Chilkur Balaji Temple
About the Temple
The Balaji Temple is located at Chilkur in the Hyderabad district, about 33 kilometers from Mehdipatnam. Around 75,000 to 1,00,000 devotees visit the temple every week, with the highest rush usually seen on Fridays and Sundays.
The temple is managed by the hereditary trustees Sri M.V. Soundara Rajan and Sri C.S. Gopala Krishna. The entire archaka family, including the women, have dedicated their lives to serving the deity.
History
About 25 kilometers from Hyderabad, along the Vikarabad road and near Osmansagar Lake, lies the serene village of Chilkur, home to the ancient temple of Sri Balaji Venkateshwara. Based on its structure and design, it is believed to have been constructed around 500 years ago. Surrounded by greenery, the temple draws thousands of devotees each year and once enjoyed great fame and prosperity.
This is among the oldest temples in Telangana, built during the period of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramadas. Tradition says that a devotee who regularly visited Tirupati could not go one year due to illness. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dream and said, “I am right here in the nearby forest; do not worry.” The devotee went to the place shown in his dream and found a mound of earth. When he began to dig it, his axe accidentally struck the idol of Lord Balaji hidden beneath the soil. To his astonishment, blood began to flow from the chin and chest of the idol, coloring the ground red.
Hearing a divine voice instructing him to pour cow’s milk over the mound, the devotee did so, and a self-manifested idol of Lord Balaji along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi emerged. The idol was then installed with proper rituals, and a temple was built at the site.
Since then, Sri Balaji Venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva of the Kali Yuga, has been worshipped here by devotees who are unable to visit Tirupati. The temple remains crowded throughout the year, especially during Poolangi, Annakota, and Brahmotsavam celebrations.
In 1963, the idol of Ammavaru was installed with the intention of restoring the temple’s earlier prominence. She was named Rajya Lakshmi, marking India’s peace after the 1962 Chinese aggression. The goddess’s idol is distinctive, as three hands hold lotus flowers and the fourth points toward the Lord’s feet, symbolizing complete surrender.
The temple has been visited by many great spiritual leaders. The Jeer of Sri Ahobila Mutt visits every time he comes to Hyderabad, and the idol of the first Jeer is installed here. The Tilakayaths of Sri Vallabhacharya Sampradaya also visit regularly. Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Sringeri Mutt and his disciple have blessed the efforts of the trustees in maintaining and improving the temple.
Temple Timings:04:00 AM to 08:00 PM (Every day)