Balaji Temple

India is known for its wide culture and various traditions. It is also known to have thousands of temples spread across the country. Some of these temples are famous for their structures and the lord that the temple is dedicated to. One such temple is Balaji Temple, Nagpur which is dedicated to Lord Balaji who is considered to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple looks like a temple in the south of India and is on two floors. It is also one of the most popular pilgrim places. The temple is located in Seminary Hills in the city.

The History of Balaji Temple, Nagpur

The Tamil residents of the city near the Seminary Hills together expressed the need for a temple of Lord Balaji and Lord Kartikeya. The idea started getting materialised when the Vel, the chief weapon of Lord Murga, was laid in a small temple located in the Modhibag Railway colony. Since the land has issues and there were few problems related to it, people thought of building a bigger temple. The temple was finally built in 1975 with some more deities installed in the year 2005.

The temple is a hub of various cultures and spiritual activities organised by the administration of the temple.

The Structure of the Temple

The Balaji Temple, Nagpur looks similar to any temple that you will see in Southern India. Even though it has the touch of any South Indian temple, it also has a blend of North Indian temples. The entrance of the temple resembles the Rajagopuram, which is found in all the South Indian temples. However, the well-ventilated interiors reflect the modern North Indian temple’s architecture. The blend of the two architecture creates a perfect peaceful ambience for the devotees.

The temple has a library and a community hall for the devotees and also has a quarter for the priests to live. The community hall is used for religious ceremonies at a nominal fee. The Balaji temple is the only temple in Maharashtra that has both Vishnu and Shiv deities.

Unique Features of Balaji Temple, Nagpur

The traditional Indian architecture makes this temple one of the popular places for the devotees. All the elements that attract the spirituality of a person can be seen in this temple. The ‘Ekadala Vimana’ is one of the most sacred place within the temple. It also houses Lord Balaji and Lord Muruga. There are60 feet long mahamandap that is considered as a safe haven for all the gods in the temple. The temple is managed and maintained by an NGO called SkandaSamaj.

Famous Festivals at the Balaji Temple, Nagpur

Some of the famous and well-known festivals are celebrated in the temple. The most famous festival is the Lord Balaji festival. The festival starts around 15 days before the Chitra Purnima and numerous pujas are done for 14 days starting from the second day. On the first day, a flag is hoisted to mark the beginning of the event.

Venaikappu is also another festival that is celebrated in the temple in which butter is applied to the Lord as part of the ritual. Other festivals or pujas that take place in the temple are Ekadasi, SkandaSasthi, Sankatahara Chaturthi, Naga Chaturthi, and Rahukala puja.

Some special prayers are performed in the temple that is done on specific days for specific deities. For example, archanas are dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy every Thursday.

Visiting Hours of the Temple

The temple is open from 6 am – 11 am and 4 pm – 8 pm every day.

When to Visit the Temple

There is no best time to visit the temple but if you are planning to visit the city, then avoid visiting during the summer. Hence, the best time to visit the city is between November and February.

How to Reach the Temple

The city is well connected and hence, you can choose various transportation services such as buses, autos, and taxi to visit the temple.

Other Attractions Near the Temple

If you are visiting the temple in Nagpur, then do not forget to visit the Poddareshwar Ram Temple which is very close to the Balaji temple. Other attractions near the temple are Krazy Castle Amusement Park and Sadar Bazaar. If you are a cricket fan, then you would enjoy a visit to the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.