Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Sri Jagannath Swamy Temple on Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, is one of the most striking temples of Hyderabad. Built in the classic Kalinga style of Odisha in warm red sandstone, it brings the worship of Lord Jagannath – the Lord of the Universe, enshrined at Puri – to the heart of Telangana's capital. The temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, when thousands of devotees gather to pull the chariot of the Lord through the streets of Banjara Hills.
History
The temple was built by the Odia community of Hyderabad and was constructed in 2009. It is a creation of the Kalinga Cultural Trust, which manages it today, with the aim of providing a sacred place of worship that follows the traditions of Puri. Since then it has become a spiritual and cultural home not only for Odia families in the city but for devotees of every background.
Architecture
The temple follows the Kalinga style of temple architecture of the great Jagannath Temple at Puri. Its towering shikhara rises to about 70 feet. Around 600 tonnes of sandstone were brought from Odisha for its construction, and some 60 stone carvers worked on its detailed carvings, giving Hyderabad a true piece of Odishan temple art.
Deities
The sanctum houses Lord Jagannath together with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and his sister Devi Subhadra, in the distinctive wooden forms worshipped at Puri. Around the main temple are shrines of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and the Navagrahas.
Festivals
- Ratha Yatra – the great chariot festival in the month of Ashadha (usually June–July), the temple's grandest event, drawing thousands of devotees.
- Snana Yatra – the ceremonial bathing of the deities on Jyeshtha Purnima (usually June), when the Lord is dressed in the Gajanana Vesha (elephant form).
- Vaikuntha Ekadasi, Janmashtami, Durga Puja / Vijayadashami, Deepavali, Kumara Purnima, Karthika Purnima, Vasantha Panchami, Maha Shivaratri and Holi are also celebrated.
Visitor Information
- Timings: please check the temple's website or ask locally for current darshan timings, especially during the Ratha Yatra.
- Prasad: the temple follows the Puri tradition of daily rituals and offerings to the Lord.
- Cultural events: the temple also hosts cultural programmes, including dance festivals, throughout the year.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: the temple is near Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, in central Hyderabad; city buses, autorickshaws and cabs reach it easily.
- By Train: Hyderabad Deccan (Nampally) is about 6.5 km away and Secunderabad about 11 km.
- By Air: the nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad (Hyderabad), about 32 km away by road.
Nearby Temples
About 6 km away is the white-marble Birla Mandir, and the Sri Peddamma Talli Temple in Jubilee Hills is close by. Another Kalinga-style temple on this site is the Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, Arasavalli.
