couple of days. Telangana has several hidden gems and major tourist destinations you can drive through from the Warangal Fort and Bhadrakali Temple to the Secunderabad Clock Tower and the Golconda Fort. So, pile up your friends in a car and spend the day riding around together around the city.
If you are looking for an adrenaline rush but are short on time, the Gravity Zip indoor skydiving centre is the best place to visit. It is a complete destination, with a bar and restaurant, an indoor sky diving centre, a bowling alley and laser tag. Gravity Zip ensures that you get to experience the euphoria of skydiving, albeit in a controlled environment.
Participants fly/float in a highly controlled environment under the supervision of a certified instructor, but without the jumping off or turbulence associated with sky diving. The environment is consistent, allowing you to defy gravity and experimenting with different positions and angles in a wind tunnel, to recreate the feel of an actual dive.
The centre is open from Monday to Sunday, from 12:30 pm to 8:30 pm and the cost is slightly expensive, around INR 2000 per person.
Hyderabad has recently emerged as a growing hub of craft beer, and several breweries have popped up all over the city. There is nothing that a tall glass of chilled beer cannot fix, couple that with music and your closest friends, and you are sure to make a ton of memories. Whether young professionals, collegegoers, or middle-aged individuals, Hyderabad has a microbrewery for everyone.
36 Downtown Pub offers live music, happy hours, a dimly lit ambience, and a variety of foods. You can head to it after a hard day at work and have a laidback night. The Hoppery in Jubilee Hills looks like a miniature Greek town and offers Italian gourmet food, a great lake view, and a minimalistic design. The space is quiet, calm, and almost meditative and perfect for a slow evening.