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| Birla Mandir |
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History
Birla Mandir is an enchanting temple built entirely in marble, with great architectural significance. It stands atop 280 feet Kala Pahad, a small hill located near Hussain Sagar, and provides a spectacular view of the Hussain Sagar and the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The temple was built by the Birla Foundation and is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara.
The main shrine of the temple is Lord Venkateshwara, which is an exact replica of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati, commonly known as Balaji. The statue of Lord Venkateshwara is built in black granite stone and stands 11 feet tall with an intricately carved lotus shaped canopy for the deity. The brass flagpole of the temple rises to a height of 42 feet. There are finely sculpted carvings, in the adjoining 'Mukha Mandapam' – portraying exotic scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, on pure white marble.
The idols of ‘Padmavati’ and ‘Andal’, consorts of the presiding deity are placed in separate shrines. The unique feature of the Birla Mandir is the integration of southern and northern style of architecture. The blend of the architectural styles of Orissa, South Indian temples, and that of Rajasthan on the intricate marble carvings is simply incredible. A four-tiered ‘rajagopuram’, which is a characteristic feature of South Indian temple style, welcomes the visitors at the entrance. A tower known as ‘Jagadananda Vimanam’ lies above the main temple of Lord Venkateshwara and is built in typical Orissan style. On the other hand, the towers over the temples of the consorts are built in the South Indian style.
Birla Mandir offers an impressive sight at night when it is illuminated.
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Best time to visit
Ideally, the best time to visit Birla Mandir and Hyderabad is during the months of October to March as the weather remains cool and pleasant during the winter months.
The best time to pay your visits at the temple is in the evening when the area is lit up giving you the best view of the city and the temple.
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Trivia
It is believed that it took 2000 tonnes of pure white marble from Rajasthan to complete this sacred place.
The rituals carried out in the Birla Mandir are mainly based on the ‘Agama Shastras’ of Hinduism, the ‘Pancharatra Agama’ in particular.
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Timing
The temple remains open on all days of the week between 7:00 am – 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
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Travel Tools
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