FTCCI, Tourism Dep, Govt of Telangana, GHMC, NITHM, Police join hands to promote local Tourism and Weekend Tourism

FTCCI Tourism Hyderabad Junction Jewels – Photo Contest & FTCCI Tourism Weekend Getaways of Hyderabad – Reel Contest announced

Hyderabad, October 24, 2025: The Tourism Committee of the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FTCCI), one of the 23 expert committees of the 108-year-old apex trade body, today announced that Tourism Dep, Govt of Telangana, GHMC, NITHM consented to join hands with FTCCI to promote local Tourism and Weekend Tourism by way of two novel contests called FTCCI Tourism Hyderabad Junction Jewels – Photo Contest & FTCCI Tourism Weekend Getaways of Hyderabad – Reel Contest. These two first-of-their-kind initiatives are curated by the Tourism Committee to promote and celebrate the tourism potential of Hyderabad and Telangana.

The contests—”FTCCI Tourism Hyderabad Junction Jewels: Photo Contest on Traffic Junction Attractions” and “FTCCI Tourism Weekend Getaways of Hyderabad: Reel Contest”—aim to highlight the unseen, everyday beauty of Hyderabad’s urban icons and the vibrant weekend getaways in and around Hyderabad city, within approximately a 150 km radius.

These initiatives were launched to mark and celebrate World Tourism Day

Mr R. Ravi Kumar, President; Prof Venkatramana, Director, NITHM, who is also the Tourism Committee Member; Mr Prakash Ammanbolu, and D. Ramchandram, Chair and Co-Chair of Tourism Committee; Ms Sangeeta, Director, FTCCI; Ms Vishala, Officer, FTCCI, participated and spoke at the press conference on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr R. Ravi Kumar, President, FTCCI, said: “Hyderabad is not just a historic city; it is a modern hub with vibrant attractions. These contests will encourage citizens to rediscover and showcase our city’s beauty.”

“Both initiatives reaffirm our commitment to doing things differently — not for novelty’s sake, but to create meaningful impact that others can build upon.” Prof Vekatramana, Director NITHM.

Prof Venkat Ramana further added that NITHM entered an MoU with Raoido to train 10,000 of its captains. He appreciated the FTCCI Tourism Committee for undertaking these two valuable initiatives.

The objective of Hyderabad Junction Jewels – Photo Contest is to showcase Hyderabad’s creative traffic junction attractions—from the Pearl installation near Charminar to fountains, sculptures, statues, and beautification projects that have transformed traffic junctions into cultural landmarks. The contest encourages citizens to pause, capture, and celebrate Hyderabad’s crossroads of art and identity. Every citizen of the city must explore the city before venturing out to explore the state, country, and foreign countries, said Prakash Ammanbolu, Chairman of the Tourism Committee.

The objective of the FTCCI Tourism Weekend Getaways of Hyderabad – Reel Contest says D. Ramchandram, Co Chairman of Tourism Committee is to inspire travellers and storytellers to explore weekend attractions within approximately 150 km of Hyderabad—including lakes, heritage sites, trekking trails, food streets, cultural hubs, dhabas and resorts—and present them in engaging 60 second reels of maximum duration. This contest aims to position Hyderabad as a hub for quick getaways, family outings, and cultural experiences.

Why a Reel Contest for Weekend Getaways?

Many of us living in Hyderabad are not fully aware of the numerous weekend attractions available to us. At the same time, destination promoters—resorts, heritage sites, trekking spots, food and cultural hubs—often struggle to reach the very people who are searching for such getaways.

The Weekend Getaways of Hyderabad – Reel Contest is designed to bridge this gap. By encouraging citizens, travellers, and content creators to capture these experiences in short, engaging reels, the contest will: Showcase lesser-known destinations within 150 to 200 km of Hyderabad. Create authentic, people-driven content that inspires travel and provides visibility to weekend getaway promoters.; Help citizens discover new options for leisure, culture, and adventure. In short, it will open up new avenues for both travellers and destination promoters—making it a true win-win for everyone. We also request destination owners to cooperate with their visitors to take the reels. The destination owners can also send in their own entries,

The contest highlights are that both contests are open to all age groups, have no entry fee, and unlimited entries are allowed. There is no entry fee. One can send any number of entries. The last date for entries is November 22, 2025. The winners will be given away cash prizes in a function to be held on November 26, 20205. The entries can be sent via email to: micetourism@ftcci.in. Please clearly mention the name of the contest in the subject line. For more details, please reach out Mr. D. Ramchandram, 9848042020; Ms Vishaka, Tourism Committee, FTCCI – 91210 00199

Special instructions for participants for Hyderabad Junction Jewels (Photo Contest): The entries must be JPEG format, ≤10 MB, with a short write-up on the attraction’s name, location, and speciality, your contact details, such as email, mobile, WhatsApp number, etc The participants may share their stock pics or pics taken freshly. No plagiarism photos accepted.

