The Pearl City, Hyderabad offers an unmatched blend of history and modernity. The beautiful city of Nizams attracts tourists from across the globe. Despite being 400 years old, the metropolitan city promises a uniquely rejuvenating experience to visitors with varied interests.
The historic city is popular for its monuments which include the masterpieces like the Charminar and the fort of Golconda. If you are planning a trip to South India, be sure not to miss Hyderabad. Located in the southern part of Telangana, this modern city has plenty of options for travelers.
Beyond being a regal city, Hyderabad is a clean, green haven with lush greenery and well-maintained parks. These are designed to preserve the natural abundance of the city. Some of them also preserve the rich history of the Nizams while providing visitors an enjoyable time at these picturesque locations. Here are some of the parks you can visit during your trip to Hyderabad:
Sanjeevaiah Park
The Sanjeevaiah park is spread over an area of 92 acres and is by far one of the best parks in Hyderabad. It is located at Necklace Road in Secunderabad. The park has the samadhi of Late Sri. D. Sanjeevaiah, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Built on the banks of a popular lake, this park offers great landscape views to the patrons visiting here having well-kempt pathways for both cyclists and joggers. The fresh air and the lush greenery create a very refreshing experience. This park was constructed keeping children in mind with various swings and slides available.
A Rose garden which was recently added is another major attraction of the park. For walkers, timings are 5 AM to 8 AM. Entry fees for walkers are INR 2. For the general public, timings are 8 AM to 6 PM and entry fees are INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for children till 10 years of age.
Lumbini Park
Lumbini Park is a superb example of craftsmanship. It is another beautiful park located close to the Hussain Sagar Lake and opposite to the Secretariat. Named after the birthplace of Lord Buddha - Lumbini in Nepal, this park is spread over an area of 5 acres and offers a magnificent experience in all aspects.
The Lumbini park also has spots for boating giving breathtaking views of the Hussain Sagar Lake, making it very different from other parks which are usually ideal only for relaxation and amusement. Kids will especially enjoy coming to the park as there are guided rail-car rides, and eateries to devour their favorite snacks. Late in the evening, they have a fountain and laser show. Entry fees are INR 10 for adults and INR 5 for children till 10 years of age. For the public, park timing is 9 AM to 9 PM.
Indira Park
Indira Park is located near the Lower Tank Bund Road and is quite close to Hussain Sagar lake. It is dedicated to the former Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It is one of the most famous parks in Hyderabad. Located right in the heart of the city, it is known to be one of the best ecologically maintained parks in the city sprawling over an area of 76 acres, and still offers a lot of options for recreation.
Built without disturbing the existing sandalwood trees, Kevda plantation, and date palms, this park is mostly visited by botanists and people who love being around lush greenery. Being in the same proximity, boating in the Hussain Sagar Lake is one thing the locals recommend. Entry fees are INR 5 per person and timings are 5 AM to 8 PM.
KBR National Park
The K.B.R National Park is located in the posh Jubilee Hills and Banjara hills area of Hyderabad city, and has a pleasant climate all year round. In 1994 it was declared as "protected forest" and later became known as Jubilee Hill national park. Officially, it was named Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in honor of the former Chief Minister of the state.
The opening timings for KBR National Park vary depending on whether you plan to enter the park or just jog around it. Those who want to come in early morning hours will be able to get inside from 5:30 AM - 10:00 AM with evening time being 4 PM - 6 PM. For jogging around the park, the timings are 4.30 AM to 9.30 AM and in the evening it is from 4.30 PM to 9:00 PM. Entry Charges are INR 20 for adults and INR 10 for kids.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of Hyderabad is situated in the lush Kothaguda Reserve Forest and offers a relaxing and refreshing setting. The garden contains 19 different sectors that maintain rich flora, as well as fauna for your viewing pleasure. It is not hard to find this naturally preserved area as it's less than 16 kilometers away from Hi-Tech City, which means you can enjoy its beauty without sacrificing any time or effort on transit.
The Botanical Garden boasts more than 600 varied species of plants and attracts many types of animals. Visitors can enjoy the large array of flowers, insects, and birds that can be found in this garden due to its dense flora with a few sparsely grown areas for walking. The Bamboo sector is the major attraction because it offers scientific information about all bamboo trees on signs as well as their generic name.
Along with bamboos, there are also Palm trees that are quite famous here. Also, the garden offers many different colored flowers such as yellow Tulips, purple Salvia Flowers, blue Roselia Flowers and red Roses, making them popular among guests. The timing for the Botanical Garden is 5:30 AM to 6 PM. Entry fees are INR 25 for adults and INR 10 for kids. Photoshoot charges are INR 3000 for 5 hours.
