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Birla Mandir

A new land mark in Hyderabad is the all marble  temple of sri Venkateswara constructed by the   Hindustan Charity Trust (a Birla foundation) at Kala  pahad (black mountain) opp:to the grand view  over looking the Hussian Sagar lake and surrounding area.  which was a scenic beauty at the instance of Mr. B.M.Birla . About 1000 tonnes of marble  worth of 50 lakhs  was brought from Makarana in Rajasthan for the  purpose, The  main temple is built  in Khajuraho style while the 51 feet high Rajagopuram  and Garbhaalaya are in  South India  style, Some of the Workmen  involved in the construction are stated to be descendants of those who built the Taj  Mahal. The Idols were made  by South  Indian sculpters. The height of the main deity Sri Venkateswara is 9.5 feet, It is Phirngipuram in Guntur district. It weights tonnes.

Hyderabad reflects a synthesis of varied cultures. It presents a beautiful blend of the northern and southern styles of architecture. One such marvelous edifice is the Birla Mandir. An enchanting temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, the Birla Mandir stands in all its grandeur on the hilltop of Kalapahad. Made of pure white marble from Rajasthan, the Birla Mandir overlooks the serene and placid waters of the Hussain Sagar lake.The magnificent shrine offers a fantastic panoramic view of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The intricate carvings of the temple, the ceiling and the mythological figures are a standing testimony to the dexterity and sculptural excellence of the craftsmen. Beautiful scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are finely sculpted in marble.A number of lofty steps lead the visitor to the sanctum sanctorum. Along the winding path are many a marble statue of gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology located in the midst of verdant gardens, full of blossoms. The Birla Mandir presents a colorful spectacular sight when illuminated at night. The temple is open for visitors from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. all days of the week. A trip to Hyderabad remains incomplete without a visit to the enchanting Birla Mandir !!

The magnificent shrine offers a fantastic panoramic view of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The intricate carvings of the temple, the ceiling and the mythological figures are a standing testimony to the dexterity and sculptural excellence of the craftsmen. Beautiful scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are finely sculpted in marble. A number of lofty steps lead the visitor to the sanctum sanctorum. Along the winding path are many a marble statue of gods and goddesses of Hindu mythology located in the midst of verdent gardens, full of blossoms.The Birla Mandir presents a colorful spectacular sight when illuminated at night. The temple is open for visitors from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. all days of the week. A trip to Hyderabad remains incomplete without a visit to the enchanting Birla Mandir

Introduction to Birla Mandir, Hyderabad :Birla Mandir is one of the foremost tourist attractions in Hyderabad. Surely no trip to the city is complete without a visit to this beautiful temple. The best thing about this temple is that it is open to people of all religious faiths. At the very entrance of the temple there is a brass memorial welcoming everyone.

History of Birla Mandir, Hyderabad :The Birla Mandir was built by Raja Baldev Birla. In the year 1938, the temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. There is a very interesting anecdote. At that point of time, the social evil of Untouchability was like a poisonous sore and needed to be mitigated. Everyone was not given the permission to enter the premises of temples. Gandhi placed the condition that he would inaugurate the temple only if people belonging to all strata of the society were permitted to offer their prayers in the temple.

Description of Birla Mandir, Hyderabad :The Birla Mandir is a splendid structure that is built of marble. It is a unique combination of both the Oriya and South Indian style of temple architecture.In keeping with the South Indian style, there is a Rajagopuram to greet you as soon as you enter the temple. The main shrine is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara. The tower over this main shrine reaches a height of 165 ft whereas the towers over the shrines of Venkateshwara’s consorts, Padmavati and Andal reach a height of 116 ft. The image of this deity is very admirable and it rises to a height of 11 ft.You will surely wonder at the exquisite carvings in the temple that point out to the brilliance of our craftsmen. The sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are highly impressive.

Other deities including Shiva and Durga are also housed in this temple which is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Interestingly there is a shrine which is dedicated to Lord Buddha as well. Beautiful Fresco paintings adorn the walls of this temple. The frescoes throw a great deal of light on the life and works of Buddha. At the rear end of the temple, an artificial landscape with mountains and waterfalls has been created. The beauty of this spot is sure to mesmerize you.

Being located on top of the Kala Pahad, an additional attraction of visiting the temple is that it offers great views of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. If you see the temple at night when it is well illuminated, the sight will remain imbibed in your memories forever. It sparkles with a brilliance that will overwhelm you.