Special instruction for Weekend Getaways Reel Contest: Instagram Reels/MP4, up to 60 seconds. Showcase any tourism spot within 150 km of Hyderabad. The top three each contest will be awarded Rs 10,000/-; Rs 7500/-, and Rs 5000/- in each contest respectively. Five consolation prizes of Rs 1000/- will be given in each of the two contests.

The additional guidelines: Eligibility: Open to all age groups; no entry fee; unlimited entries allowed. Ownership: All submitted photos become the property of FTCCI (with credits given when published/exhibited). Exclusions: FTCCI employees and members of the Tourism Committee are not eligible to participate. Authenticity: Only original photographs. No pirated or heavily AI-manipulated content. Minimal editing for brightness/contrast allowed.

Winners will be felicitated on November 26, 2025, on the eve of Father of Tourism Day to be celebrated on Nov 22.

The Winning entries may be showcased in a Photo Exhibition, a Coffee Table Book / Calendar, and on FTCCI & partners’ social media channels with full credits. All the entries submitted in both contests will have the sole ownership rights of the FTCCI Tourism Committee.

A distinguished jury of eminent photographers, filmmakers, tourism experts, and cultural leaders will evaluate entries based on originality, creativity, technical quality, storytelling, and impact.

Organised by FTCCI Tourism Committee, in association with contest partners GHMC*, Department of Tourism, Government of Telangana*; Police, Creatorverse Studio; Hotels and Restaurants Association of Telangana State (HRATS)*, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)

FTCCI also invites corporates, civic bodies, and tourism associations to partner and associate with these initiatives, thereby contributing to strengthening Telangana’s image as a dynamic tourism destination.

Media Contact: Solus Media, Mobile: 9848042020

Resorts/Tourism Attractions/Weekend Getaways/Temples/Forts

01. Ramoji Film City
02. Pragatbhi Resorts
03. Experium
04. Alankritha, Sahmirpet
05. Summer Green Resort – Kompally
06. Aalankrita Resort & Spa – Shamirpet
07. Leonia Holistic Destination – Shamirpet
08. Celebrity Resorts – Shamirpet
09. Pragati Resorts – Chilkur
10. Mrugavani Resort & Spa – Chilkur Wildlife Sanctuary
11. Dream Valley Resorts – Gandipet
12. Button Eyes Resort – Shamirpet area
13. Papyrus Port Resort – Thumkunta, themed on Egyptian architecture
14. Ragala Resort – Vikarabad area
15. Trance Greenfields Resort – Moinabad
16. Alankritha Palm Exotica Resort – Shankarpalli
17. Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad, ~90 km) – Forest treks, coffee plantations, Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
18. Nagarjuna Sagar (~150 km) – Massive dam, Ethipothala Waterfalls, Nagarjunakonda Museum island.
19. Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary (~120 km) – Scenic reservoir & birdwatching.
20. Singur Dam (~100 km) – Ideal for picnics, boating, and birdwatching.
21. Shamirpet Lake (~30 km) – Tranquil getaway, especially at sunrise/sunset.
22. Moula Ali Hill & Dargah (~10 km) – Panoramic city views.
23. Medak Fort & Medak Cathedral (~100 km) – Historic and architectural marvels.
24. Bidar (Karnataka border) (~140 km) – Bidar Fort, Bahmani Tombs, Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib.
25. Warangal (~145 km) – Thousand Pillar Temple, Ramappa Temple (UNESCO Heritage Site), Warangal Fort, Bhadrakali Temple.
26. Koilkonda Fort (~125 km, Mahbubnagar) – Trekking and history.
27. Gottam Gutta Forests (Zaheerabad belt) – Untouched natural beauty.
28. Srisailam (slightly over 200 km, optional) – Famous Jyotirlinga temple, Srisailam Dam, dense forests.
29. Osman Sagar (Gandipet) & Himayat Sagar – Lakeside escapes.
30. Chilkur Balaji Temple – Known as the “Visa God” temple.
31. Mrugavani National Park – Nature trails close to the city.
32. Keesaragutta Temple (~40 km) – Mythological and spiritual site.
33. Ramoji Film City (~35 km) – World’s largest film studio complex.
34. Nehru Zoological Park & Mir Alam Tank – Popular family outing spot.
35. Shilparamam – Crafts village in the city itself.
36. Deccan Trails—Best Adventure Resort

