Situated on the majestic western ghats, it is located in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu. The hills are at a height of 1,500 meters above sea level. It has vast tea and cardamom plantations, extremely stunning views, gushing waterfalls, serene weather, and, above all, fewer footfalls.

The top 5 places to visit in Megamalai

• Chinna Suruli waterfalls
• Murugan and Mangaladevi temples
• Shanmuganathi, Manalar, and Vaigai dam
• Meghamalai and Maharajamettu’s viewpoints
• The tiger reserve and wildlife sanctuary

Chinna Suruli waterfalls

It is a small ‘Suruli waterfall’ with two tiers rushing down the slopes of the Meghalamalai hills. It is different from that of the ‘Suruli Falls’ spotted in the Cumbam district. If you’re lucky, you can spot some wild animals on the way to the waterfall. It is recommended to visit the attractions between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. to avoid wildlife dangers.

Explore this exquisite, off-beat hill station with the leading Travel agency tour packages!

Murugan and Mangaladevi temples

You can find the Murugan temple atop the hill station. The primary deity is Lord Muruga. There is also another temple called Mangaladevi Temple a few kilometers away, which was built on rocks.

Shanmuganathi, Manalar, and Vaigai dam

The Meghamalai Hills houses around 5–6 dams and the most important of them are these three dams. Shanmuganathi Dam is found in the foothills and was built on the Shanmugha River. This is one of the important tourist places in Megamalai. Whereas Manalar dam is a man-made one, which can let you admire the scenic beauty of tea estates in the Theni and Cumbam places. Comparatively, Vaigai Dam is bigger and was built on the famous Vaigai River. Indeed, it is a wonderful place for families to picnic.

Meghamalai and Maharajamettu’s viewpoints

These viewpoints give a panoramic view of the cloud-enclosed green peaks, valleys, lakes, tea plantations, the town, etc. And it is the best spot for photography—one of the activities to do in Megamalai.

The tiger reserve and wildlife sanctuary

These attractions are perfect for family tourists with kids. The Meghamalai Tiger Reserve is the state’s fifth reserve. You cannot miss the tiger safari when visiting here. The Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary is also connected, and hence you can enjoy spotting deer, elephants, big cats, and other wild animals.

You can add a few nearby tourist places to the itinerary and make it a complete holiday vacation. Take help from travel experts!

Megamalai tourism: Frequently asked questions

1. Is one day sufficient to visit all these places?

Definitely, one day won’t suffice to cover all the above-listed places. At least you have to spend two days visiting a couple of dams, temples, the sanctuary, and the waterfalls. A one-day road trip is also possible, in which you can visit one or two attractions along the way.

2. Which airport is nearby?

The closest airport to Meghamalai is Madurai International Airport, which is around one hundred and thirty kilometers away.

3. Which month is best for Megamalai?

December and January are the two best months to visit this picturesque hill station. However, you can enjoy the cool climate throughout the winter months between October and March.

4. What is the other name for this hill station?

The popular name is “High Wavy Mountains.” But local people in Tamil Nadu call it “Pacha Kumachi.” The word ‘Pacha’ means green and ‘kumachi’ means peaks or mountains.

5. What is the best time to visit Megamalai?

Visiting this place in winter can take you to a paradise on earth. The cold weather allures each one of you and ensures you leisurely visit all the attractions and enjoy a relaxing trip. The summer season can be considered but please avoid the monsoon months.

6. Is it safe to visit this mountain?

Meghamalai is totally a safe place. The only thing that you have to be cautious enough about is elephants, as they can be spotted often on the roads or hairpin bends. Having said this, forest officers and supporting staff can help you wherever you are.

7. What is Megamalai famous for?

When it comes to fauna, it is known for elephants and tigers. With respect to flora, the hills are lush green with virgin forests. Besides, it is famous for a handful of dams, age-old temples, and pristine waterfalls.

The Vande Bharat Express Trains in India aims at connecting cities that are at medium distances, i.e., less than eight hundred kilometers away. In other words, these trains operate between cities that take only less than ten hours to travel with current train services.

Did you know? The Ministry of Railways plans to launch nearly four hundred such trains in the coming years. Read more!

The History Behind Vande Bharat Train

The Railway Board of India intended and geared for high-speed trains in the year 1960. The study attempted to increase the speed from 96 km/h back then to 160 km/h. With the help of RDSO (Research Design and Standards Organization) and ICF (Integral Coach Factory), Chennai, the board was able to launch the 120 km/h Rajdhani Express in 1969.

