Simhachalam Temple

The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, popularly known as the Simhachalam Temple, is a spiritually vibrant Hindu pilgrimage site beautifully positioned atop the Simhachalam Hill Range in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s rare and powerful dual incarnation, Lord Varaha Narasimha, featuring a lion's head on a human torso. Rich in heritage, the temple's historical inscriptions date back to the 11th century, highlighting generous contributions and structural renovations made over centuries by prominent regional dynasties like the Cholas, the Eastern Gangas and the Vijayanagara monarch Sri Krishna Deva Raya. Architecturally unique for facing West rather than East, the temple is globally renowned for its grand annual festivals, most notably Chandanotsavam (Chandanam Yatra), the only day of the year when the thick, year-round sandalwood paste is removed to reveal the deity's true form, alongside Giri Pradakshina, an auspicious 32-kilometre mass circumambulation trek around the holy hill, and the grand Kalyanotsavam.