Simhachalam Temple
సింహాచలం
A thousand-year-old Vishnu temple on a hill north of the city, dedicated to the lion-faced, human-bodied form of Narasimha. Its Kalinga-style stone carvings are exquisite, and it is an important pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh.
Simhachalam Temple sits on Simhachalam Hill about 16 km north of the city. It is dedicated to Narasimha, the Varaha-Narasimha avatar of Vishnu. Most of the surviving structures were built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty between the 11th and 13th centuries in the Kalinga architectural style, and the outer walls of the main hall and the corridor pillars are finely carved. The deity is covered in thick layers of sandalwood paste year-round and is revealed only on the day of the spring Chandanotsavam (Sandalwood Festival), when huge crowds of devotees gather. Visitors must dress modestly and remove their shoes before entering. A fast-track ticket can be bought to shorten the queue. There is a road to the top, as well as stone steps.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–21:00 (brief midday closure)
Nearby sights
- Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Temple
- Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary
- Ross Hill Church
- Ramakrishna Beach
- TU 142 Aircraft Museum
- Kailasagiri
- INS Kursura Submarine Museum
- Victory at Sea Memorial