After decades, the board introduced the 160 km/h train in 2016. Again, after the “Make in India” movement, the board introduced indigenously designed self-propelled EMU trainsets with a maximum speed of 183 km/h during the trials in 2018. Later, in 2019, these trainsets were named “Vande Bharat Express Trains” and launched between the capital of India and Varanasi.

Vande Bharat: All You Need to Know About The Train Routes

Here is a brief overview of the first ten routes launched for this express train in India.

2. New Delhi—SMVD KATRA (Jammu and Kashmir)

• It was the second train to be launched.
• The Honorable Minister of Home Affairs flagged it off.
• The train number is 22439.
• It was launched in October 2019.
• It operates all days except Tuesdays.
• The return train runs between SMVD KATRA and New Delhi with train no. 22440.

Get your confirmed (CNF) ticket with the leading Train ticket booking agency!

3. Mumbai Central (Maharashtra)—Gandhinagar CAP (Gujarat)

• The train number is 20901.
• It was launched in September 2022.
• Except for Sundays, it runs all the other days.
• The return train runs between Gandhinagar CAP and Mumbai Central with train no. 20902.

4. New Delhi—Amb Andaura (Himachal Pradesh)

• The train number is 22447.
• It was launched in October 2022.
• Except for Tuesdays, it operates all other six days a week.
• The return train runs between Amb Andaura and New Delhi with train no. 22448.

5. MGR Chennai Central (Tamil Nadu)—Mysuru Vande Bharat Express (Karnataka)

• The train number is 20608.
• It was launched in November 2022.
• It runs six days a week.
• The return train runs between Mysuru and MGR Chennai Central with train no. 20609.
• It won’t run on Wednesdays.

6. Bilaspur (Bilaspur)—Nagpur (Maharashtra)

• The train number is 20825.
• It was launched in December 2022.
• Except for Saturdays, it runs the remaining six days a week.
• The return train runs between Nagpur and Bilaspur with train no. 20826.

Need help with Vande Bharat train ticket booking? Contact us!

7. Howrah (West Bengal)—New Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)

• The train number is 22301.
• It was launched in December 2022.
• It operates all days except Wednesdays in a week.
• The return train runs between New Jalpaiguri and Howrah with train no. 22302.

8. Secunderabad (Telangana)—Visakhapatnam (Andra Pradesh)

• The train number is 20834.
• It was launched in December 2022.
• It operates six days a week, leaving on Wednesdays.
• The return train runs between Visakhapatnam and Secunderabad with train no. 20835.

Want to book the train ticket yourself? The official website for Online train ticket booking in India is IRCTC!

9. Mumbai Central (Maharashtra)—Sainagar Shirdi (Maharashtra)

• The train number is 22223.
• It was launched in February 2023.
• It runs six days a week, except Tuesdays.
• The return train runs between Sainagar Shirdi and Mumbai Central with train no. 22224.
• However, this train got canceled in 2023 due to poor signal systems and megablocks.

10. Mumbai Central (Maharashtra)—Solapur (Maharashtra)

• The train number is 22225.
• It was launched in February 2023.
• Except for Wednesdays, it runs all the other days.
• The return train runs between Solapur and Mumbai Central with train no. 22226.

The Successive Vande Bharat Train Routes Launched in India

11. Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)—New Delhi (Train number: 20171)
12. Secunderabad (Telangana)—Tirupati (Andra Pradesh) (Train number: 20701)
13. MGR Chennai Central (Tamil Nadu)—Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) (Train number: 20643)
14. Delhi Cantt (New Delhi)—Ajmer (Rajasthan) (Train number: 20977)
15. Thiruvananthapuram Central (Kerala)—Kasaragod (Kerala) (Train number: 20634)
16. Puri (Odisha)-Howrah (West Bengal) (Train number: 22896)

Are you looking for help with your Train Ticket reservation? Click the link to proceed!

17. Anand Vihar Terminal (New Delhi)—Dehradun (Uttarakhand) (Train number: 22457)
18. New Jalpaiguri (West Bengal)—Guwahati (Assam) (Train number: 22227)
19. Bengaluru (Karnataka)—Dharwad (Karnataka) (Train number: 20661)
20. Patna (Bihar)—Ranchi (Jharkhand) (Train number: 22349)
21. Indore (Madhya Pradesh)—Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) (Train number: 20991)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many Vande Bharat trains are there in India?

