Birla Mandir Temple is central to spirituality in Hyderabad and is famous for its impressive architecture. The building is made of 2,000 tons of pure white marble. It contains several shrines devoted to Hindu and Buddhist deities. The traditional site also embraces modernity with light displays at night. Visit the Birla Science Museum and Birla Planetarium next door.
An industrial group called the Birlas built the Birla Mandir Temple in 1976 as a place of prayer and reflection. Enter the temple through a tower, known as the Rajagopuram. This entrance tower was built in a traditional southern Indian style. Look up at the main tower over the shrine. It represents Orissan architecture from east India. The white marble for the whole temple was brought from Rajasthan in the northwestern part of the country.
Examine the idols of Lord Shiva and Ganesha, among others, that are housed in their own dedicated shrines. Study the Buddha shrine decorated with paintings that tell his story. Marvel at the 11-foot (3.3-meter) statue of Lord Venkateswara made from black granite stone.
Look down upon the picturesque lake, Hussain Sagar, from this hilltop temple. Relax in the evening watching the sunset and listening to birdcalls and the sound of prayer. Unlike most temples, Birla Mandir does not have bells, so there is very little noise to disrupt the peace. Take photos of the illuminated temple at night.
Go next door to the Birla Science Museum. Learn about the stars at the Birla Planetarium with daily presentations in English. See archeological displays, including fossils that date back 160 million years. Just to the north, you will find the heart-shaped lake, Hussain Sagar.
The Birla Mandir Temple is open to visitors daily, first in the morning and then again in the late afternoon until evening. There’s no admission fee. The temple is just north of the Musi River that runs through Hyderabad. There are two railway stations nearby and the Koti bus stop is just a few minutes’ walk away.
