Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, built by the Birla Foundation between 1976 and 1996 on the 85 metre high Naubat Pahad at Hill Fort Road in Hyderabad, Telangana. The temple is made almost entirely of white Rajasthani marble, which gives the structure a gleaming appearance in daylight and under evening lights. Visitors climb a flight of steps to the temple, remove their shoes at the entrance and walk past carved pillars and sculpted panels showing scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to the sanctum, where a tall idol of Venkateswara stands. The temple design draws on Odisha and South Indian styles, with a tower above the sanctum and smaller shrines on the grounds. Photography of the sanctum is not allowed, and mobile phones and cameras are usually deposited at a counter before entering the main hall. The main draw for many visitors is the terrace and surrounding hilltop, which provide broad views over Hussain Sagar, the Buddha statue and the city skyline, especially good in the late afternoon and around sunset. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes, and the temple is usually open from 7:00AM to 12:00PM and from 3:00PM to 9:00PM. Crowds are largest on weekends, festival days and Saturdays, when devotees queue for darshan, and quieter on weekday mornings. Entry is free, and modest dress is required, with shoulders and knees covered. The temple stands next to the Telangana Legislative Assembly and is easily reached by auto or cab from the Lakdi-ka-pul or Khairatabad metro stations. Visitors should keep some flexibility in their schedule, since the temple closes in the middle of the day and lines can extend during special occasions.