I’ve just come back from my short holiday trip to Ramoji Film City – Hyderabad, and just thought of sharing my experience. I booked a 2 night package at Hotel Tara at Ramoji Film City, the booking was done through their local sales office at Ahmedabad. (Rs. 10, 600/- for a couple includes buffet breakfast + lunch + dinner + One time guided tour of the film city) we took the morning direct Indian Airlines flight from Ahmedabad – Hyderabad (Dep: 7:50 am, Arr: 9:30 am) From Hyderabad airport we took a prepaid cab to Secunderabad, I had booked a room at Hotel Raj Comfort Inn, which is at paradise circle.
The hotel was pretty descent with clean spacious rooms @ Rs.1, 900/- Per Day for Double AC. After having our lunch we hired a cab and visited Salarjung Museum (remains closed on Friday) the museum houses a fascinating collection of the Nizam and will require atleast 3 hrs if you have to visit each section. After this we stopped over at Charminar, while I clicked some snaps, my wife went shopping. The bazaar is famous for its exotic bangles. Just walking distance from Charminar is the famous sweet shop “Pulla Reddy” you can try their special ‘Kalakand’. On the way back we also stopped over at Karachi Bakery and picked up some varieties of fruit biscuits. Next stop was ‘Snow World’ the first of its kind snow arena, where snow is created artificially, a must visit for kids. (charges for adult Rs. 250/- children Rs. 200/) during this session they also have a snow fall. Later we went around Abids one of the main shopping areas in Hyderabad and shopped for some pearls. We had our dinner at Paradise restaurant, famous for Hyderabadi Biryani. After dinner we drove around on the necklace road, the lighting really transforms the Husainsagar lake, you can take a boat cruise of you please.
The next morning we checked out of the hotel and headed to Ramoji Film City. The drive from our hotel took us exactly an hour. This is the biggest film city in the world, listed in the Guiness Book. As you drive inside through the main entrance from the highway. on their private road a 8 Km stretch that windes its way through rocks, and the hills around make you feel as if you have entered a hill station. A towering hoarding ‘RAMOJI FILM CITY’ welcomes you inside, just to give you a feel of things in store. On reaching our hotel we were greeted by the front office staff. The hotel reception & lobby was really impressive, the room was also very good.
To take you inside the film city on the guided tour there are special buses that have been designed in true London vintage style. The bus takes you first past the sun chariot fountain built in Greek style, then it takes you past the numerous theme gardens, the guide tells you a list of famous bollywood movie songs that have been shot here. The gardens worth visiting are the Mughal garden, Hava Mahal, Tea gardens, Chinese Gardens. The tour only stops at the Hawa Mahal out of these. The bus then takes you to the various film sets like different houses & buildings, a market setting, temple, hospital, airport, railway station etc, they have also created a London street.The bus stops at the airport for 5 minutes were you are allowed to go inside and have a look at the aircraft setting that they have put up.
From the airport set you are dropped at the caves (Ajanta Ellora caves in true filmy style) as you take a walk inside these mystic caves the magic unfolds with some heart stopping settings created by audio & visual effects. After this you can head towards the centre arena called Eureka, (you can do some shopping here at Wild WildWest, Meena Bazar) there is a special section called Fundustan created for the kids, with some joy rides, a gamming zone, a magical tunnel, They have fountains and structures resembling a ship, a train, a shoe house and many cartoon characters all around. Next is the section called Ramoji Movie Magic, where you are treated to some movie making experience, a ride into Toy World (this is really fantastic) the setting all around is very colorful and lively.
As Ramoji Film City is a vast stretch of land, with locations at different places, it would be advisable to stay here for a night and explore the whole place. You can hire a golf car @ Rs. 315/Hr and go to the various gardens and other settings and spend time after the guided tour is over. The staff here is very helpful, their help desks are spread across all locations.
All in all it was a good family holiday experience.