Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Simhachalam sits on a hill 11 km from Visakhapatnam city in Andhra Pradesh and is one of the principal Narasimha shrines in southern India. The sanctum is open daily from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with darshan available in three categories: Free, ₹100 ticket, and ₹300 ticket. The murti is unusual: it is covered with sandalwood paste throughout the year except on Akshaya Tritiya, when the paste is removed in a single day-long ritual (Chandanotsavam) and the actual stone form of the deity is briefly visible. This article covers timings, the unique sandalwood-paste tradition, the Eastern Ganga history, and how to fit Simhachalam into a Visakhapatnam visit.
Daily timings
- Morning: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Evening: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Darshan categories: Free (regular line), ₹100 special darshan, ₹300 priority darshan
The 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM gap is the temple’s afternoon closure for archaka rituals. On Akshaya Tritiya day the schedule shifts significantly because of the Chandanotsavam; expect crowds in the hundreds of thousands on that day.
The sandalwood paste tradition (Chandanotsavam)
The defining feature of Simhachalam: the murti of Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha is covered in sandalwood paste throughout the year, giving it the appearance of a smooth Shiva linga rather than the conventional Narasimha iconography. The temple’s tradition explains this practice as a balm to cool the deity’s fierce Narasimha aspect, Narasimha being the fourth avatar of Vishnu in his most wrathful form, the man-lion who tore apart Hiranyakashipu.
On Akshaya Tritiya (Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya, around late April or early May), the sandalwood paste is ritually removed in a day-long ceremony, the Chandanotsavam. For a few hours, the original stone form of the deity is visible. The form is unusual: a composite figure showing aspects of Varaha (the boar avatar) and Narasimha (the man-lion avatar) together, hence “Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha”. By the end of the day, fresh sandalwood paste is reapplied in a thick coating that lasts until the next Akshaya Tritiya.
For what it’s worth, the Akshaya Tritiya visit is the only day to see Simhachalam’s deity in his actual form; every other day of the year you see the paste. If the unique iconography is what you want to see, the Chandanotsavam day is the only option, at the cost of crowds in the hundreds of thousands and a multi-hour queue.
History across the Cholas and Eastern Gangas
The temple’s documented history begins with an inscription from 1098 CE dating to the Chola king Kulothunga’s era; another inscription marks construction at the sanctum dated to 1267 CE. The present temple was built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty king Narasingha Deva I in the 13th century and consecrated by his son Bhanudeva I in 1268 CE. The Eastern Ganga patronage gave the temple its current structural form.
Puranic tradition associates the site with Prahlada (the son of Hiranyakashipu, devoted to Narasimha), who is said to have built the original temple on the hill where Narasimha appeared. The current structures are 11th–13th century reconstructions over the earlier site.
Reaching Simhachalam
- From Visakhapatnam city: approximately 11 km. APSRTC buses run frequently to the hill foot.
- Hill ascent: a motor road climbs the hill from the foothill; a few car parks at intermediate and upper levels. There is also a flight of steps for pilgrims who prefer the climb.
- By rail: Simhachalam railway station is at the foothill, on the East Coast Railway.
- By air: Visakhapatnam Airport (Vizag) is about 15 km away.
Common questions
What does the deity actually look like?
On any ordinary day: a sandalwood-paste covered figure resembling a smooth linga, the actual form completely hidden. On Akshaya Tritiya for a few hours: the composite Varaha-Narasimha form in carved stone, the boar avatar and the lion-headed avatar represented together. The “linga” appearance is the day-to-day visual; the dual-avatar carved form is the once-a-year reveal.
Which darshan ticket should I buy?
For a non-festival weekday, free darshan in the regular line is sufficient, wait times are usually under 30 minutes. For weekends and during the Akshaya Tritiya / Brahmotsavam windows, the ₹100 special darshan reduces wait significantly. The ₹300 priority darshan is the fastest line. On Chandanotsavam day itself, even the priority lines have multi-hour waits.
What is the dress code?
Traditional dress is expected in the sanctum. Men: dhoti or trousers with a shirt; many remove the shirt at the inner sanctum (the standard Andhra and Tamil temple practice). Women: saree or salwar-kameez. Footwear is left outside the temple complex, not just outside the sanctum, because the temple grounds themselves are considered sacred ground.
One limitation worth noting
Darshan ticket prices and timings are revised periodically by the temple administration. The figures above (₹100 / ₹300, the morning and evening windows) reflect the consistently reported current state. Akshaya Tritiya falls on a different Gregorian date each year; check the temple’s published schedule for the specific year before planning.
For background see Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple Simhachalam on Wikipedia.