37. ZarGold Luxury Farm Resort
A luxury farmhouse retreat offering upscale amenities, gardens, and event venues. ZarGold Luxury Farm

38. Serenity Farms
Located about 30 km from Hyderabad, this villa/farm stay combines nature with modern comforts. Serenity Farms

39. Stoneyard Farms (Swarnagiri Agro-Tourism / Farmhouse Resort)
An agro-tourism resort cum farmhouse with a swimming pool and related attractions. stoneyardfarmhouse.com

40. Various Farmhouses via FarmHouse Hyderabad / TheFarmStays network
Listings in Moinabad, Aziznagar, Chilkur, Bibi Nagar, Chevella, etc. (private farmhouses & farm stays) Farm Houses Hyderabad+1

41. FamilyFarms (Hyderabad region farm houses)
Listings like Pooja Farmhouse, Sunview Farm, Arrows Farm, etc. Family Farms

42. Zoological Park

43. Deer Park

44. Aalankrita Resort & Convention (Thumkunta, Shamirpet area) aalankrita.com

45. Celebrity Resort (Shamirpet vicinity)

46. Leonia Holistic Destination (near Shamirpet)

47. Mrugavani Resort & Spa (close to Shamirpet)

48. Summer Green Resort (Shamirpet area) VenueLook

49. The Hamlet – Luxury Wilderness Resort (on outskirts, nature-oriented)

50. Farm Stay Resort – Shamirpet (farmhouse style stay) Booking.com

51. Heaven Gates Resort (listed under resorts in Shamirpet area) Universal Adventures

52. Pragati Resorts (Chilkuru Balaji Temple Road, Shankarpally Mandal) pragatiresorts.com

53. Palm Exotica Boutique Resort & Spa (Shankarpally / near Chevella) palmexotica. chobs.in+1

54. Lahari Resorts (on Shankarpally / Patancheruvu road area) lahariresorts.com

55. Plus, many smaller resorts listed under Resorts in Shankarpally, Rangareddy in local listings.

56. Yadagirigutta

57. MAK Club and Resort

58. Collection O Srishailam Highway

59. Serene Resort and Convention

60. Vaaradhi Resort and Farm Villa

61. Holiday Marina

62. Leonia Holistic Destination

63. Hilton Hyderabad Genome Valley Resort & Spa

64. Aranya Resort by Mrugavani

65. Lahari Resorts

66. Tripura Resorts

67. Palm Exotica Resort / Boutique Resort & Spa

68. The Hamlet – Luxury Wilderness Resort

69. Statue of Equity

70. Forts & Historic Fortified Sites

71. Rachakonda Fort
~ 60 km from Hyderabad. Ancient ruins, scenic views, quiet trails.

72. Medak Fort
Historic hilltop fort north of Hyderabad.

73. Warangal Fort
Rich Kakatiya heritage architecture. ~140–150 km range.

74. Domakonda Fort
~105 km from Hyderabad. Blend of Hindu & Islamic architecture.

75. Khilla Ghanpur Fort
In Mahbubnagar region ~118 km from Hyderabad.

76. Koilkonda Fort
A hill fort reachable with a short trek; scenic and relatively less frequented.

77. Gomajipet Fort
Ruins restored; ~110 km out.

78.

79. Weaver & Craft Villages / Art & Culture Villages

80. Bhoodan Pochampally / Pochampally Weavers Village (Telangana)
~ 40–50 km from Hyderabad. Famous for handloom / Ikat weaving (silk & cotton). GI-tag, heritage weaving cluster.

81. Shilparamam,Hyderabad
A crafts village within Hyderabad with folk art, handicraft stalls, rural museum, and cultural performances.

