Hyderabad in South India is famous for a myriad of good reasons. It sells supreme Biriyani, and the Charminar is on the global map. The night markets and food joints near the same are equally well loved too. As such, we can expect Hyderabad to be fairly steeped in religion and local mythology. Unsurprisingly therefore is a bevy of temples located in this charming land, fine monuments of architecture, and a soul anchoring point for devotees. The temples are dedicated to the presences of several Gods and Goddesses like Krishna, predominantly, and others like Hanuman ji. There are also strict regulations laid down at each, like barring photography and such measures. These temples make for very good tourism, and to make the most of your experience, check out our list of the top 5.
1. Birla Mandir
Birla Mandir is one of the temples in this enchanted land that you definitely cannot exclude from your list. It is a part of the Birla franchise that has erected temples like this spanning the length and breadth of India, all equally exquisite. This temple is very easy to located, as it is located opposite landmarks like the Reserve Bank of India branch in that neighbourhood. The construction process was meticulous and lengthy, spanning a decade. It was built by members from the charitable institution Ramakrishna Mission. Photographing any part of the monument is prohibited and its religious orientation is Hindu.
2. Shyam Temple
Shyam Temple is a temple to visit if you’re looking for a lot of soul and feeling in your venture. It is dedicated to worship the Hindu Lord Krishna in an Avatar that is suited to the modern times. It draws to itself throngs of people from far lands to worshipping this lord, more so at particular times towards the year end. It involves a lot of activities along with plain worship, singing and devotee participation is also guaranteed. The temple staff co-operate so much as to keep the temple premises open even through the night.
3. Jagannath Temple
This temple is dedicated to the Hindu God who makes his home at Puri, Orissa- it is Lord Jagannath. The temple is located very conspicuously on the zenith of a hill, which makes the views beautiful. The architecture leaves many points to be paid special notice to, like the huge top portion or auburn colouring due to indigenous sandstone construction. It also draws throngs of people to it all the time. It has sculptures on the grounds depicting variety of human emotion. There are also secondary Gods here like Balaram and Subhadra, siblings to Jagannath.
4. Karmanghat Hanuman Temple
This is a temple with a lot of varied history, and even present day offerings. Its myths are centred around the Hindu Lord Hanuman and of a local monarch who once was benefitted by him. Karmanghat Hanuman Temple also has in its premises dedications to other gods like Durga and Saraswati and also gods from Hindu epics, along with a small water body which devotees can plunge into for a bath, and whose waters are said to have powers that can heal the sick. The temple is startlingly old, about 9 centuries a had taken long to build.
5. Peddamma Temple
This temple is colourful, literally. The most famous time of the year comes every monsoon around July when devotees flock to it for Bonaalu, a colourful festival. Its name literally translates to the “mother of mothers” or a sort of “mother divine or all powerful”, who is supposed to be the ruler of the adjoining areas in spirit. Peddamma Temple also hosts a number of festivals all through the year in which people participate and are given blessings and offerings in return.
Hyderabad, famous for its grandeur and historical significance is of course incomplete without its fair share of the Lords from religion, and the abundance of temples are testimony to it. From opulent construction to rituals that incorporate people from cultures diverse within, these stand tall in time as the places to be headed to if you happen to be in Hyderabad.
