Photo 1 / 3Entrance gopuram and gateway. Photo: Srilakshmi1991, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Chilkur Balaji Temple
About the Temple
Chilkur Balaji is a Venkateswara temple near Osman Sagar lake on the western edge of Hyderabad. Devotees make a wish while walking 11 times round the inner shrine and return to walk 108 rounds once it is granted, a custom that earned it the name Visa Balaji. The temple keeps no hundi and gives no VIP darshan, so every visitor joins the same line.
Why visit
- Join the 11-round and 108-round pradakshina custom that families keep when making and fulfilling vows.
- Visit a temple that treats every devotee alike, with no paid or VIP darshan.
Temple Timings
Opening hours are not confirmed yet.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
Current opening hours were not confirmed by the temple or a government source. Travel guides disagree, so check locally before you go, especially on festival days. Brahmotsavam brings large crowds and traffic around the temple. The temple has closed for several hours during eclipses.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
45 minutes to 3 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Not confirmed; ask at the entrance. Wear modest clothes suitable for a temple visit.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Phones
A phone rule was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Access
Step counts and wheelchair routes were not confirmed. The pradakshina path is walked on foot; ask at the temple about help for older visitors.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
Highlights
- 11 and 108 pradakshinas
Devotees make a wish while walking 11 rounds of the inner shrine and return to walk 108 rounds once it is fulfilled.
- No hundi, no VIP darshan
The temple keeps no hundi, accepts no money from devotees and gives VIPs no privileges, so everyone shares one line.
- Balaji with Sridevi and Bhoodevi
Tradition holds that a self-manifested image of Balaji with his consorts Sridevi and Bhoodevi was found in an anthill here, for a devotee too ill to reach Tirupati.
- Rajya Lakshmi shrine
An image of the goddess installed in 1963 was named Rajya Lakshmi; she holds lotuses in three hands, the fourth pointing to her feet in the gesture of surrender.
Sources: tribuneindia.com, rangareddy.telangana.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Chilkur Balaji Temple
- By air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (HYD) · about 20 km
- By road: Chilkur is about 32 km from Hyderabad by road. City bus 288D runs frequently from Mehdipatnam. Budvel is the nearest railway station.
Sources: rangareddy.telangana.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Osman Sagar (Gandipet lake)A reservoir on the western edge of Hyderabad, next to Chilkur.2.8 km away
- Peddamma Temple, Jubilee HillsA well-known goddess temple in Hyderabad.14 km away
- Birla Mandir, HyderabadA hilltop Venkateswara temple in central Hyderabad.19 km away
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
What are the Chilkur Balaji Temple timings?
Opening hours are not confirmed yet. Check with the temple before you go.
Is there a dress code at Chilkur Balaji Temple?
Not confirmed; ask at the entrance. Wear modest clothes suitable for a temple visit.
Can I take my phone inside Chilkur Balaji Temple?
A phone rule was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
Why is Chilkur Balaji called Visa Balaji?
Students began praying here for visas in the 1990s, and the temple became known among people seeking to study or work abroad. The rounds are a vow made in faith, not a promise of any result.
What is the 11 and 108 pradakshina custom?
Devotees make a wish while walking 11 rounds of the inner shrine. If the wish is fulfilled, they come back and walk 108 rounds as thanks.
Is there VIP darshan or a hundi at Chilkur Balaji?
No. The temple is known for having no hundi, accepting no money from devotees and giving no VIP privileges.
How do I reach Chilkur Balaji from Hyderabad?
The district administration puts Chilkur about 32 km from Hyderabad by road. City bus 288D runs from Mehdipatnam.