Simhachalam, 1908
Simhachalam
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Temple in the District and tahsil of Vizagapatam, Madras, situated in 17 46' N. and 83 15 ; E., 6 miles north-west of Viza- gapatam town. It stands picturesquely in a steep wooded glen, down which flows a stream broken by numerous cascades, about half-way up the northern flank of Kailasa hill. At the foot of the hill lies the village of Adivivaram, from which a long series of flights of stone steps wind up the glen to the temple. These steps are continued up to the top of the hill and down its other side. The temple, which is the most famous place of local pilgrimage in the Northern Circars, is dedicated to the Lion incarnation of Vishnu, and is believed to have been built by Langula Gajapati of Orissa. Apart from its surroundings the shrine possesses no striking beauties, though there are some fine black stone carvings. An inscription dated 1516 records the visit of Krishna Deva Raya, the greatest of the kings of Vijayanagar. The' temple is now in the charge of the Raja of Vizianagram, who has a bungalow and a beautiful rose-garden at the foot of the hill.
