Showing posts with label Hyderabad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hyderabad. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

What to do in Hyderabad

The Experience Map of Hyderabad


Most people think Hyderabad is a city of biryani, IT parks, and traffic.
They’re wrong.

Hyderabad is one of the most experience-rich cities in India—if you know where to look.
One of the easiest ways to improve your Experience Portfolio is to systematically explore what your city already offers.

Here’s my curated Experience Map of Hyderabad.

1. Annual Events & Festivals

These are recurring experiences worth putting on your calendar every year.

January

February

  • Numaish Exhibition at Nampally
  • Sunday Soul Sante at HITEX

March

  • Holi celebrations across the city

April

  • World Jazz Festival at Shilpakala Vedika

August

  • Hyderabad Marathon
  • Half Marathon
  • 10K Runs

September

  • Design Democracy at HITEX

October

  • Navratri celebrations and Garba events

December

  • National Book Fair
  • Design Show at HITEX
  • International Film Festival

Throughout the year

  • Lock The Box
  • Books By KG sales
  • Various exhibitions and pop-up events

2. Culture & Ideas

La Makaan, Banjara Hills

One of Hyderabad’s hidden gems.

A community-driven cultural space that hosts:

  • Films
  • Music
  • Talks
  • Poetry
  • Theatre
  • Discussions
Most events are free.
Pick something that sounds interesting and just show up.
Many memorable experiences begin that way.

3. Adventure & Adrenaline

Rock Climbing

Crag Studio, Gachibowli
A great introduction to physical challenge, fear management, and problem-solving.

Indoor Skydiving

Gravity Zip
A chance to experience controlled flight without jumping out of an aircraft.

Go Karting

Several tracks across the city.
One of the simplest ways to bring out your competitive side.

4. Games & Strategy

Board Game Cafes

  • AM Museum, Himayatnagar
  • Get On Board Cafe, Jubilee Hills

There are also active board game communities that regularly host meetups across Hyderabad.

Puzzle Rooms

  • Mystery Rooms
  • Escape Rooms
Perfect for groups.
A mix of teamwork, logic, communication, and pressure.

Mini Golf

  • Rabbit’s Mini Golf
  • Mini Golf Madness

Fun, casual, and surprisingly competitive.

Axe Throwing

A unique experience most people never try. In Madhapur.

Remote Car Racing

A niche hobby with a dedicated community. In Secunderabad. (Preferably with at least 4 people so that it is fun)

AR / VR Gaming

Several venues across the city offer immersive experiences.

Bowling

Snooker & Billiards

Classic social games that never get old. At multiple places in the city.


5. Sports & Physical Experiences

Trove Experiences

Badminton

Table Tennis

Pickleball

One of the fastest-growing sports globally and now increasingly popular in Hyderabad.
These aren’t just sports.
They’re opportunities to build skill, discipline, and community.

6. Creativity & Learning

One of the most underrated experience categories.

https://in.bookmyshow.com/explore/events-hyderabad

Workshops frequently available include:

  • Pottery
  • Resin Art
  • Mandala Art
  • Perfume Making
  • Candle Making
  • Pizza Making
  • Terrarium Building
  • Canvas Painting
  • Mixology
  • Theatre Acting
  • Texture Art
  • Fluid Art
  • Crochet
  • Tote Bag Painting
  • Djembe
  • Pichwai Painting
You don’t need talent.
You need curiosity.

7. Music & Performing Arts

Stand-Up Comedy

https://in.bookmyshow.com/explore/events-hyderabad

Watch professionals.
Then attend open mics.
You’ll quickly realize how difficult—and rewarding—comedy can be.

Open Mic Circuit

Tuesday: Ivy Mic
Wednesday: Street Mic
Friday: Moto Garage

Concerts

Hyderabad regularly hosts major artists and touring performers.

https://in.bookmyshow.com/explore/events-hyderabad

https://insider.in/all-events-in-hyderabad

Dance Studios

Multiple styles available throughout the city.

