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Kamaldham Mandir, also called Kamal Dham or the Lotus Temple, is a lotus-shaped Hindu temple with a Shiva lingam as its main deity. It stands on the campus of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Hyderabad, on Chevella Road (the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway, NH-163) at Himayat Nagar in Moinabad mandal, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana. It is not in Surat and it is not the Bahá’í Lotus Temple in New Delhi. The Gurukul’s own pages call it the “sacred Kamal Dham Temple” and list its address as Chevella Road, Moinabad Mandal, Hyderabad 500075.
Entry: no entry fee is reported by any source we checked, and you can pour water on the lingam yourself for free; special abhishekams are paid (₹200–₹1,200 reported in July 2026). Timings: the Gurukul does not publish temple timings online. Most listings, including a visitor report from July 2026, give 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, daily, but one Telugu travel site (November 2025) says 8 AM to 10 PM, so call the Gurukul on +91 888 666 7001 / 7002 before a late visit. Distance: about 4 km by road from Chilkur Balaji Temple, about 20 km from Mehdipatnam and about 23 km from Nampally railway station.
Last checked: 28 October 2026, on the official Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul website (Hyderabad branch page, its 25-year history page and its Kamal Dham event posts from 2025 and 2026) and on recent reports named below. Road distances marked “OSRM” are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap routing on 28 October 2026, rounded, without traffic. This guide is not based on a personal visit.
Kamaldham Mandir at a glance
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Other names | Kamal Dham, Lotus Temple (Hyderabad), Lotus Temple of Lord Shiva | Gurukul event posts; OpenStreetMap |
| Where | Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul campus, Chevella Road (NH-163), Himayat Nagar, Moinabad mandal, Ranga Reddy district, Telangana (Gurukul postal address: Hyderabad 500075) | gurukul.org Hyderabad page; OpenStreetMap |
| Run by | Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Hyderabad (a branch of the Rajkot-based Gurukul, “serving since 1948”) | gurukul.org |
| Main deity | Shiva lingam; the Gurukul also mentions darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan | gurukul.org event posts (2025–2026) |
| Entry fee | None reported; free water abhishek; special abhishekams paid (₹200–₹1,200, July 2026 report) | Rachabanda Kaburlu, 28 Jul 2026; Prayanikudu, 1 Nov 2025 |
| Timings | Not published by the Gurukul. Reported 6:30 AM–7:30 PM daily (most listings and a July 2026 visit report); 8 AM–10 PM (Prayanikudu, Nov 2025) | See “Timings” below |
| Phone (Gurukul, Hyderabad) | +91 888 666 7001 / 7002; [email protected] | gurukul.org |
| Chilkur Balaji Temple | About 4 km by road (OSRM); local reports say “about 3 km” | OSRM, 28 Oct 2026; Prayanikudu; Rachabanda Kaburlu |
Where exactly is Kamaldham Mandir?
The temple is beside the main road from Hyderabad to Chevella and Vikarabad, a short way before Chilkur Balaji Temple when you come from the city. Coming from Hyderabad, it is on the left side of the highway, next to the Swaminarayan Gurukul school buildings (Rachabanda Kaburlu, July 2026). OpenStreetMap marks it as “Lotus temple of lord shiva” on NH-163 at Himayat Nagar, Moinabad mandal.
Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul says its Hyderabad campus began in 1995: the land was donated in July 1995, the bhoomi poojan was held on 29 August 1995 and the foundation stone was laid on Vijayadashami, 3 October 1995. Its timeline lists “Kamaldham” among the buildings constructed on the campus between 1996 and 2022. It does not give the exact year the temple was finished, so we don’t either.
Kamaldham Mandir timings
The Gurukul’s website does not list darshan or aarti timings for Kamal Dham (checked 28 October 2026). Here is what other sources say:
- 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM, every day: Telangana360, Trawell, TheDilli and Hindusthan Post, and a Telugu visitor report on Rachabanda Kaburlu dated 28 July 2026.
