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Located on the banks of River Musi, the Pearl City of India, Hyderabad, offers a variety of holy places to visit. The city is well known for its historical importance along with the best Hyderabadi cuisines and tourist attractions. Established in 1591 by an emperor named Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the city remained under the dictatorship of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty for nearly a century. After that, it was captured by the Mughals.
To the globe trotters, the city offers an amalgam of past heritage and old-world charm and the perks of the modern world. From IT companies to several sacred places, the city has it all. Formerly an Islamic city, Hyderabad also owns a plethora of religious sites for the Hindu devotees. From Jagannath temple to Shri Adinath Jain Temple, this guide will give you a sneak peek into all the top religious sites in Hyderabad to visit this year.
Built by the Odiya Community, Jagannath Temple is considered to be the most famous temple in the entire city of Hyderabad. The temple is located in the Banjara Hills and boasts of views of present-day Hyderabad or modern architecture and designs. Just like the real Jagannath temple, the temple is devoted to Lord Jagannath. However, the temple also has the idols of Lord Balarama and Subhadra. The temple houses several tiny temples inside the main complex dedicated to various Gods and Goddesses like Hanuman, Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha. The temple was built just like the actual Jagannath Temple in Puri, and there is also a 70 feet high Shikara inside the premises. Every year, festivals like Ratha Yatra are celebrated with enthusiasm and vibrancy. If you wish to visit the top religious sites in Hyderabad then this temple should be at the top of your list.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 9 pm
The abode of Lord Venkateswara and his consorts, along with Goddess Padmavati and Goddess Alivelu Mangamma, the temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Hyderabad. The temple has a well-maintained garden area that is ideal for people who like to meditate or chant in the temple premises. The biggest attraction of the temple is a fountain depicting a panoramic scene where Lord Vishnu is resting on Adishesha with his wives. Apart from it, the Shanku, Chakram, and Naman are structured as fountains. The temple has several sections like Yagyashala, Kalyana Katta, Goshala, Pravncham hall, a canteen, kids’ play area and a parking lot. Plenty of Hindu devotees are often seen chanting or doing meditation in the central hall of the temple.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm on weekdays, and 6 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm on weekends and holidays.
Located on the banks of Osman Sagar, Venkateswara Swamy Temple is one of the most eminent temples in Hyderabad . Every week around one lakh devotees visits the temple with a major rush on Fridays and Sundays. The temple is popularly known as ‘Chilkur Balaji’ and is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. The most distinctive feature of this temple is that it doesn’t accept any kind of monetary donations. There is also a belief that anyone who prays here regarding any concerns with passport or visa or overseas travelling, the Almighty grants their wishes and so the temple is also known as Passport Balaji or Visa Balaji. The prayer for getting visa or passport requires the devotee to leave with a promise that he or she will get back to the temple and do 108 parikramas after getting the passport or visa.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 1 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm
Built in the 19th century, Birla temple is one of the most visited sacred places in Telangana. The temple is stationed atop the 280 feet high Naubat Pahad. The temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala. The entire structure of the temple is built from white marbles and boasts of an enthralling scenic view. Also, the temple owns several sculptures, a sprawling premise, and stone carvings of Gurbani. The place not only attracts the soul of spiritual people but it also attracts the eyes of wanderers because of its location that offer the view of the entire city of Hyderabad. Along with the idol of the presiding deity, the temple also has idols of Lord Vishnu, Ganesha, Brahma, Saraswati, Hanuman and Shiva. Whether you’re looking for peace of scenic landscape, Birla temple can offer both.