As per the latest NDTV article dated February 2024, a total of eighty-two trains are operational across the Indian cities.

2. What facilities are on these trains?

The train has two classes—the AC Executive Class and the AC Chair Car Class. The executive class is furnished with 2×2 rotating seats and the chair car class is furnished with 2×3 retractable seats. These fully air-conditioned trains are equipped with CCTV cameras, wider windows, electric outlets, bio-vacuum toilets, reading lights, automatic doors, onboard catering, water taps with sensors, etc.

3. What are the new routes for Vande Bharat Express?

In March 2024, the ministry introduced around ten new routes. A few of them include Lucknow to Dehradun, Ranchi to Varanasi, Ahmedabad to Mumbai Central, and Bhubaneswar to Visakhapatnam.

4. What routes are expected in the future?

Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) to MGR Chennai Central (Tamil Nadu), Jaipur (Rajasthan) to Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana), Jamnagar (Gujarat) to Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Udaipur (Rajasthan) to Jaipur (Rajasthan), etc.

5. Which is the longest-distance Vande Bharat train in India?

It is the first route between Varanasi and New Delhi, accounting for about 757–759 kilometers. The duration is about eight hours.

Before dealing with the Benefits of Travel Agency Tour Packages and how they make us stress free Vacation, you must first understand who these travel agencies are and what their Travel Services are in detail.

Who is a Travel Agency?

A Travel Agency is a company that retails travel packages, offers, and deals to customers looking to travel or plan their trip. Most unorganized travel agents, in general, help with generic tours and packages, i.e., a holiday trip or vacation travel. However, an established and professional travel agent will cater to all types and specialties of tourism, including holiday tourism, eco-tourism, medical tourism, education tourism, wildlife tourism, heritage tourism, etc. 

Is it better to rely on a Travel Agent? Or do it yourself?

When all of us are mechanized with our jobs and household chores, we don’t find time and energy to plan our vacations. Moreover, personally scouting for vacation destinations, shortlisting various travel agency packages, and then finalizing one among them is a laborious process and makes us stressed amid other deeds. Thus, it is always better to rely on a travel agent. Indeed, they take more effort than us to get the best itinerary for our vacation. Ultimately, you get stress free family vacation and can save time for the family or other priority tasks on the list.

What are the competitive Advantages when choosing Travel Agency Tour Packages?

In the last section, we briefly saw why choosing a travel agent for planning your vacation is better than doing it yourself. In this section, let’s see in detail the Benefits of a Travel Agency and its Travel Agency Packages and services.

• End-to-end Travel support

Gone are the days when the role of Travel Agents ended when they were done with their bookings and reservations. Today, their services have evolved by leaps and bounds. 

• Before Travel: Preparing personalized itinerary, giving advice on best tourist destinations, suggesting economical packages, booking tickets for commutation, making reservations at hotels or resorts, etc 
• During Travel: Assisting with airport transfers or car rentals, arranging guides or travel experts,  advising on the best places to visit based on current affairs, etc. 

With all these burdens off your head, you can even plan for hundreds of similar Stress free Vacations with the help of a Travel Agent.  

• Help in emergencies

You can 100% trust your Travel Agent when you go through an emergency during your vacation. They will assist you 24/7 and rescue you and your travel partners by reaching out to the respective tourism associations.

• Effortless travel processes
  • Foreign currency exchange: Money exchange could be daunting if you’re a full-time employee and want to do it personally. First, you have to calculate how much money you need for the trip. Second, find a trusted vendor. Third, exchange for a better price while waiting in the queue. Instead, count on travel agencies; they can save a lot of money for you despite saving your time.   
  • Visa requirements: When you apply for a tourist visa on your own, you may not know the nuances of getting your application through and also end up spending more on unwanted services. On the other hand, a travel agent knows how to get your visa approved and can offer this service as a compliment when choosing their tour packages.
  • Travel insurance: Travel or tour operators are experts in understanding your travel needs and recommending the right travel insurance. Get maximum insurance coverage at discounted prices with the help of travel agents! 

Customized packages 

Experienced Travel Agencies are well-versed in Domestic and International tourist places, the cost of travel, the things to do, etc. In addition, a full-service Travel Agency assigns a personal travel expert who is well-organized, well-aware of various travel packages, and able to suggest the right tour package for your customized needs.

So, be it a Business Trip, Honeymoon Trip, Biodiversity Trip, or, in the worst case, if you’re looking for a cruise-specific package, they can make it happen on your behalf.  Every part of your package is personalized and worthwhile when you choose the right travel agent with years of experience and a legacy in this field.  

