Hi there! I recently visited a beautiful Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Penchalakona, Andhra Pradesh. This temple is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narasimha, who is an important deity in Hinduism, and his consort, Goddess Chenchu Lakshmi, who was a tribal princess. The temple has a long and fascinating history and legend associated with it. I’d love to share more about my experience visiting this ancient temple with you all.
Nestled within lush green hills, stunning waterfalls, and peaceful surroundings, this place is definitely worth a visit. The Penchalakona temple is located approximately 80 km away from Nellore city in Andhra Pradesh. It sits 3,000 feet above sea level, where the Nallamala and Seshachalam forests meet. Devotees keep coming and going to this uncultivated area to enjoy the serene atmosphere and natural beauty. It’s a famous Vaishnava shrine in the southern part of India, surrounded by gorgeous hills that are covered in thick forests.
Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple History
According to a popular legend, after Shri Mahavishnu’s avatar, Lord Narasimha Swamy saved Prahlad from Kritayuga by killing Hiranyakasipu. Even after defeating the demon, Lord Narasimha was still very angry and wandered around the forest. To calm him down, Goddess Lakshmi appeared as a tribal woman named Chenchu Lakshmi. She gave him fruits and flowers and showed him love. Lord Narasimha was pleased with her devotion and married her according to tribal traditions. He then became a member of the Chenchu tribe and brought them good fortune. A beautiful rock emerged here due to their marriage, and the Swami is now known as Penushila Lakshminasimhaswamy.
The temple is surrounded by dense vegetation, but insects or other dangers do not bother devotees. The temple was built about 700 years ago and has a significant historical story. It’s believed that Bharata, who gave the name to India, grew up in this area, and Kanva Maharshi, who raised him, practiced penance in this region.
The temple’s origin story dates back to when a Boya shepherd from Gonupalli went to the Penchalakona forest to graze his sheep. While there, Swamy appeared to the shepherd as an old man and informed the villagers that Narasimhaswamy was present there in the form of a rock. The Swamy then instructed them to build a temple at that spot. The shepherd later told Swamy to leave without looking back, and it’s said that Swamy turned into a stone after that. In 1959, the Devasthanam came under the control of the Devadaya Department, and since then, Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple has been developing day by day.
The temple is adorned with a beautiful Gaali Gopuram (tower) featuring intricate carvings of gods and goddesses. There’s also a pond called Narasimha Pushkarini, where devotees take a dip before entering the temple. The temple provides various sevas such as Abhishekam, Kalyanotsavam, Sahasra Parayanam, Pallaki Seva, etc.
Penushila Narasimhaswamy Temple is very peaceful. Many people come from surrounding villages to visit this Penchalaswamy. Every year in the middle of May and April, Brahmotsavam is held here with great spectacle.
Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Treking
Adventurers can enjoy trekking in untamed fields. One can roam in the forests on foot. You can walk to the waterfalls and take a bath under the water that falls from above.
Penchalakona Temple Timings
The temple is open on weekdays from 6:30 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:00 PM to 7:30 PM. On weekends, it’s open from 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM or 2:30 PM and then from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM.
Penchalakona Temple Accommodation
The Penchalakona temple has many rooms available for pilgrims who visit. These rooms are taken care of by the temple authorities. If you want to book a room, you can call the temple or visit in person to arrange it.
If you’re planning a pilgrimage to Penchalakona temple, you can rent a room starting at Rs 100. The price might go up depending on the facilities you choose. The temple offers both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned rooms, complete with beds and toilets. To book a room, you can call the temple office at Penchalakona Temple contact number is +91 94910 00737. Unfortunately, there’s no online booking option at the moment, so you’ll need to call or visit the temple to book. During normal days, there won’t be many people at the temple, but during peak season, many people will be looking for rooms. In that case, rooms will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Sri Penusila Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Address
Address: Penchalakona, Rapur, Andhra Pradesh 524414 Phone: +91 94910 00737
Penchalakona Temple Distance
- Hyderabad to Penchalakona Temple – 480 KM
- Vijayawada to Penchalakona Temple – 360 KM
- Vishakapatnam to Penchalakona Temple – 710 KM
- Nellore to Penchalakona Temple – 80 KM
- Gudur to Penchalakona Temple – 70 KM
- Kadapa to Penchalakona Temple – 130 KM
- Kurnool to Penchalakona Temple – 300 KM
- Tirupati to Penchalakona Temple – 120 KM