Event Ticketing Platform

01. BookMyShow
02. MeraEvents
03. Tickets99.com

Resorts & Retreats

Summer Green Resort – Kompally
Aalankrita Resort & Spa – Shamirpet
Leonia Holistic Destination – Shamirpet
Celebrity Resorts – Shamirpet
Pragati Resorts – Chilkur / Shankarpally Road
Mrugavani Resort & Spa – Chilkur Wildlife Sanctuary
Dream Valley Resorts – Gandipet
Button Eyes Resort – Moinabad belt
Papyrus Port Resort – Thumkunta (Egyptian theme)
Palm Exotica Boutique Resort & Spa – Shankarpally
Lahari Resorts – Patancheru / Shankarpally Road
The Hamlet – Luxury Wilderness Resort – Shankarpally outskirts
Tripura Resorts – Shankarpally–Chevella Road
MAK Club & Resort – Srisailam Highway, Maheshwaram
Serene Resort & Convention – Peddashapur, Shamshabad
Vaaradhi Resort & Farm Villa – Shamshabad area

Nature & Adventure

Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad, ~90 km) – Forest treks, coffee plantations
Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary (~115 km) – Wetlands, birdwatching
Singur Dam (~100 km) – Boating & birding
Shamirpet Lake (~30 km) – Serene sunrise/sunset views
Mrugavani National Park (~25 km) – Nature trails
Osman Sagar (Gandipet) & Himayat Sagar – Lakeside escapes
Gottam Gutta Forests (Zaheerabad belt) – Eco-getaway
Koilkonda Fort (Mahbubnagar, ~125 km) – Historic fort + trek
Amrabad Tiger Reserve (Nallamala, ~140 km) – Safaris, eco-tourism
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (Mulugu) – Dense forests, trekking
Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary (Mancherial) – Riverine forest

Forts & Heritage Trails

Warangal Fort & Ramappa Temple (UNESCO site, ~145 km)
Medak Fort & Cathedral (~100 km)
Rachakonda Fort (~60 km)
Domakonda Fort (~105 km)
Khilla Ghanpur Fort (~118 km)
Koilkonda Fort (~125 km)
Bhongir Fort (~50 km) – Hill climb fort with sweeping views
Gomajipet Fort (~110 km)

Craft & Weaving Villages

Bhoodan Pochampally (Ikat Weaving Village, ~50 km) – UNESCO heritage weaving cluster
Shilparamam Crafts Village (in Hyderabad) – Arts, crafts, cultural hub

Botanical Gardens & Parks

Hyderabad Botanical Gardens (Kondapur / Hitec City) – Themed gardens, greenery
KBR National Park (Jubilee Hills) – Urban jungle trail
Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park (Vanasthalipuram) – Deer park, nature trails
Public Gardens (Bagh-e-Aam) – Historic city park
NTR Gardens (Hussain Sagar) – Popular lakeside park

Temples & Spiritual Spots

Mini Kedarnath (Medchal area) – Replica temple, spiritual retreat
Uma Maheshwaram Temple – Inside Nallamala forest route
Keesaragutta Temple (~40 km) – Mythological hilltop shrine
Chilkur Balaji Temple (Visa Balaji, Gandipet)
Moula Ali Hill & Dargah (~10 km) – City view + spiritual site
Bhadrakali Temple (Warangal) – Historic temple
Culture & Family Attractions

Ramoji Film City (~35 km) – World’s largest film studio
Shilparamam (Madhapur & Uppal) – Craft villages inside city
Nehru Zoological Park & Mir Alam Tank – Wildlife + family outing
Charminar Food Streets – Cultural weekend night life
Chowmahalla Palace & Salarjung Museum – Heritage + cultural hubs
Major Temples Within Hyderabad

Chilkur Balaji Temple (Visa Balaji) – On the banks of Osman Sagar (Gandipet). Famous for “no hundi, no VIP darshan.”
Birla Mandir – On Naubat Pahad, white marble temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, with panoramic views of Hussain Sagar.
Jagannath Temple, Banjara Hills – Modern Odisha-style temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath.
ISKCON Temple, Abids – Radha Govinda Mandir, part of ISKCON movement.
Akkanna Madanna Temple, Near Charminar – 17th-century temple dedicated to Mahankali.
Kali Kaman & Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple – Known for Bonalu celebrations.

Temples Around Hyderabad (30–80 km radius)

Keesaragutta Temple (~40 km) – Ancient temple of Lord Shiva (Ramalingeshwara Swamy), mythologically linked to Lord Rama.
Yadadri / Yadagirigutta Temple (~60 km) – Famous Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, now redeveloped as a massive pilgrimage and tourism hub.
Mini Kedarnath Temple (Medchal, ~30 km) – A replica temple styled after Kedarnath.
Rachakonda Shiva Temple (~60 km) – Near Rachakonda Fort, dedicated to Lord Shiva.