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THE BIRLA MANDIR  The Birla Mandir, built by the Birla Foundation, is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, also known as Lord Balaji. Standing atop a hillock called Kala Pahad and overlooking the Hussain Sagar Lake, the temple looks divine at night. It is said that 1,000 tonnes of marble worth Rs 50 lakh was brought in from Makarana, Rajasthan for the temple. The temple architecture is a mixture of the Khajuraho and the South Indian styles. The 51-feet high Rajagopuram and Garudalaya show traces of South Indian architecture. Artists from South India have sculpted the idols. The main idol of Sri Venkateshwara weighs eight tons and stands 9.5 feet tall. It is made of granite brought from Phirangipuram in Guntur district.Interestingly, some of the workers engaged in the construction of the temple claim to be descendants of those who built the Taj Mahal. The construction of the temple took ten long years. Timings: 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.  BIRLA SCIENCE CENTRE  Built on the Naubat Pahad near the Birla Mandir, is the Birla Science Centre. It comprises the Birla Planetarium and the Birla Science Muesum.  THE BIRLA PLANETARIUM  The Birla Planetarium is one of the most modern planetariums in the country. With equipment imported from Japan, it is being developed into a centre for the study of astronomy. Shows on the celestial bodies are held daily in English, Hindi and Telugu. Timings: 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on the last Thursday of the month.  THE BIRLA SCIENCE MUSEUM  ----------------Museum of everyday science Also located in the vicinity of the Birla Mandir and the Birla Planetarium is the Birla Science Museum. This houses various exhibits on different themes of science. The interactive models are especially educative as well as engaging. Timings: 10.30 a.m. to 8.15 p.m. Closed on the last Tuesday of the month.  SHILPARAMAM  Shilparamam is a crafts village sprawling over 30 acres of land in Madhapur, 9 km from the airport and 13 km from the Hyderabad railway station. Dotted with lovely rocks, gorgeous lawns and rippling waterfalls, it plays host to myriad forms and styles of ethnic arts and crafts of India. An All India Festival of Arts and Crafts is held here every March. It provides a meeting ground for artists and artisans from all over India. Artistic traditions from every nook and corner of the country are displayed here. The place is also a cultural hub of the city hosting several cultural programmes all round the year. Shilparamam is a one-time opportunity to take home a piece of ethnic India. Timings: 10.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Handicraft Shops: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Cultural Programmes: 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. (on Sundays only) Entry Fee: Rs. 2. Boating: Rs. 10. |