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Andhra Pradesh Tourism
TOP TOURIST SPOTS
BIRLA MANDIR
Industrialists Birlas have built a
number of temples of architectural magnificence all over the c ountry
which, strangely, are referred to as Birla temples and not Lakshminarayan temple
or Venkateswara temple. A quarter century ago, they built a temple in Hyderabad
entirely in marble brought from Rajasthan and dedicated it to Lord Venkateswara,
known as Balaji in the north. The temple, built on a hillock called Kala Pahad,
one of the Naubat Pahad twins, lords over its equally celebrated surroundings comprising
the imposing Secretariat buildings, the azure-blue waters of
Hussain Sagar, the serene
and halcyon
Lumbini Park, the luxurious
Public Gardens dominated by the Asafjahi-style Legislative Assembly complex
and the Reserve Bank of India. From the highest level of the temple, the spectacle
around is breath-taking, providing a view of the verdure of the city, the incessant
flow of traffic on the
Tank Bund, crowds thronging the administrative complexes of the government,
the newly-built flyovers and the cultural hub of the city Ravindra Bharathi and
the NTR Memorial.
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The approach to the temple is through
a lane opposite the Reserve Bank, and once you trek this small patch, you reach
the foot and both sides of a meandering stairway flanked by ornate banisters. On
the way are several marble statues representing the Hindu pantheon. The temple manifests
a blend of South Indian, Rajasthani and Utkal temple architectures. Before you reach
the sanctum, several structures beginning with the baroque canopies at the foot
of the stairway, greet you. The main temple is entered through the four-tiered rajagopuram
built in the garudalaya style of South Indian temples. Beyond the rajagopuram swings
into presence the great Dilwara temple-style gallery dwarfing nearly every other
structure by its intricately carved detail.
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The 11-feet tall statue of Lord Venkateswara
in the sanctum sanctorum is sculpted from black granite, specially mined and brought
from Phirangipuram in Guntur district. This is very different from the white marble
statues that one sees in other temples built by the Birlas. Over the statue is a
lotus-shaped canopy done in marble again. The tower of the main temple called the
Jagadananda vimanam has a close resemblance to the architecture of the Lingaraj
temple at Bhubaneswar. Overlooking the presiding deity is the brass dhwaja stambham
soaring to a height of 42 feet. In the adjoining mukhamandapam are several sculptures
in marble depicting scenes from the Hindu mythology, the Ramayana and Mahabharatha
in particular. The temple towers for the Lord’s two consorts Padmavathi and Andal
are built in South Indian style, unlike the Utkal architecture marking the main
temple.
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If you are an early bird, you can catch
the melodies of Venkateswara suprabhatam as early as 5:30 in the morning followed
by devotional numbers of Annamacharya, Thyagaraja and Bhakta Ramadas. If you come
for a second look in the evening, the whole temple complex is bathed in an aura
of flood-lit glory. Temple rituals here are done according to agama shastras, the
pancharatra agama in particular. Venkateswara temple on the hillock is a place where
you are bound to forget grief and greed for the while you are there. The temple
itself is cradled amidst tall and ancient trees, manicured and well-maintained lawns,
and formal gardens. Birla Mandir is the centrepiece of the capital city’s skyline.
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Birla Science Centre
On the same hillock is another Birla
gift to the nation, the Birla Science Centre which inculdes the more well known
Planetarium. The Science Centre is another beautiful structure, reflecting the advances
made in science and technology. It is a great draw with students aspiring to become
C.V. Ramans and Shantiswaroop Bhatnagars. The interior décor matches the architectural
exterior of the Centre built over 10,000 Sq. Ft. and designed by architects from
Calcutta and Bombay who drew upon concepts and ideas from Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Centre is host to a number of divisions such as the Planetarium, the Science
Museum, and the Centre for Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences.
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Birla Planetarium
The Planetarium is
another magnificent building with a big dome resembling that of the Gol Gumbaz in
Bijapur and some of the earliest government structures in New Delhi. A star attraction
here are the spectacular sky shows every day with Telugu and English commentaries.
The shows unveil the mysteries of the cosmos and the origins of the universe, the
comets, eclipses, unidentified flying objects and the clash of titans. The sky show
opens with the projection of the galaxy over the spectator's heads producing the
illusion of sky and space. These projectors are the most modern and sophisticated
of their kind in the country. The accompanying music adds to the experience of virtual
reality. It is difficult to imagine how our ancestors could observe these phenomena
thousands of years ago without the kind of equipment we have today.
The Planetarium has now added to itself
a Dinosorium showcasing a variety of exhibits including a 160-million-old mounted
Kotasaurus Yamanapalliensis excavated in Adilabad district and gifted to the Science
Museum by the Geological Survey of India. You can also see here a collection of
smaller fossils of dinosaur eggs, marine shells and fossilised tree trunks. While
Birla temple symbolises the mystique of the spirit, the Science Centre symbolises
the unknown realm of matter.
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CITY BUSES |
7, 8, 9, 20, 113, 158, 225
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TIMINGS |
Ticket |
Telephone |
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BIRLA MANDIR |
7 a.m - 12 p.m
2 p.m - 9 p.m |
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2323 5380
2323 3259 |
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BIRLA PLANETORIUM |
10 a.m - 8.30 p.m
English: 11.30 am,4 pm, 6 pm
Telugu: 12.15 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, 6.45 pm, 8.15 pm
Hindi: 7.30 pm
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Rs. 20/- |
2324 1067 |
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