About the Temple

Perched majestically on the lush Simhachalam hill, this temple uniquely combines the fierce Narasimha avatar with the gentle Varaha form of Lord Vishnu. Constructed and enriched over centuries by various dynasties—most notably the Eastern Ganga kings and the Gajapatis of Odisha—the temple architecture reflects a fusion of Kalinga and Dravidian styles. A defining historical and religious tradition of this shrine is that the main deity is perpetually covered in a thick layer of sandalwood paste throughout the year, save for a single day during the annual Chandanaotsavam festival.