About Simhachalam Visakhapatnam
Simhachalam Temple is also Known as Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Temple. It is devoted and dedicated to one of the Hindu trinity deities Vishnu, who is worshiped as Varaha Narasimha. The Temple is situated on the Simhachalam hill in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 300 meters above the sea level. It is one of the Thirty-Two Narasimha Temples in Andhra Pradesh as an important pilgrimage place. It has been regarded as an important centre of Vaishnavism in the medieval period with Srikurmam.
History of Simhachalam Temple, Visakhapatnam
The temple has been recognized by Historians in 9th century AD from the inscription by the Chalukya Chola King Kulottunga-I. Later in 13th century the temple underwent radical physical changes during the reign of the eastern ganga king Narasimha deva I, later the temple received patronage from royal families of Tuluva dynasty and Vijayanagara empire. There was no religious activity for 40years from 1564 AD to 1604 AD. In 1949 the state government has taken over and it is currently administered by Simhachalam Devasthanam board.
Simhachalam Temple looks like a fortress from outside with three outer courtyards and five gateways. The architecture of the temple resembles both the styles of Kalinga and odishan architecture chalukyas and cholas. The temple is faced on west instead of east which signifies the victory. There are two temple tanks, one near the temple called as Swami Pushkarini (koneru) and Gangadhara at the bottom of the hill.
The temple has a number of sun-shrines and a few mandapams. The religious practices and customs of the temple are formulated by Ramanuja (Vaishnavite Philosopher) Simhachalam Temple is the Second Largest Temple after Tirumala Temple in Andhra Pradesh to earn revenue. The Devotees believe the deity is capable of giving the blessing to the women who are children to have the offspring and fulfilling the wishes of devotees.
The two major festivals celebrated in the temple are Kalyanotsavam and Chandanotsava followed by Narasimha Jayanti, Navaratrotsava and Kamadahana.
Entrance fee and Timings of Simhachalam temple, Visakhapatnam
There is no entrance fee to visit the Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam. It is open for visitors from 7:00 a.m. at 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. at 9:00 p.m. Every day of the week. For the special darshan, the temple charges INR 100 per person.
How to Reach Simhachalam temple, Visakhapatnam?
Simhachalam Temple in Vizag is quite easy for both locals and tourists. Located at a distance of only 20 km from the heart of the city center, the temple offers various modes of transportation for your comfort.
By Bus:
Also known as Andhra Pradesh’s third largest bus stop complex, Dwarka Bus Stand offers the installation of a local bus service to and from the temple daily. You can take bus number 6A, 55, 60 or 540 to reach your destination.
By Train:
If you start directly from Visakhapatnam railway station, you can choose to travel by bus or simply hire a private taxi to experience a more comfortable journey. The railway station connects neighboring towns and cities with regular trains from Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi.
By Air:
Simhachalam Temple in the shortest possible time, it is recommended to take a direct flight from the main cities of India. National flights such as Air India, IndiGo, Spice Jet, Air Asia and Alliance Air operate from here. For international travelers, international flights to Singapore, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur have also started.