interstate 95 exits Hyderabad, City of Pearls, is like an elderly, impeccably dressed princess whose time has past. Once

Most people stay at the ashram (%287390; www.srisathyasai.org.in), a small village with all amenities. Lodging interstate 95 exits is cheap but basic. Advance bookings aren t taken; visitors interstate 95 exits under 25 must be in a family or group.

Hyderabad, City of Pearls, is like an elderly, impeccably dressed princess whose time has past. Once the seat of the powerful and wealthy Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, the city has seen centuries of great prosperity and innovation. Today, the Old City is full of centuries-old Islamic monuments and even older charms. In fact, the whole city is laced with architectural gems: ornate tombs, mosques, palaces and homes from the past are tucked away, faded and enchanting, in corners all over town. Keep your eyes open.

Most buses and trains will stop en route at Bhongir, 60km from Hyderabad. It s worth jumping down for a couple of hours to climb the fantastical-looking 12th-century Chalukyan hill fort (admission 3; h9am6pm). Looking like a gargantuan stone egg, the hill is mostly ringed by stairs.