Mattapalli Narasimha Swamy Temple

The Mattapalli Narasimha Swamy Temple is an 11th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha, the half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu, and his consort Lakshmi. Located in Mattapalli village on the banks of the Krishna River in Suryapet district, Telangana, it is one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetras. The temple houses a swayambhu (self-manifested) idol and is renowned for its daily annadanam service, serving over 100,000 pilgrims.

Visitors can expect to climb approximately 600 steep steps to reach the hilltop temple where the main shrine is located in a cave with a small entrance requiring visitors to bow their heads. The temple premises include a foothill shrine that remains accessible when the hill temple closes during midday. Devotees can participate in darshan, pradakshina, and witness the daily annadanam service. The temple offers views of the Krishna River and surrounding landscape from the hilltop location.

The temple was built in the 11th century by Anumala Machi Reddy, king of the Thangedu region, after Lord Narasimha appeared in his dream instructing him to construct the temple. According to temple inscriptions in Devanagari script, the temple is estimated to be around 1100 years old. The self-manifested idol was worshipped by sage Bharadvaja and other seers for hundreds of years before the temple construction. The temple has been conducting daily annadanam since the 11th century.

The temple is one of the Pancha Narasimha Kshetras and follows Vaikhanasa Agama traditions of worship. It is known as Annalayam (Temple of Rice) due to its extensive daily annadanam service. The deity is referred to as Annalayya (Lord of Rice). The temple serves more than 100,000 pilgrims daily and has the second highest number of choultries after Srisailam in Telugu-speaking states. Visiting devotees perform forty-eight pradakshinas chanting the moola mantra.