thruway lanes Tirupathi is the service town at the bottom of the hill, with hotels, restaurants, and transport; a

DON T MISS The splendid architecture of Hyderabad s glory days is what brings most visitors to the region. The 16th-century Qutb Shahi produced some masterful architecture including the stunning Charminar, Golconda Fort and their final resting place at the opulent thruway lanes tombs. The lavish 18th-century thruway lanes nizam lifestyle is on display at sites such as Chowmahalla Palace, thruway lanes Nizam s Museum and the Falaknuma Palace, previously the residence of the sixth nizam and now a decadent hotel. Top State Festivals

Minerva Grand HOTEL $$$ (Map p 896 ; %66117373; www.minervagrand.com; thruway lanes SD Rd, Secunderabad; s/d incl breakfast from 4000 /4400; aiW) It s rare to find a hotel that has genuine style; this place has nailed it. Standard rooms (one wheelchair-accessible) have striking deep-fuchsia walls, white furniture, tasselled bedspreads and piles of pillows. More-expensive rooms are also bold in design, and all rooms have hardwood floors, gentle lighting and sleek, spacious bathrooms. A diamond in the rough of Sarojini Devi Rd.

Tirupathi is the service town at the bottom thruway lanes of the hill, with hotels, restaurants, and transport; a fleet of buses constantly ferries pilgrims the 18km up and down. You ll find most of your worldly thruway lanes needs around the Tirupathi bus station (TP Area) and, about 500m away, the train station.

Look for the 9m-long monolithic Nandi India s largest thruway lanes at the town s entrance. From here, you can see the temple s Naga-lingam (a phallic representation of Shiva) crowned with a seven-headed cobra. The temple is known for its unfinished Kalyana Mandapam (Marriage Hall), depicting the wedding of Parvati and Shiva, and its Natyamandapa (Dance Hall), with carvings of dancing gods. The temple s most stunning features, though, are the Natyamandapa s ceiling frescoes.