Benefits of choosing Emperor Traveline, the Leading Tour Operator in India!

Since its inception in 1980 by the aspiring duo brothers, Mr. K. Chandran and Mr. K. Rajendran, Emperor Traveline has been flying high as one of the leading tour operators in India. It is a unique, self-styling travel organization with a huge set of advantages to benefit from:

An active member of almost all travel associations. Strong relationships with the finest star hotels and luxury vehicles for commutation.

An authorized agent for Southern Railways and all domestic and international airlines. Provide competitive ticket fares when compared to other tour operators or travel companies.

Help with skilled guides at Important Tourist Destinations. Moreover, the employees at Emperor Traveline are qualified, trained, and competent enough to provide travel guidelines and prepare the best itineraries for you.

The top 7 Karnataka tourist places that you cannot miss

• Hampi
• Coorg
• Chikmagalur
• Gokarna
• Mangalore
• Bengaluru
• Udupi

Hampi

A small village that has much historical importance in the history of the Vijayanagara Empire. Important places to visit include the Lotus Mahal, Elephant Staples, Sri Vitthala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Sanapur Lake, and Anjanadri Hill. Other places to visit are Hampi—Zanana Enclosure, Mathanga Hill, and Stone Chariot. The best months to visit Hampi are from October to April.

Coorg

Coorg is one of the large hill stations in Karnataka, situated on the western ghats. The elevation is about 1400 meters above sea level. It is known for its charming meadows, tea and coffee plantations, sparkling waterfalls, spice plantations, and tropical forests. The place is also known as Madikeri.

Madikeri tourist places are many. To name a few—Mallalli Falls, Dubare Elephant Camp, Honnamana Kere Lake, Abbey Falls, and Madikeri Fort.

Chikmagalur

When compared to other tourist places in Karnataka, this is one of the untapped destinations. Though known for its trekking opportunities, this place has beautiful sightseeing, viewpoints, parks, and dangling waterfalls. The Coffee Museum, Hebbe Falls, Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Jhari Falls, Z Point, and Kemmangundi are some of the best ​places to visit in Chikmagalur​, Karnataka. It is a perennial tourist destination that you must try visiting!

Gokarna

Mahabaleshwar Temple and Koti Teertha are the two world-renowned sites in Gokarna. People who love beaches cannot miss this tourist destination in the state. Things to do in Gokarna include beach yoga, a night stroll, a treehouse stay, and a coastal drive along the virgin beaches. Water activities in Gokarna include parasailing, snorkeling, boating, catamaran rides, and river rafting. Avoid visiting this place during hot summers.

Mangalore

It is a coastal town touching the unfathomable Arabian Sea. From historical sites to seafood, everything is distinguished in this place. You can find one of India’s best industrial ports here in Mangalore. Also, this is the only city in the state that has all four modes of transportation.

Major attractions in Mangalore are Kadri Park, Kadri Manjunath Temple, Milagres Church, St. Aloysius Chapel, Pilikula Park, and Sultan Battery Watch Tower. The emerald beaches include Panambur, Ullal, Sasihithlu, and Tannirbhavi.

Udupi

This city is known for its Krishan temple and vegetarian food. Apart from agriculture and fishing, tourism plays a critical role in this city’s economy. Some of the notable tourist places to visit in Udupi (or Udipi) are Sri Krishna Temple, Coin Museum, Malpe Beach, Sri Mookambika Temple, St. Mary’s Islands, Mattu, and Kapu beaches.

Get a personalized itinerary when you plan a trip to visit places in Karnataka from the leading tour agency, Emperor Traveline! Last but not least, let’s come to the capital city!

Bengaluru

Located in the heart of the Mysore region of the Deccan plateau, it is a metropolitan city with a huge population (more than thirteen million people). The important attractions near Bengaluru Karnataka, are Cubbon Park, the HAL Heritage Centre, the Aerospace Museum, Lalbagh Garden, Bannerghatta National Park, Bangalore Palace, and the ISKCON temple. The city is also referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of India’ as it contributes a huge share to business development.

Conclusion

These seven places to visit in Karnataka are not the only top ones. The state has a lot more top tourist places, like Shimoga, Netrani Island, Mysore, Srirangapatna, Belur, Dandeli, Badami, Kabini, Murudeshwar, Karwar, and Bijapur. Moreover, things to do in Karnataka are not limited to only visiting temples, beaches, and museums but also include trekking, jeep safaris, tasting the different cuisines, etc.

