Hyderabad is renowned for its rich cultural and spiritual heritage.
The city is home to several sacred temples that are worth a visit.
In this article, we'll get a look at the best ones among them.
Hyderabad - the capital city of Telangana - is not limited to its historical structures, lip-smacking cuisine, and spectacular pearls. The city surely has much more to offer, and the sacred temples scattered are a major one.
Hyderabad is known as the Land of Nizams, being ruled by the mighty Nizams for centuries. But it also has the presence of many other religions other than Islam such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and more. Hence, it's home to a huge number of temples that hold splendid architecture and also intriguing stories.
Jagannath Temple, located in Banjara Hills
Jagannath Temple is built by the city's Odia community as a replica of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, as well as Lord Balarama and Lord Subhadra. The premises also houses many small temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Parvati, and others. It hosts several festivals throughout the year, especially the Rath Yatra Festival.
Ratnalayam Temple, located in Aliabad
Ratnalayam Temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, Goddess Padmavati, and Goddess Andal. The main attraction here is a massive fountain that depicts a scene of Lord Vishnu resting on Adishesha with his wives. Also, there are many other fountains depicting Shanku, Naman, and Chakra. It's divided into numerous different sections such as Yagyashala, Goshala, Pravncham Hall, and more.
Birla Temple, located in Hill Fort Road
Birla Temple was built in the 19th century by Swami Ranganathananda, associated with the Ramakrishna Mission. The temple sits at an elevation of 280 feet on Naubat Pahad, towards the southern end of Hussain Sagar Lake. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala, it also has idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma, and others.
Peddamma Temple, located in Jubilee Hills
Peddamma (which means "The Supreme Mother") Temple is dedicated to Santhan Lakshmi - Goddess Lakshmi sitting on the lion. The temple is said to date back more than 150 years ago, although the main building was built in the year 1993. It holds a rich architectural value, owing to the murals, sanctum, sculptures, etc. The best time to visit here is during Bonalu and Ratha Sapthami.
Venkateswara Swamy Temple, located in Himayat Nagar
Venkateswara Swamy Temple - dedicated to Lord Venkateswara - sees more than one lakh devotees every week. Popularly known as Chilkoor Balaji, this temple doesn't accept any kind of monetary donations, which is unlike most other temples in Hyderabad. It’s also known as Passport Balaji because there's a belief that this temple can solve all your problems regarding passport/visa and overseas traveling.
Besides these, you can also visit ISKCON Temple, Kesari Hanuman Temple, Ammapalli Sita Rama Temple, etc.
