Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir in Hyderabad, dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala Tirupati Temple is said that a whopping quantity of white marble, which is almost 2000 tonnes, was brought from Rajasthan for building this temple. Located on the top of a hill of 280 feet, also known as Naubat Pahad, Birla Temple stands magnificently, drawing admiring glances from every passerby. Birla mandir one of the Top 10 tourist places to visit in Hyderabad. There are various Birla Mandir which have been built all over the country. These have been constructed by the industrialists Birlas and are thus popularly known by the the family that undertook the task.

The architectural style of the Birla temple is a blend of North Indian and South Indian styles of temple architecture. The temple tower or the ‘Gopuram’ exhibits the salient features of South Indian temples. The Jagadananda Vimanam built atop the sanctum sanctorum resembles the Oriya style of temple architecture. It took 10 years of dedicated and hard work of sculptors and artisans to complete the construction of this temple.

The flagstaff of the Birla Mandir which has a height of 42 feet is made of brass. Scenes from the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are intricately carved on the walls and ceilings of the temple. The statues of deities belonging to Hindu mythology can be found from the entrance up to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The idol of the main deity, Lord Venkateshwara, is a replica of Balaji of Tirupati. The statue of Lord Venkateshwara is about 11 feet in height with a carved lotus canopy above, adding on to the entrancing beauty of the deity. The statue has been carved out of granite stone. The statue of Lord Venkateshwara is carved out in the Oriya Style. This temple is said to be sanctified in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda from Ramakrishna Ashram. Swami Ranganathananda has envisioned this temple as a place which can be suitable for meditation as well. Owing to his wishes, Birla Mandir in Hyderabad has no bells. There are also shrines of other Hindu deities such as of Padmavati and Andal. A temple of Buddha is also located inside the temple complex, which has been adorned with paintings depicting his life and works. It also has shrines for other Hindu Gods and Goddesses, namely, Shiva, Hanuman, Brahma, Ganesh, Saraswati, Shakti, Lakshmi and Sai Baba. There are engraving on the walls showcasing Gurbani and various teaching of revered saints.

As the Birla mandir is located on the hilltop, which at one point used to be one of the highest spots of the city, be ready for a bit of climbing. The view of the city from the temple is worth all the efforts. It overlooks the waters of Hussain Sagar Lake, provides a panoramic view of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. There is free locker facility available at the temple. It is better to deposit all your belongings there before embarking your march towards this captivating white temple of Lord Venkateshwara.

You can visit the temple at anytime. In mornings, fresh breeze, tranquil environment and chirping of birds greet you as you seek blessing of the Gods. While in night it is illuminated, creating a site that is worth appreciating. One can visit the Birla mandir from 6 am to 12 noon and in evening from 2 pm to 9 pm.

There are also other tourist-attractions which are located close by. The Birla planetarium, observatory and the Birla science museum are located quite nearby. The temple can be easily accessed from the city of Hyderabad as it is only about 1 km from Hyderabad Railway Station, 6 km from Hyderabad Bus Terminal and 7 km from the Begumpet Airport.