india ποΈ Hyderabad's two landmarks through 5 decades
The Sri Venkateshwara Temple, or Birla Mandir, has watched Hyderabad change for almost five decades alongside The Hindu newspaper. The temple opened on Kala Pahad in February 1976, while The Hindu set up shop six months later in September. Today, the landmark receives 5,000 to 6,000 devotees daily on weekdays, often exceeding 10,000 on weekends. It witnessed major city shifts, from the end of the Emergency to the creation of Telangana. The temple remains a welcoming spot for all faiths, maintaining its historical presence over the evolving city.