Dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara( Vishnu), Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple carved majestically in white marble. The marble was brought from the royal state of Rajasthan. Nestled on the Kala Pahad, the twin hillock of the Naubat Pahad, the temple is a major attraction of Hyderabad. It was built by the Birla Group in the year 1976. They have built many temples in several cities of India. And all the temples built by them are called Birla Temples. The peaceful environment and the enchanting beauty of the temple draws many a visitor everyday. The temple overlooks the beautiful Hussain Sagar Lake.

The construction of the temple was completed in ten years. In the year 1976, it was consecrated by Swami Ranganathananda from Ramakrishna Mission. There are no traditional bells in the temple as the Swami wanted that the temple should provide favorable environment for meditation.

Architecture and Attractions

Birla temple is a perfect amalgamation of Rajasthani, South Indian and Utkala temple styles of architecture. Attention grabbing feature of the temple is the exquisite carvings showcasing the excellent skills of the craftsmen. Wonderful scenes from the great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, are exquisitely carved on the walls.

Built entirely of white marble, the temple has a beautiful gopuram or the pyramid shaped top, which is a typical feature of a South Indian temple. Built in the Orissan style, the tower of the main shrine is eye catching.

The temple houses the beautiful idol (11 feet tall) of Lord Venkateswara, which is carved out of granite stone. The marble canopy at the top of the Lord's idol looks amazing. There are many marble statues of Hindu gods and goddesses in the temple, which look so real that one feels as if they are about to speak. Visit the temple early morning if you want to hear South India music in the devotion of the lord. In the evening the temple looks like a jewel as it is illuminated beautifully.