Birla Mandir, Hyderabad

Birla Mandir is a serene Hindu temple built on a 280-foot (85 m) hillock called Naubath Pahad, spread across 13 acres near Khairatabad. Its construction took 10 years and it was opened in 1976 by Swami Ranganathananda of the Ramakrishna Mission. It was built by the Birla Foundation, which has raised several similar temples across India — all known as Birla Mandir.

The temple is carved from several tonnes of pure white marble brought from Rajasthan, in the graceful Oriya architectural style. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, its 11-foot idol receives devotional prayers every day. Every sculpture is beautifully carved from white marble, and you can admire paintings from the epic Ramayana, small shrines of Hindu deities, and a striking 47-foot bronze flagstaff crowning the temple.