Bhadrachalam is a census town in the Indian state of Telangana, Bhadradri Kothagudem district. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage town with the Bhadrachalam Temple of Lord Rama, situated on the banks of Godavari river. It is located 312 kilometres (194 mi) from east of state capital, Hyderabad,115 kilometres (71 mi) from Khammam,192 kilometres (119 mi) from Vijayawada,177 kilometres (110 mi) from Suryapet, 180 kilometres (112 mi) from Warangal, 220 kilometres (137 mi), from the Andhra Pradesh State Capital Amaravathi, 350 kilometres (217 mi) from Visakhapatnam.
Painting of Lord SriRama on a temple at Bhadrachalam in Bhadradri District
History
The town has a documented history of Lord Sri Rama temple constructed circa 17th century CE by Kancherla Gopanna (nearly 370 years ago).
Kancherla Gopanna (1620 – 1680), popularly known as Bhadradri Ramadasu or Bhadrachala Ramadasu, was a 17th-century Indian devotee of Rama and a composer of Carnatic music. His devotional lyrics to Rama are famous in South Indian classical music as Ramadaasu Keertanalu, and have made Bhadrachalam a place of religious importance for Hindus.
Bhadrachalam area also has several Hindu temples connected with Epic Ramayana. It is also called as “Ayodhya Puri” in the movie “Sri Ramadasu”
Geography
Bhadrachalam is located at 17.67°N 80.88°E. It has an average elevation of 50 metres (164 feet). The zero (0) feet gauge level of Godavari River at Bhadracham is equal to +32.6 m msl
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, Bhadrachalam had a population of 55,352. As of 2001, Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Bhadrachalam has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Transport
The state bus service TSRTC operates a bus station in Bhadrachalam connecting the town to various places of the state. Andhrapradesh state bus service APSRTC operates buses frequently to Bhadrachalam.
The nearest railway station is Bhadrachalam Road railway station, 40 km (25 mi) from the town.
Bhadrachalam is connected to Hyderabad, Khammam, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Warangal, Nizamabad, Ramagundam, Godavarikhani, Miryalaguda, and Karimnagar cities in Telangana state; and Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Amalapuram, Guntur, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam cities in Andhra Pradesh.