Simhachalam Temple- An Ideal Religious Refuge in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (2024)
If you are someone who is looking for a getaway vacation, then a trip to Andhra Pradesh, specifically to Visakhapatnam is what you need. Simhachalam Temple is one of the most spiritual tourist places in Andhra Pradesh that you can visit. Originally known by the name of Varaha Lakshmi Narsimha Temple, Simhachalam Temple is a well – known shrine that boasts of having holy and mystical vibes.
A number of devotees of Lord Narsimha as well as tourists from all over the world visit Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam to pay their offerings and seek blessings. Blessed with an excellent hilltop location surrounded with lush greenery all around, Simhachalam Temple is mainly dedicated to the Hindu community. It is known to hold a lot of importance and significance among the local people for its strong traditional values and for following a detailed prayer routine throughout the year.
The environment and atmosphere here at Simhachalam Temple are so calm and peaceful that you will forget about all your troubles as soon as you step inside the premises of the temple. The beautiful landscapes and the overall flourishing surrounding further add on to the beauty of the place. Other than its religious significance, Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam also offers its visitors a golden chance of witnessing spectacular views from a height of about 800 meters above the sea level. This temple dedicated to Lord Narsimha who is believed to be another form of Lord Vishnu is widely recognised for its rich significance in terms of history and hence it is not surprising why it is considered as one of the top tourist places in Andhra Pradesh. Do you want to know more? If yes, then you have arrived at the right place. Continue reading!
Legend of Simhachalam Temple:
There is an interesting tale behind the origin of Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam which revolves around two brothers Hiranakashyap and Hiranyaksha whose main goal was to disturb the world peace. Hiranyaksha took control over the earth by seizing it from Lord Vishnu. So, in order to save the earth from him, Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha and killed Hiranyaksha. This whole incident angered his elder brother, Hiranakashyap and hence to avenge his brother’s death, he pledged to kill Vishnu and rule the world. For winning this battle, Hiranakashyap went to the Himalayas and prayed deeply to Lord Brahma day and night. Owing to his dedication, Lord Brahma was pleased and granted him a boon. He asked the Lord to fulfil his desire of not getting killed by anyone at any time, no matter what. After becoming as good as immortal, the demon king, Hiranakashyap started considering himself invincible and began killing people who didn’t treat him as a God. This fear made everyone in the kingdom worship him but one day he got to know that his own son Prahalad was a true devotee of Lord Vishnu. He tried everything to make his son worship him and not to offer his bhakti to Lord Vishnu but he failed miserably. As a result, he decided to kill Prahalad and order soldiers to push his son from the top of the Simhadri hill. But when the soldiers threw Prahalad off the hill, it is believed that Lord Narsimha himself appeared at that moment and saved the life of Prahalad. Hence, to express his boundless affection and gratitude towards Lord Vishnu, Prahalad built a temple on the same hill which you now know by the name of Simhachalam Temple. 
History of Simhachalam Temple:
Although the exact age of the Simhachalam Temple has not been mentioned specifically anywhere but it contains a number of scriptures that give a rough idea of when the holy place was established. The Simhachalam temple is known to have an inscription that belongs to the era of Chola King Kulothunga which dates back in the history to 1098 AD. Another inscription shows that the temple was constructed in the age of 1267 AD. There is one more inscription left by Sri Krishna Devaraya who visited the temple twice to celebrate his win against the ruler of Orissa at the time of 1516 AD and 1519 AD. Other than these inscriptions, the Simhachalam temple is also known to feature in over 250 ancient texts written in Telugu and Oriya language that have something different to say about the construction of the temple. As a result, it has become quite cumbersome to decipher the name of a single entity to this holy temple.
Things To Do Around Simhachalam Temple:
A visit to Simhachalam temple does not end after a thorough exploration of just the holy temple because there are several exciting tourist places in Andhra Pradesh that are located nearby the temple. If you plan your itinerary properly, you can cover visiting many of them. Some of the top attractions are:
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park: If you are a wildlife enthusiast, then this zoological park situated amidst the Eastern Ghats is an ideal spot for you near Simhachalam Temple. Boasting of housing more than 80 different species of animals that range from carnivores, mammals to primates and ungulates, the park even has dedicated zones for moths as well as butterflies.
Distance from Simhachalam Temple: 14.5 km away
Kailasagiri: The travellers who are visiting Simhachalam Temple in Visakhapatnam should take out some time from their itinerary for visiting this beautiful place called Kailasgiri hills. A stunning park situated on the hilltop, this park is suitable for all whether solo travellers, couples or with families and children. It is an idea place for those people who wish to witness a bird’s eye view of the city and Bay of Bengal. 
Distance from Simhachalam Temple: 15.2 km away
Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary: No matter whether you are a bird watcher or a true adventurer by spirit, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary is just the perfect destination for you near Simhachalam temple. Admire the wide variety of bird species or enjoy some high voltage dram with a thrilling trek that takes you to explore the deep jungles couples with lush green gorges, the experience will surely be memorable. 
Distance from Simhachalam Temple: 14.6 km away
VUDA Park: By interacting with more than 2500 shady trees, colourful plants and vibrant flowers, get a chance to admire the nature at its best at the beautiful VUDA Park. With a pleasant weather, scenic views and natural beauty, it is actually a pretty great place for enjoying a morning or evening walks. It is perched right adjacent to the RK Beach in Visakhapatnam.
Distance from Simhachalam Temple: 16.1 km away
Visakhapatnam Aquarium: Home to a wide variety of marine species ranging from Red Squirrel fish, butterfly fish to the lion fish, long horn cow fish and many more, Visakhapatnam aquarium is a pure delight to watch. Also known by the name of Matsyadarshini Aquarium, it was established in the year 1994.
Distance from Simhachalam Temple: 17.7 km away
Best Time To Visit Simhachalam Temple: Though one can visit Simhachalam temple any time, but for the best experience it is recommended to visit it between October and March.
Simhachalam is undoubtedly one of the best tourist places in Andhra Pradesh and you must not miss including it in your itinerary at any cost!