As per the Wedding Tourism Report by MRSS India in 2019, the size of the wedding market in India was estimated to be INR 110,000 crore of which nearly INR 23,438 crore accounts for destination wedding. This number was slated to double at a staggering rate to INR 45,000 crore by the end of the year 2020, growing at 25-30% per year. However, things changed dramatically post pandemic; honeymoon vacation and tours hit an all-time low. With no clue when this uncertainty will end in the near future, travel and tour operations have come to a screeching halt ever since the outbreak.  

Come 2021, so what are the trends that will dominate in this space post the second wave of the pandemic? Drivable destinations are turning out to be a hot favourite among honeymoon vacationers to avoid long distance travel. The trend is driving travel and tour operators to tailor two- to three-day getaways packages to scenic hill stations, historical and adventure destinations. For a lot of couples, luxury resorts, home villas and rental properties promise a great deal of security as health and safety protocols are strictly followed. Also, honeymoon vacations that are usually full of itineraries have shrunk down to simpler and limited activities and planning for the day.

All said and done, if you’ve tied the nuptial knot, don’t rush to your favourite holiday destination, honeymoon travel can still wait.

• Check with the local laws first if you need to travel within the country or the law of the land regarding COVID-19 if you wish to travel abroad. Avoid travelling overseas as much as possible as several European and Asian countries are facing a second wave of pandemic, and consequently forced lockdowns to prevent public movement.
• Talk to your doctor regarding your family’s health and determine risk factors if any. Elderly people should talk to specialists if they’re suffering from diabetes, hypertension or blood pressure.  It is important to get a clearance letter from the doctor before travel to avoid health complications.  
• It’s important to understand the health risk profiles of individual members in a family before travel, and it is always a recommended practise to share the details with the family in the case of an emergency for preparedness.
• Avoid travelling to COVID-19 hotspots to avoid maximum exposure of infection. It is recommended to talk to your travel agency and get the ground details of COVID-19 of a particular touring destination including staying in quarantine, lockdown restrictions (if any), and the general rules and regulations of pandemic relief programs that apply in the region.
• Avoid over-crowed hotels and restaurants; check for a remote hotel to avoid mixing with other teams or hotel guests. Use touchless operation wherever required including contactless check-in.
• It is safe to travel in a car or cab to cover short distances than to travel by train or take a flight. As flight bookings are marked by uncertain timeliness, it is pertinent to check the booking and cancellation policies to avoid disappointments and save on unnecessary costs.
• Don’t forget to carry COVID-19 essentials such as hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, face masks, a thermometer, gloves, hand soap and health insurance cards.
• Plan only for outdoor activities.  This is because visiting public places (not all follow safety protocols) can put you at greater risk of infection.
• And finally, it is important to keep your kids completely safe during the travel by educating them on pandemic guidelines during the tour.

• Travel is a stress-buster.  Needless to say, a bit of travel to your favourite destination will make you feel more relaxed and stay focussed on your goals and aspirations. People who don’t travel much feel the heat of life’s pressure and struggles. So get a life, travel to the known and the unknown, the familiar and the unfamiliar.
• Travel helps you to reinvent the wheel. Yes, it gives you fresh insights towards executing your most cherished goals. It can help you broaden your awareness and be open to new things. Learning different cultures through travel opens up a new realm of possibilities. Travel forces you to think independently and evaluate your own principles and values.
• Travel increases the happiness quotient, says a recent study. This basically is a result of travel killing boredom and idealness. Because travel is a shift away from the mundane and the monotonous, it essentially makes the traveller happy. The change of mood happens when the minds starts to appreciate the possibility of a new belief.
• If you want to toughen up your mental muscles and develop more adaptability and resilience in life, you need to travel…and a lot of it. Travel at times may not turn out as planned, and lot of adjustments have to be made and alternate plans charted out, especially in a new location, where finding resources can be can be next to impossible.
• Travel is a great means to enhance your cognitive abilities. For many, travel is a creative channel for responding to an entirely different situation.  So, when have you planned to travel when the COVID is finally over?

