Ratnalayam.

Ratnalayam is a beautiful Temple Complex that has come up close to Secunderabad, in February 2003. The main Temple is of Lord Venkateshwaraswamy, Goddess Padmavati Devi and Goddess Aandalu. The other Shrines are of Lord Ganapathi, Anjaneyaswamy and Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari. It is a very grand Temple constructed on a 5-acre land with charming and imposing deities in all the Shrines. The entire area surrounding the Temple is fully landscaped with beautiful lawns and gardens. Lord Venkateshwaraswamy’s Chakram, Namam and Shanku are a part of the garden with waterfalls originating from them and cascading into the garden below. And at another place amidst fountains are the colourful idols of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi resting on Adhishesha.  You can see the details of this beautiful Temple in the above pictures.

This Temple complex is about 25 km. from Secunderabad on Rajiv Rahadhari. It is adjacent to Aliabad Cross Roads, close to Shamirpet. The Temple is constructed by Sri. T. R. Venkatesh of Secunderabad; in memory of his father, Late Sri. T.P. Rathnaiah. The Bhoomi pooja for the construction of the Temple was held on 26th April 2001 by Sri. Tripurananda Swamy. The magnificent architecture of the Temple was designed by Sri. M. Shankar. As the Temple was under construction the idols of all the Gods were sculpted by Sri Ganapathi Sthapathy, the famous sculptor from Kanchipuram. Twenty-two months after the Bhoomi Puja, Sri Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamy, the pontiff of Kanchi Mutt commenced the prathishta of the Idols on 19th February 2003. After week-long rituals and prayers performed by Sri. Mudumbai Ramanujacharya Swamy and Sri Chandramouli Guruswamy the Temple was finally consecrated and opened for regular daily pooja and darshan by devotees. Since then the Temple is maintained in a very pious and clean manner carrying out regular pooja and Sevas more or less as in Tirumala. Every year Brahmotsavam is performed here very grandly. Being close to our place we visit this Temple often. 

Like us, many people from the city visit this Temple regularly for darshan and performing special pooja. Children love coming here as there are Swings, Slides, See-Saws and similar amusements for them amidst the colourful garden. There is plenty of lawn place to relax and a Cafeteria for Snacks, cold and hot beverages. And there is plenty of parking place outside the Temple.

One of the aims of the founders of this Temple was to provide a Temple of Lord Venkteshwaraswamy close to the city to benefit all those who cannot go to Tirumala often and it is serving this purpose very well.