Indian
States
Andhra Pradesh
Simhachalam
Simhachalam
16 kms. away from Vishakhpatmam, it is Eleventh Century old temple
dedicated to Lord Varaha narasimha. Moreover it is also called
"Simhagiri" or "Lion's Hill" . It is lies
in the northern direction of Visakhapatnam, which is a District
Headquarters of Andhra. It has been hailed as the most famous
and the best sculptured shrine. It has Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha
Swamy as the presiding deity. Simhachalam temple is known as the
second richest temple (after Tirupati) for earning a revenue.
He gives "nijaroopa darshan" (holy appearance in true
form) for only 12 hours in a year and on all the remaining 364
days and 12 hours, the Lord is covered with sandalwood paste.
The original shape of the deity in the tribhanga posture has two
hands with the head of a lion on a human torso. The Simhachalam
temple faces the West unlike so many others which face the East.
An east-facing entrance, according to religious belief, brings
prosperity while the west - facing one brings victory. The real
shape of the deity can can be viewed only during Chandanayatra
Festival (March-April). One can reach Simhachalam either by train,
which goes up to Simhachalam Railway Station, or more easily by
bus from Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam is an important junction
in the Madras to Calcutta line, and is also connected by air from
Hyderabad.
Dolphin's
Nose
The most famous landmark at Visakhapatnam is the Dolphin's
Nose, a rocky promontory in the port. This huge rock, 174 m in
height and 358 m above sea level, is shaped like a Dolphin's nose.
The rock juts out into the sea, forming a headland on which is
the lighthouse. This lighthouse has a beam that can be seen 64
km out at sea.