• The temple is linked to the famous Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayoor. The idol of the temple is held sacred on a par with Parthasarthi that is posing with a whip in the right hand and a sacred Shanku (conch) in the other hand.
• The Palpayasa Nedyam or Payasam, in the form of a sweet pudding prepared of rice and milk, served in this temple is delectable and highly popular amongst devotees. Legend has it that Lord Guruvayoorappan himself visits this temple everyday to have Payasam.
• It is widely believed by the locals that Lord Krishna showed up in the form of a sage and played chess with the king, a chess enthusiast, who ruled that time. The king was challenged by the sage to offer him a grain of rice if he emerges victorious, with the condition that each square would double the grain of rice. The king having lost the game was happy to donate the grain of rice but he soon realized this vicious game of doubling the grain of rice on each square as he ran short of the food grain stock. However Lord Krishna, benevolent in his name, grants him a favour to pay him in part and serve paal payasam until and unless he clears his debt. 
• Adopting Kerala style architecture, the temple boasts of a splendid construction displaying a beautiful painting of different avatars of Lord Vishnu in its premises, a centre-piece of attraction.
• Most of all, Ambalapuzha Sri Krishna Temple is notoriously famous for its magical acts and the annual Ottanthullal ritual. 
• The main festival of this shrine is Chambakulam Moolam celebrated on the Moolam Day every year.  This place is always buzzing with pilgrims and tourists to receive the blessings from Lord Krishna.  The popular Aaraattu festival during the months of March and April begins with the flag hoisting on the Atham star. Pallipana is celebrated in the temple once in every 12 years. 

• This ever-bustling bazaar is located near Sadar Bazaar, another popular marketplace in Agra. Though tourists gather in large numbers in Naulakha Bazaar, its streets and bylanes are quite narrow like Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, so typical of Indian Bazaars.
• The market’s speciality items include a range of imitation jewellery and ornamental showpieces which you can find in Loha Mandi, an area located within the Naulakha Bazaar. In addition to metal goods, you can find a number of shops that specialize in ethnic wear manufactured locally in Uttar Pradesh.
• The Naulakha Bazaar is also popular for items made of timber. Besides, the local people purchase sundry items such as stationary and toys here.
• Buying cosmetics in the market would require careful consideration, as most items are either fake or counterfeit of popular international brands. Because these cosmetics contain toxic chemicals, they can easily harm the skin. Shoppers here also look for sport shoes, mojris and leather slippers and sandals that come in attractive designs for all ages. 
• Bargaining for the right price is very much important at Naulakha Bazaar, which remains crowded from late morning hours (later than 10am) to even midnight during festival and peak season times.
• The mouth-watering local street foods including chats, milkshakes, desserts, kebabs, et al are guaranteed to satiate your hunger pangs after you’re done wandering the narrow lanes of the bazaar.
• The Naulakha Bazaar overall is a true reflection of the rich local culture and traditions of the city. Visiting the market can be an amazing experience, rest assured never to leave you disappointed. 

• Birla Mandir, situated at a height of 280-feet above sea level, was built by the Birlas in 1976 on a 13-acre land; the glistening white marbles used in the construction of the temple were sourced from Rajasthan. 
• The construction, which took nearly a decade to complete, was later sanctified by Swami Ranganathanda, a Hindu swami of the Ramakrishna Math order. There are similar temples constructed all across the country by the Birla Foundation, patron of Birla Temple at Hyderabad too.
• The main deity of the temple is Lord Vishnu or Sri Venkateswara, made of granite, and is 11-feet tall.  The temple plays kirtanas of Annamayya, Tyagaraja and Ramadasu every day bringing in a strong spiritual vibration.
• The temple’s architectural style is a combination of South Indian and Utkal (Oriya): the main shrine also known as the Jagadananda Vimanam depicts the Oriyan style, whilst the Rajagopuram is reflective of the South Indian architectural style.
• The two great Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are depicted in the intricately carved marbles.  The design of Garbha Gudi (sanctum sanctorum) which is 42-feet high was inspired by the world-famous Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala.
• The temple has separate shrines for the consorts of Swami Venkateswara: Padmavati and Andal. Interestingly, the Birla Mandir complex is also built with a temple dedicated to Lord Buddha, with his life events portrayed through fresco paintings. The temple complex also houses separate shrines for worshipping other Hindu gods including Hanuman, Ganesh, Shiva, Brahma, Saraswati and Saibaba.
• Birla Mandir, which is open from 7AM -12AM and 3PM – 9PM on weekdays and weekend respectively, is a truly spectacular sight when illuminated at night
• The temple is highly accessible from all parts of the city, thanks to the State transportation facilities. You can take a bus, and get down near  Ravindra Bharathi, which is only 200m away from the temple.