NTR Garden
Located in the center of the city, the NTR garden is a small public park covering an area of 36 acres. It was constructed in several phases since 1999 because of some controversies. Built in the memory of the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N.T. Rama Rao, it is a popular park in Hyderabad. It also houses the memorial of the late minister.
NTR Gardens is a popular recreational center in Hyderabad with attractions ranging from Japanese Park, mono rail, cascading waterfall, boating facility and a play area for children. This place is best for playing games and also for morning and evening walks. The cleanliness of the park will attract you. It is operated by the Buddha Purnima project authority.
Krishna Kanth Park
Krishnakanth Park is located near Yousufguda. This park is named after the former governor of Andhra Pradesh and former Vice President of India, Shri Krishan Kant. Although not as unique as other parks in Hyderabad, the Krishna Kanth park is simple yet serene in its way but very well maintained.
Being spread over a large green area along with the well-maintained pathways makes it fuss-free to spend time at. Being cheap due to no entry fee, this park tends to get crowded during weekends. It also has easy access to the local food. Entry is free in this park. Park timings are 5 AM to 9 PM.
Jalagam Vengal Rao Park
Jalagam Vengal Rao Park is named after the 5th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. It is also known as JVR Park. Jalagam Vengal Rao Park is spread over 10 acres and is maintained by a private contractor who took over the responsibility from GHMC.
It was opened to the public in the year 2002 and is located strategically between two of the most prime locations of the city - Banjara hills and Jubilee hills ensuring that the footfall to the park is always at the top. It houses a beautiful pond in a man-made crater right in the middle of the park and is a very apt place for walking or jogging. The entry fee is INR 10 per person. Park timings are from 5 AM to 7:30 PM.
Bagh-e-Aam
The Public Gardens, also known as Bagh-e-aam in Urdu is a historical garden in the city. Its name translates to the garden of the public or people’s park. Located in Nampally, it was built during the reign of Osman Ali Khan who was seventh Nizam of Hyderabad in 1946.
It has captivatingly huge sculptures of eminent personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi that are worth a look. The life-size figure of Gandhi Ji is erected near the Lotus Pond which houses rich flora and fauna with about 20 varied species of birds among them. The enchanting view makes this space alluring for visitors looking for peace amidst nature.
A typical day in the public garden is full of various attractions to keep children entertained. The toy train will take them around the park, and if they need a break from all that walking there are always boating facilities at their disposal as well. For those looking for some artistic inspiration, Indira Gandhi Auditorium offers art classes that might be just perfect!
It is 7 km away from Secunderabad Railway Station and only 20 minutes drive, so you won't have any trouble finding your way here at all. Baagh -e-Aam opening timings are 9 AM to 12 PM and then from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The entry fee per adult is INR 20 and INR 10 for kids.
Kidwai Garden
Situated at Himayath Nagar in Hyderabad, Kidwai Garden is a famous tourist spot. It was opened to the public in 1974. This garden boasts lush green trees, vibrant blooming flowers, and an all-around aesthetic atmosphere. The garden is visited by kids, adults, and couples as well. Today it has become a great spot for children as they can joyfully spend their time playing hide and seek. Also, there are swings and other interesting rides available for children.
Priyadarshini Park
Located on the banks of the Saroornagar Lake, Priyadarshini Park welcomes you with a beautiful green landscaped area that features children’s rides and vendors selling everything from snacks to balloons.
The view of the lake is exceptionally gorgeous at dusk when Hyderabad cityscape reflects in its shimmering water while a walk here after sunset can make it seem like magic. It is an excellent place for having picnics as well where kids are welcome too. Priyadarshini park timings are from 9 AM to 8 PM and the entry fee is INR 5.
DGS Melkote Park
It is nice and a huge park. It is one of the few parks in the city which caters to every member of the family. This place is best for kids to learn skating as it has a long skating floor. And also a very nice path for walkers. Right from the entry point, the park offers you a spectacular view complete with plenty of options like where to laze around on the lawn, a quiet corner to relax, or a play area for children.
The environment is full of fresh air. It consists of a parking place and separate restrooms for men and women. For morning walkers there is a monthly pass available at just less than 100 rupees. Also there are few shuttle courts available for shuttle lovers.
Hyderabad is a city rich in culture and history which offers many family-friendly attractions for visitors. One of the best ways to explore the city’s rich heritage is by visiting its parks and gardens. As you explore the city with your family and friends you must try some local cuisine and street food. Most parks are surrounded by vendors selling delicious local dishes at affordable rates. The beautiful parks of Hyderabad like Lumbini Park or Botanical garden are great places to spend some fun time with family. Children can run free in the lap of nature all day long without getting bored.
