Visa Balaji Temple

Site Name: Balaji Temple

Site Type: A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Balaji

Location:  Chilkur village, near Hyderabad city, Telungana state, India

Highlights: It is believed that a visit to this temple will ensure the devotees to get US visa successfully

Nearest Railway Station: Hyderabad

Nearest Airport: Hyderabad

How to reach: Well connected by road from Hyderabad

Hotel: All sorts of options are available in Hyderabad 

Restaurants: Go to Hyderabad

Hyderabad is an important city in South India. It is the capital city of the newly formed Telangana state as well as Andhra Pradesh state of India. Hyderabad, which is also called as 'the city of Pearls' is a historical city. In the last two decades, the city became very popular thanks to the IT companies. There are many popular and varieties of tourist spots such as forts, palaces, lakes, masjids and temples located in this city. Let us explore one such popular site named Visa Balaji temple in this article.

Highlights:

• God - Balaji
• Goddess - Sree Devi and Bhoo Devi
• A popular temple in and around Hyderabad
• Those who seek US visa visit this temple in great numbers

Legend/History:

It is believed that the temple of Balaji aka Venkateshwara which is located on the banks of Osman Sagar lake in Chilkur village near Hyderabad  was built during the period of Madanna and Akkanna in the 17th century CE.

As per the legend, there was a devotee who used to visit Tirupati Balaji temple regularly. Once, owing to ill health, he could not go there. He felt very sad about the same. Lord Balaji appeared in his dream and told him that he was present in the nearby forest. As per the advice from the Lord, the devotee dug the place filled with molehill. His axe struck the chin and chest of the idol accidentally. The blood started flowing. He heard a divine voice which ordered him to flood the molehill with the cow's milk. Once he did so, he discovered the idol of Balaji accompanied with Sri Devi and Bhoo Devi. He installed the idol and this is the story of this temple's origin.

Temple Layout:

The temple is small however the surrounding area is big as it has to accommodate thousands of people who visit the temple everyday. 

The sanctum sanctorum houses the idols of Balaji along with his consorts Sree Devi and Bhoo Devi. It is rare to find Balaji with two consorts.

Facing the main shrine the relief image of Garuda made of red stone is found.

The temple also has a small tower. 

It is believed that walking around the sanctum sanctorum (circumventing the prakara) for 11 times and praying to the Lord ensures the devotees to get US visa. After the devotees get visa processed, they come back to this temple and circumvent for 108 times. Due to this, there is always more crowd in the prakara than near the shrine. The temple is popularly called as 'Visa Balaji Temple'.

Happy travelling.