- 8 AM to 10 PM: Prayanikudu (Telugu travel site), 1 November 2025.
- The temple is lit up from about 6 PM, and it was crowded on the Sunday evening of that July 2026 visit (Rachabanda Kaburlu).
Because these don’t agree, plan your visit for daytime and call the Gurukul on +91 888 666 7001 / 7002 if you want to reach after 7 PM or need aarti times.
Entry fee and paid services
- Temple entry: no fee reported by any of the sources above.
- Water abhishek: devotees can fill a copper pot and pour water on the lingam themselves, with no ticket (Rachabanda Kaburlu, July 2026).
- Special abhishekams (with cow’s milk, vibhuti or bilva leaves): paid, ₹200 to ₹1,200 (Rachabanda Kaburlu, July 2026). Prayanikudu (November 2025) reported that the first abhishek by devotees arriving before 8 AM was free and later abhishekams cost ₹201.
- Goshala: a ticket is needed if you want to feed the cows or do gau puja (Rachabanda Kaburlu, July 2026).
- Children’s park: ₹20 per child (Rachabanda Kaburlu, July 2026); Prayanikudu reported ₹10 in November 2025.
These prices come from visitor and travel reports, not from an official price list, so treat them as a guide.
What you will see at Kamal Dham
- The lotus temple: a white marble shrine shaped like an open lotus, set over a pond on a pink lotus-petal base (Telangana360; Trawell; Hindusthan Post). You climb about ten steps to reach it (Rachabanda Kaburlu).
- The Shiva lingam: the Gurukul’s posts describe Maha Shivaratri abhishekam with milk, honey, curd, ghee and holy water offered “to the holy Shiva Lingam”. Telugu reports say the lingam was found on the bank of the Narmada river by a devotee and shows natural marks of a rudraksha, a third eye and a navel (Prayanikudu; Rachabanda Kaburlu). This is the devotees’ account, not something we could check.
- Other shrines: two kalash-shaped side shrines, one with Sri Venkateswara and one with Swaminarayan, plus images of Shiva, Parvati, Subrahmanya, Krishna and Ganesha around the main shrine (Rachabanda Kaburlu). Older listings also name Vishnu, Ganapati, Parvati and Surya among the deities (Trawell; Hindusthan Post).
- Campus extras: a goshala, a yagashala (homa kund) with a Ganapati shrine, snack counters with seating, washrooms and a small children’s park (Prayanikudu; Rachabanda Kaburlu).
Festivals and recent events (from the Gurukul’s own posts)
| Date (as posted) | Event at Kamal Dham |
|---|---|
| 26 February 2025 | Maha Shivaratri abhishekam to the Shiva lingam, bhajans, dhun and a grand aarti |
| 26 July 2025 | Gurumaharaj’s visit: abhishek and aarti to the Shivling; saints also offered abhishek seva |
| 19 October 2025 | Hanuman puja on Kali Chaudas (the night before Diwali puja); sukhdi prasad distributed |
| 1 January 2026 | “A large number of devotees” gathered for New Year abhishek rituals |
| 15–16 February 2026 | Maha Shivaratri celebration with abhishekam; devotees joined the Gurukul’s students and swamis |
| 27 June 2026 | Students’ visit for darshan of Lord Shiva and Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan |
Maha Shivaratri and the first day of the year are the busiest days in these posts. We found no news of a closure or renovation at the temple in the last 12 months (checked 28 October 2026).
How to reach Kamaldham Mandir
| From | Road distance (OSRM) | Drive time without traffic |
|---|---|---|
| Chilkur Balaji Temple | About 4 km | About 7 minutes |
| Moinabad | About 5 km | About 5 minutes |
| Mehdipatnam bus station | About 20 km | About 20 minutes |
| Hyderabad Deccan (Nampally) railway station | About 23 km | About 25 minutes |
| Charminar | About 26 km | About 30 minutes |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Airport | About 28 km | About 25 minutes |
| Secunderabad railway station | About 29 km | About 35 minutes |
Distances by other sources: 18 km from Mehdipatnam (Prayanikudu) and 21 km from Nampally (Trawell). City traffic can easily double the drive times above.