Entry Timings- 7 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 9 pm
Popularly known as Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Shri Shyam Baba Mandir, Shyam temple is another ancient Hindu temple in Hyderabad. The temple is admired for its ancient architecture and designs and is dedicated to an incarnation of Krishna, called Lord Shyama. The temple showcases several beautiful paintings and stone figures that lure the eyes of all the devotees. The best time to visit the temple is during any festival related to Lord Krishna like Janmashtami, as the temple authorities organize night long bhajans and other activities inside the temple premises. Buckle up and book your tickets now so that you don’t miss this very auspicious occasion.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8:30 pm
Devoted to Goddess Saraswati, this temple should be among the top holy places to visit list when you are in Hyderabad. The temple is believed to be one of the most ancient temples in India with presiding deity of Goddess Saraswati. Along with Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, the idols of Goddess Lakshmi and Kali are also there. The temple was built by Sage Vyasa and has its own historical significance. The temple is constructed on the banks of River Godavari and attracts lakhs of devotees every year, especially during the time of Basant Panchami. The temple has a very popular ritual called the Aksharabhyasam ritual, wherein kids are formally introduced to education. Though this ritual is practised daily inside the temple, the most auspicious time to perform it is during Vasant Panchami.
Entry Timings- 4 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 8:30 pm
Among the most popular religious sites in Hyderabad is the Peddamma Temple, where Peddamma means supreme mother. The temple is dedicated to Santana Laxmi that is Goddess Lakshmi sitting on a lion. The temple is located at the heart of the city and is said to be more than 150 years old. However, the present structure of the temple came into being in 1993. Hundreds of devotees visit this temple every day because of its structural beauty and religious significance. Many legends surround the history of the temple among which the most trusted one is that, the Goddess after defeating a demon visited this place to quench her thirst. Later an idol of the Goddess was found by a shepherd in the exact same place. The Peddamma Temple is also famous for several festivals celebrated over there like Bonalu festival and Rathotsavam. During the festive seasons, one can witness the great enthusiasm of countless devotees on the temple premises. The temple is located on road no. 55 of Jubilee Hills and is accessible via all transportation mediums.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 12:45 pm and 3 pm to 7: 30 pm
Spread over 3 acres of land, Karmanghat Hanuman Temple was constructed in the 12th century AD. According to the myths, when a ruler from Kakatiya dynasty was hunting over there, he felt tired and sat down under a tree. After some time, he started to hear the chants of Lord Rama and after going a little deeper into the forest area, he saw an idol of Lord Hanuman. The idol was in a sitting position and was chanting the name of Lord Rama. Having paid his respect, the king returned to his kingdom and later that night, Lord Hanuman visited in his dreams and asked him to construct a temple over there. And that’s how the temple was constructed immediately after this incident. It is also believed that Aurangzeb ordered his army to destroy all the Hindu temples in the Southern part of India but the mighty army couldn’t even reach near the temple complex. After hearing this, Aurangzeb himself went to destroy the temple but couldn’t do it as well.
Entry Timings- 6 am to 12 noon and 4 pm to 8 pm every day, except for Tuesday, when the temple remains open from 5:30 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 9 pm.
Situated in Kshetra, on Hyderabad-Medak road, Shri Adinath Jain temple is one of the eminent Jain temples in Telangana and one of the top sacred places. The temple belongs to the Digambara section of the Jain community. The temple is well known for its marvellous architecture along with stone and wood carvings. The biggest attraction of the temple is the main idol of Parshvnath that is built from black granite stone and is 11 feet high. Other than this, there are some more attractions like Man Stambh, a model of great tirth Sammed Shikharji. For those who wish to stay here, a Dharamshala is also available with comfy rooms and food services.
Entry Timing- 6 am to 9 pm
Located in the Keesara village of Hyderabad, Keesaragutta Temple is also known as Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, and is among the religious sites in Hyderabad. Though the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva but it also houses idols of his companions, Goddess Bhavani and Shiv Durga. Situated atop a hill, the temple lures thousands of Hindu devotees every year. According to the Hindu Shastra, after killing Ravana, Lord Rama came here to rid himself from the sins of killing a Brahmin. The temple has several attractions like architecture and designs, murals and paintings. The temple is known as Swayambhu Linga because Lord himself installed the Shiva lingam over there. Many other tourist attractions are also present around the temple.
Entry Timing- 6 am to 12:45 pm and 3 pm to 7: 30 pm
To those who wish to visit the sacred places of India, Hyderabad might not be an obvious option at first, but it has some real treasures to impress you with. If you’re in search of peace and want to get some time away from the city lights and daily chores, visit Hyderabad and explore its temples. So, book your tickets and accommodations in advance and get started.
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April 15, 2024 
