Lord Venkateswara Swamy abodes the Birla temple at Hyderabad. Built on a 280 ft hillock, Naubath Pahad on an area of almost 13 acres, this temple took ten full years to get completed. The temple was sanctified in 1976 after its completion by Swami Ranganathananda of Rama Krishna Math. This temple was developed by Swami in association with Birla family.
The Birlas are one of the top industrialists in the country with international fame. They are well known for their contribution to the spiritual development by aiding in the construction of temples in different cities. The temples so erected hold their names. The chief God being worshipped may be different depending on the city.
There exists a serene atmosphere in the surroundings when one reaches the Birla temple. It is very much conducive for meditation as had been perceived by Swamiji. Keeping the calm surroundings in mind, there exists no traditional bell here. Carved designs in the 2000 tons of Rajasthan white marble, the temple presents the very culture of Southern India. The idol of Lord Venkateswara Swamy, the presiding deity here is made of granite. It also has the carved lotus umbrella sheltering the idol. The temple has separate shrines for Lord Shiva, Ganesha, Saraswathi, Anjaneya and Saibaba. Teachings of holy men are also engraved on the temple walls.
One can have the spectacular view of the Hussain Sagar Lake from the temple. One can also have the view of the twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad from here. At night, the temple has a grand look with the colourful and bright lighting done.
The other places built by the Birlas that one may visit in Hyderabad are the Birla planetarium and the Birla Science Museum. Constructed and inaugurated in 1985, the planetarium is rated as the best in the world. The film depicting the mysteries of the Universe is the special attraction of the planetarium. The film is shown daily in three languages i.e. English, Hindi and Telugu.
The Birla science Museum is also a place to be visited. It shows science in different ages of evolution through archaeological presentations. It houses the Dinosaurium which has the fossils of 160 million years old “Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis”
Interesting Facts of Birla Mandir Hyderabad:
The temple is a great piece of architecture with the blend of Dravidian, Rajasthani and Orissan architectures. The idol of Lord Venkateswara Swamy made of black granite stone is in the main shrine of the temple. The Rajagopuram of the temple is an inspiration from the Garudalaya style whereas the Jagadananda Vimanam towers borrows the Orissan style. Scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharat engraved on the wall inspires the general public on the teachings given by these epics.
A visit to the Birla Temple is a must for the first timers to the city. Located in the prime locality, the temple is quite easy to be reached. It is well connected to all the major traffic points in the city. It also has frequent bus and auto services.
Birla Temple Timings: 7.00 am to 12.00 Noon, 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm on all days.
Distance and Transport:
From Secunderabad Railway Station 1.5 Kms.
From MGBS Bus Terminus 10 Kms .
From Secunderabad number of TSRTC Buses are available here are some of the numbers 10H, 49A, 49M, 40.
From Hyderabad also number of TSRTC Buses are available here are some of the numbers 7Z, 8A, 45K, 45F
Birl Mandir Address and Contact Details:
Birla Planetarium & Science Museum, Opposite Birla Mandir,
Adarsh Nagar,
Hyderabad – 500063.
Phone: 040- 2323-5081, 040-2324-1067.