- By bus: buses run from Mehdipatnam and Secunderabad, and buses heading to Chilkur Balaji, Chevella, Moinabad, Vikarabad and Tandur pass in front of the temple (Prayanikudu, November 2025). Check the route number with TGSRTC before you travel; we could not confirm one.
- By car, cab or auto: follow the Hyderabad–Chevella road (NH-163) towards Chilkur. Rachabanda Kaburlu (July 2026) says there is no separate parking area for highway visitors inside the temple grounds, so cars are parked outside the compound gate along the highway.
- Road works: NH-163 (the Hyderabad–Bijapur highway) is being widened through Moinabad and Chevella mandals after the National Green Tribunal allowed the work on 31 October 2025 (Telangana Tribune, 2 March 2026; Samayam Telugu, 3 October 2026). Expect diversions and slow stretches on the way.
Visitor rules and tips
- Dress: traditional, modest clothing is recommended (TheDilli; Hindusthan Post). The temple is on a school campus, so keep noise down.
- Photography: sources disagree. Hindusthan Post and TheDilli (2024) say photography and video are not allowed inside the temple premises, while other listings say photos are allowed. Ask the staff at the gate, and never photograph inside the sanctum without permission.
- Best time: October to March is the most comfortable season (TheDilli; Hindusthan Post). Mornings are quieter; evenings are busier but the temple is lit up.
- Combine it with Chilkur Balaji: many Chilkur visitors stop here too (Trawell); Chilkur Balaji Temple is about 4 km away by road. Check Chilkur’s own darshan times separately, because they differ from Kamal Dham’s.
Kamaldham Mandir vs the Lotus Temple in New Delhi
| Kamaldham Mandir (Hyderabad) | Lotus Temple (New Delhi) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hindu temple with a Shiva lingam | Bahá’í House of Worship |
| Where | Swaminarayan Gurukul campus, Chevella Road, Moinabad mandal, Telangana | New Delhi |
| Run by | Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul | National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India (opened for public worship in 1986) |
| Worship | Abhishek, aarti, puja, festivals | Prayer and meditation, open to people of all backgrounds |
Sources: gurukul.org; bahaihouseofworship.in (checked 28 October 2026).
Kamaldham Mandir FAQs
Where is Kamaldham Mandir Lotus Temple?
On the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul campus on Chevella Road (NH-163) at Himayat Nagar, Moinabad mandal, west of Hyderabad city, Telangana. It is about 4 km by road before Chilkur Balaji Temple when you come from the city.
Is Kamaldham Mandir in Surat?
No. Kamaldham Mandir, the lotus-shaped Shiva temple, is in the Hyderabad area of Telangana. An earlier version of this page wrongly placed it in Surat, Gujarat.
What are the Kamaldham Mandir timings?
The Gurukul does not publish them online. Most listings say 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM daily (also in a July 2026 visitor report); one November 2025 report says 8 AM to 10 PM. Call +91 888 666 7001 / 7002 to confirm.
Is there an entry fee for Kamaldham Mandir?
No entry fee is reported. Pouring water on the lingam yourself is free; special abhishekams cost about ₹200 to ₹1,200 (July 2026 report).
Is Kamaldham the same as the Lotus Temple in Delhi?
No. The Delhi Lotus Temple is the Bahá’í House of Worship in New Delhi. Kamaldham is a Hindu Shiva temple run by Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul near Hyderabad.
How far is Kamaldham Mandir from Chilkur Balaji Temple?
About 4 km by road (OSRM, 28 October 2026); local reports round it to about 3 km.
Update note (28 October 2026): this guide was rewritten. The earlier version said the temple was in Surat, Gujarat, and included hours, facilities and stories we could not verify. They have been removed.
