More on our Andhra Temples' yatra. Some details as I recall

Let me start with the Vinayaka Temple. This is called Anada Ganapathi Temple. By the way, this is located in Simhachalam near Vizag.

If you have a particular request, wish that you want fulfilled by the Lord, you offer a piece of jaggery and whisper the wish.

Simhachalam is famous for Varaha Narasimha Swami's Temple. This was built in the 11th Century. The Temple is located on the Hill top at about 245 meters. Inscriptions on this Temple date back to 1098 AD.

(All of us know the story of Prahlada who was a Vishnu devotee and for that reason was tortured by his own father Hiranyakasipu.) For unknown reason, we attented several Narasimha Temples in this year's yatra. 

By the way, this Temple is famous for the Chandanotsavam which is performed annually on Vaisakha suddha Tadiya (the 3rd day after the new Moon in the month of Vaisakha, which varies between April and may).  It is on the Chandanotsavam day that the Lord's Sandalwood paste is removed and is covered with a fresh layer of Sandalwood paste brought from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The ceremonial process would take some time and during the process of removal of the sandal paste, the sanctum sanctorum doors will be closed. Abhishekam and special pujas will be performed after the diety is fully uncovered. This happens at around 3:00 PM. 

How to reach Simhachalam??
One can reach Simhachalam from almost any where in Vizag. If you get down at the Waltair Railway Station, you can visit Simhachalam by Bus ( 6A ) or hire a Cab.

If you like to have a more comfortable journey, hiring a cab is always a good idea. That is what we did to visit all the local Temples.

The next one I want to explore is KanakaMahalakshmi Temple.

Goddess Sri Kanakamalalakshmi is the presiding deity of the Visakhapatnam locals. She is  the family deity of rulers of this area and the present location of the temple was in the rampars of their fort, located in the middle of a narrow street in Burujupeta. Unlike in other temples in Andhra Pradesh, if not in South India, that the devotees can directly worship the deity. It is a practice completely different from any other temple where the devotees can only come up to the sanctum sanctorum but cannot enter it. A devotee can break a coconut and pour the water on the idol, apply kumkum and turmeric himself or herself. It is common that milk abishekam being performed by devotees. The temple priests perform the daily puja but the devotees worship the Goddess on their own. 

Thursday is the most auspicious day for the Goddess and thousands throng the temple every Thursday.

The month of Margasira according to Hindu calendar (observed as Margasira Masam) that generally comes during November-December every year is considered the most auspicious one. The festivities began with the traditional nadaswaram followed by the abhishekams, Sahasranama pooja etc.  Especially on a Thursday nearly two lakh devotees throng the temple to have darshan. Besides, panchamruthabhishekam and ksheerabhisheka seva, special programmes like recital of the Bhagavad-Gita, Sapthasathi and Mahavidya, Lakshmi homam and Srichakrapuja are being conducted during the month.

A unique feature this year is the Ashtalakshmi alankaram from December 22 to 30 at the temple premises. Besides the beautiful Ashtalakshmis, there is an idol of Sri Kanakamalalakshmi towards north and facing Her is Sri Rajarajeswari Devi on the south beginning form the sanctum sanctorum and the eight Lakshmi idols are distributed equally beside the two idols.

Like I said before, we were there for Her darsan on the right day of the right month.