Simhachalam or the 'Lion's Hill' is 16 km from Visakhapatnam. it is an important Hindu Pilgrim Center, known for the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimhaswami Temple. The 11th century temple is amongst the most important shrines or Lord Vishnu in the country.
The presiding deity of the shrine is Lord Narasimha - a combination of the varaha and the Narasimha incarnations of Vishnu. The main deity is always covered with sandal paste and the real shape of the deity can only be seen during Chandanayatra Festival' (March-April). The Shrine is also noted for its excellent architecture.