Music Academies

Learn:

  • Guitar
  • Piano
  • Drums
  • Vocals
  • Other instruments

One lesson can become a lifelong hobby.


8. Social Experiences

Speed Friending

Meet complete strangers.
Practice conversation.
Expand your social circle.

Speed Dating

Even if romance isn’t your goal, it’s a fascinating social experiment.

Meetup Groups

One of the easiest ways to discover communities built around shared interests.


9. Wellness Experiences

Cold Plunge

Steam & Sauna

Experiences that test comfort zones while improving recovery and resilience.


10. Food & Skill Building

Cooking Classes

Learn cuisines, techniques, and cultures through food.

The experience stays with you long after the meal is over.


11. Global Culture Without Leaving Hyderabad

Explore events hosted by:

A small glimpse into other parts of the world without boarding a plane.


12. Cinema Beyond Multiplexes

Hyderabad Film Club

Sunset Cinema Club

A reminder that films can be experiences, not just entertainment.


13. Nature & Discovery

Nehru Zoological Park

One of the largest and most diverse zoos in the country.
A full-day experience that reconnects you with the natural world.

Final Thought

Most people think they need more money, more time, or more travel to live an interesting life.
Often, they simply need more awareness.
A rich life is usually built one experience at a time.
The city is already offering thousands of them.
The question is:
How many are making it into your Experience Portfolio?

Monday, November 13, 2023

2023 Experiences

I am a firm believer of having new, interesting experiences almost constantly throughout life.

If not experiences, what else are we living for in this life?

With a firm mindset and curiosity of new things, I have been able to identify new things to do and new experiences to have almost every other week. It is a craving, it is an addiction and get to learn more about the world around me. The thrill of discovering new things, experiencing new things and then sharing these new things to others is something I find joy in.

I hope the list below inspires people to value experiences and look forward to create & share experiences for others to enjoy.

So, let me share with you the new experiences in 2023. Most are bucketlist worthy and some not, but just an interesting experience.

  1. Completing the Hyderabad half marathon - 4th time. This was the hardest ever for me as I did it after a 8 year hiatus. With poor training, I somehow managed to complete it much better than expected with going to office half day after the marathon and not taking any leave the next day also. Helped in bringing a lot of self confidence in doing hard tough things. Some of the reasons I run the half marathons: to know my stamina, to develop will power to overcome barriers.
  2. Indoor sky diving. Gravity Zip at Hyderabad. The starting of an experience for sky diving in the future.
  3. Riding a bike as fast as possible - 122 km/hr. Breaking the previous record of 114 km/hr after a big break of over 7 years in the same bike as before.
  4. A bike tour with a gang. An interesting new experience and learnt about the various roles in a bike gang.
  5. Watch Maverick - one of the best movies in theater for free. An infinite returns on this one experience.
  6. Indoor Rock climbing - Crag studio. Never knew rock climbing is this hard.
  7. Axe-throwing: In Madhapur, https://axethrowingindia.com An interesting game and definitely not as easy as one thinks it to be.
  8. Foosball, 10 pins. Fun to play with family / friends
  9. Visiting a huge mythogical musuem/ theme park - Surendrapuri
  10. Experiencing a TEDx event. Definitely some of the best music, live shows and fantastic standard setting level of organising an event like this.
  11. Having a flaming drink. Nothing more fun than to drink a flaming Sambuka.
  12. Attend a live concert
  13. Attend a live stand up comedy show - There are open mics daily in the city. One of the few people to know this and attend this and encourage the upcoming talent.
  14. Perform a live stand up comedy show. Last but not the least, the best secret experience of the year. Performed as a rakshabandhan gift to my sister and my wife with others.
A few missed experiences:
Attending a world cup cricket match in a stadium
The cancelled F4 car race in the city
The e-prix car race.

What's up 2024? :)