Chilkur Balaji Temple Hyderabad (Timings, Holidays, Opening & Closing Time, Route Map)
Located almost 25 to 30 kilometers from Hyderabad, Chilkur is a small picturesque village which is also a popular pilgrimage. The famous Chilkur Balaji temple is situated here. Situated on the banks of Osman Sagar Lake, close to the Vikarabad road, Chilkur Balaji temple attracts hordes of devotees from all over the country.
Built almost five hundred years ago, the temple is being considered as an alternative of Tirumala temple. The main deity of the temple is Lord Balaji Venkateswara along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi accompanying him. There is a legend behind the construction of this temple.
According to the tales, the temple was built by a devotee who after having health issues couldn’t visit the temple at Tirupati like before. Having moved by his devotion, Lord Venkateswara appeared to him and instructed him to find the idol of the lord, together with Sridevi and Bhoodevi and build a temple.
The temple is also popularly known as “Visa Balaji temple”. Apparently the temple is known for fulfilling devotees’ wishes to get a visa for going overseas. Usually the devotees follow a common pattern. They offer mostly 11 “pradakshinas” and their prayers to the deity. Once the wish is granted, they mostly take 108 pradakshinas of the temple.