Simhachalam Temple

Getting there

• By road

  The temple is about 16 km from Visakhapatnam city, on the Simhachalam hill range. It is connected by both rail and road.

Why devotees come here

Simhachalam Temple stands on the Simhachalam hill range, about 16 km from Visakhapatnam city, in Andhra Pradesh. Vishnu is worshipped here as Varaha Narasimha. The idol is covered in sandalwood paste through the year, except on Akshaya Tritiya.

Simhachalam is one of the 32 Narasimha temples of Andhra Pradesh, and an important pilgrimage centre. The legend says Vishnu took this form, a lion's head on a human body, to save his devotee Prahlada from his father Hiranyakashipu. Devotees believe the deity can grant children to women and fulfil their wishes.

Except on Akshaya Tritiya, the idol is covered with sandalwood paste, so it looks like a linga. Legend says the saint Ramanuja defeated scholars in debate here, and the temple became a Vaishnavite shrine.

The present temple was built in the 13th century by the Eastern Ganga king Narasingha Deva I, and consecrated in 1268 AD by his son Bhanudeva I. Since 1949 it has been under the state government's endowment ministry. From outside it looks like a fortress, with three outer courtyards and five gateways. The temple faces west, which is unusual for temples of this type. Its five-tier main tower stands on the western gateway. Inside, Narasimha is shown standing, a feature unique to this temple.

Festivals

• Akshaya Tritiya, April or MayChandanotsava

  The sandalwood paste is removed on this day, so devotees see the original idol.

• Chaitra monthKalyanotsava

  The celestial marriage of Varaha Narasimha, held on the 11th day of the first quarter of the month.

• Vaisakha monthNarasimha Jayanti

  Celebrated on the fourteenth day of the first half of the Vaisakha month.

• Full moon day of AshadhaGiripradakshina

  Devotees walk around the hill, then visit the sanctum and have dinner.

Tips for your visit

• The most popular route is the flight of one thousand steps from the foot of the hill, starting at the Bhairava Dwaram.
• The temple stands on a hill range about 300 metres above sea level.
• The deity has a daily Nithya kalyanam, a regular marriage ceremony that visitors can take part in.
• On Giripradakshina, devotees walk about 30,000 metres around the hill.

Questions people ask