1-day or 2-day trip from Hyderabad for foreigner?

I'm a South African in Hyderabad for work. I have three days off, from October 19 to 21 and was wondering if there was somewhere out of the city to visit for a day-trip or an overnight stay. I am mainly interested in cultural sights - to give you an indication, my favourite places in India are Udaipur and Jaisalmer. Any suggestions?

Have u been to delhi ?

For 3 days - hampi.

Yes - I've pretty much "done" Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Shimla, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and the usual Rajasthan tourist spots.

I was considering Hampi, but thought it was possibly just too far out - 7 hours by car, or 12 by train, I believe?

I think if you could use an overnight train from Hyderabad to Hospet and back - it is definitely possible Hampi is really great, and 3 days is OK for the first look

You could fly to Vizag and take the train or drive up to the Araku Valley

hampi is absolutely amazing.
There is nothing much worth visiting which will be nearer to hyd than hampi.

I dont think you will regret visiting hampi

If you can use overnight trains - you could as well visit Ellora/Ajantha caves, as there is a convinient trains from Hyderabad to Aurangabad and back. There is a great fort - Daulatabad - on the way from Aurangabad to Ellora, and I Aurangabad as city is very pleasant too :-)

That's an interesting idea - thanks. How far are Ellora/Ajantha from Aurangabad? Can you do both in one day, or do you stay in Aurangabad and then do Ellora on one day and Ajantha on the next?

Problem is that the Express trains for both Aurangabad and Hampi are showing as full on the indianrail.gov.in site:

For Hospet (in 2AC):
Train 7429 Rayalaseema Exp: WL24/WL10
Train 7603 KCG YPR Exp: WL16/WL11

For Aurangabad (in 2AC):
Train 7064 Ajanta Express: WL17/WL11

Second Hampi.

Four days would be even better, if you can squeeze one more out.

I'm afraid I can't - work times are set. My concern was that Hampi sould be rushed... I could leave only on the afternoon of the 19th (work ends past midnight on the 18th), meaning arrival on the morning of the 20th. Then I'd have to leave on the afternoon of the 21st to get back for work on the morning of the 22nd. This gives me two days in Hampi, and not even two full days. I think it might be too much travel for too short a stay.

It is not ideal, sure.

But, like Nayan, I cannot honestly recommend anything closer for a 3 day trip. For anywhere else, you will have to fly, and you can hire a car to Hampi and back for that money.

Although I don't really recommend driving (or being driven) at night, an early morning start (4am) is always on. And, with a driver, you can sleep in the car.

Alternately, you can see, on this forum or otherwise, if Bidar will interest you. Its just a two hour drive- or a little more, if you are unlucky in traffic.

Not a patch on Hampi, though.

second that.