This capital city of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Hyderabad boasts of a beautiful shrine dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. This deity is made out of white marble. The temple, popularly known as Birla Mandir, stands majestically on a hillock facing the Hussain Sagar and offers a panoramic view of the city.
Ananthagiripalli
Lord Ananthaswamy shrine is situated on the Ananthagiri range of mountain.
Warangal
This town was the capital of the Kakatiyas, who ruled from the 12th to 14th centuries. There is a star shaped, 1000-pillared temple on the Hanamkonda hills, dedicated to Devi Bhadra Kali. It is located 150 kilometres away from Hyderabad.
Yadagiri Gutta
Once a rishi did penance on the hills here and had darshan of Lord Narasimha as Jwala Narasimha. The sanctum is a cave-like structure. Yoga Narasimha has a separate shrine opposite to the sanctum. Hanuman is worshipped at the entrance. A mystic Chakra, installed on the vimanam, turns on its own, emanating a divine glow in darkness. Devotees offer to this vimanam full coconut, which are said to remain fresh for a long time.
Alampur
The Siva temple here is dedicated to Bala Brahmeswara and His consort Jogulambika. Since the Lingam is made of holy Rudraksha, the abhisheka water is absorbed in the Lingam. Alampur is a renowned Nava Brahma Kshetra with shrines of Nava Brahmas, built by Chalukyas. They are situated at the confluence of Krishna River and Tungabhadra River. Brahma is said to have performed penance here before He started Creation. The shrines are known as Bala Brahma, Taraka Brahma, Padma Brahma, Garuda Brahma, Swarga Brahma, Araga Brahma, Veera Brahma, Visva Brahma and Kumara Brahma. However, no image of Brahma is found in any of these shrines. Only Lingams are worshipped. The place is also known as Bala Brahma Kshetra, Parasurama Kshetra and Bhaskara Kshetra. Devi Jogulamba, the Goddess of the town, is considered as one of the Ashtadasa Mahashakti. Renuka Devi, also known as Yellamma Devi, is enshrined here. Suryanarayana and Papanasana temples are other attractions for the pilgrims.
Basar
Basar is a calm village, known for the shrine of Goddess Saraswati on the banks of Godavari. Saraswathi is known as Vasara as Vyasa is said to have installed the deity with the sands of Godavari River. The place was originally known as Vyasapuri. The life-size image of the Goddess is in Padmasana posture holding Veena and books in her hands. The idol is decorated with turmeric paste. Devi Lakshmi is enshrined by the side of Saraswati. Durga is in a separate mandapam and Brahma is worshipped in a sacred tree near the sanctum. Navaratri, Shivaratri and Vasant Panchami celebrations attract lots of pilgrims. The devotees regularly perform "Aksharaabhyaasam" and "rangetram".
