Bhadrachalam

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Bhadrachalam
భద్రాచలము
Bhadradri
Census Town
Bhadrachalam Temple
Bhadrachalam is located in Telangana
Bhadrachalam
Bhadrachalam
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country India
State Telangana
District Khammam
Area
 • Total 7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi)
Elevation 50 m (160 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 50,087
 • Density 7,121/km2 (18,440/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 507111
Telephone code 08743
Vehicle registration TS-04
Sex ratio 1:1 ♂/♀
Distance from Kothagudem 36 kilometres (22 mi)
Distance from Hyderabad 325 kilometres (202 mi)

Bhadrachalam is a Census town in Khammam District of Telangana, India. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage town, situated on the banks of Godavari River. It is located 312 kilometres (194 mi) East of state capital, Hyderabad. The town is famous for temple of Lord Rama.

Painting of Lord SriRama on a temple at Bhadrachalam in Khammam 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).[2]

Legend has it that the present town is situated in an area which once formed part of the Dandakaranya forest, and said to be visited by Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana during their exile (vanavasam). The forest in the vicinity of the temple was the site of Rama's retreat and it was at the Parnasala (32 km from here) that he built a hut for himself and Sita and from where Sita was abducted by Ravana.

The history of this shrine stands for the significance of Ramayana Era, and vicinity of the temple had its incongruous add mixture of another story which depicts the exigency of " Sri Mahavishnu " to manifest himself as Rama long after Ramavatara was to fulfill his promise to his Bhakta Bhadra (a mountain king), a sage who had been continuing the frightened penance to get grace of Lord Rama. The name Bhadrachalam derived from Bhadragiri (Mountain of Bhadra - child of Meru and Menaka).

The temple at Bhadrachalam has the Archa Murthys of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and are considered to be Swayambhu (self-manifested ones). Lord Sri Rama appeared in a dream to a woman called Pokala Dammakka and informed her about the existence of vigrahas on Bhadragiri hills. To her surprise she found the "Vigraha's" and put up a modest structure. Dhammakka, cleared jungle and offered puja to the deities.

On 17 Nov 1959 the Bhadrachalam Revenue Division, consisting of Bhadrachalam and Nuguru Venkatapuram Taluks of East Godavari district were merged into the Khammam district through GO No 553. for geographical contiguity and administrative viability.

Geography

Bhadrachalam is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found..[3] It has an average elevation of 50 metres (164 feet).

Demographics

As of 2008 India census,[4] 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%; with literacy at 54% of the males and 46% of females. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transportation

Bus

The state bus service, TSRTC operates a bus station in Bhadrachalam connecting the town to various places like Kothagudem, Hyderabad, Khammam, Warangal, Basar, Tirupati, Karimnagar, Rajahmundry, Nalgonda, Chennai, Guntur, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Train

The nearest Railway station, Bhadrachalam Road (Kothagudem) is 40  km from the town[5]

Tourism

River Godavari at Bhadrachalam
Dummugudem Barrage on Godavari in Khammam District
Bhadrachalam temple
A Procession in streets at Bhadrachalam
Illuminated view of Bhadrachalam Temple walls during 2015 Pushkarams

Launch trips, on the scenic route, between Bhadrachalam and Rajahmundry on the river Godavari are very pleasant.

Apart from the famous Rama temple, there are also other Hindu temples to be visited.

Parnasala

This is supposed to be the exact spot where Rama, during his vanavasa in Dandakaranya, constructed a hermitage and spent his exile with his consort Sita and brother Lakshmana. Agastya had selected this spot for Rama which is about 35 km from Bhadrachalam.

Jattayu Paaka (Yetapaka)

This place is situated from 2 km away from Bhadrachalam. According to Itihasas, the bird Jatayuvu, a devotee of Rama had obstructed Ravana while he was proceeding on the chariot after kidnapping Sita. After the fearful battle between Ravana and Jataayuvu, the injured bird had waited at this place for Rama's arrival. A wing of this bird fell at Rekkapalli, about 55 km from here, in V.R. Puram Mandal.

Dummugudem

Here Rama is called the Atmarama. The story reveals that Rama killed 14,000 demons headed by the brothers Khara and Dushana. As the village was said to be built upon the ashes of these demons, the place is named after as Dummugudem.

Gundala

It is a place 5 km away from the sacred town Bhadrachalam, where springs of hot water could be traced on the river bank when we dig a pit at any place in this area. It is believed that the divine trio (Brahma Vishnu Maheswara) took dips in this water during winter, according to Brahma Purana. There is temple of lord shiva on the opposite bank of Gundala in a village named raigudem on the hill where lord shiva and all jyothir lingas replica are kept.

Sree Rama Giri

This place is situated about 55 km downstream from Bhadrachalam on the banks of Godavari. The deity of Yoga Rama Temple is on a hill and is named as Ramagiri a place where river Shabari meets Godavari.

Venkatareddipeta

This place is situated 12 km from Bhadrachalam, where lord venkateswara swami kalyan is celebrated every year.

Gannavaram

This place is situated 25 km away from Bhadrachalam where Botlamma is worshipped by devotees.

Festivals at Bhadrachalam are -

  • Kalyanotsavam. During Sri Rama Navami(March–April) there is a huge influx of pilgrims from distant places who come to attend the wedding of Lord Rama with Sita.
  • Vaikunta Ekadasi (Mukkoti Ekadasi). Sri Seetaramachandra Swamy gives darshanam through the Vaikuntha dwaram during Mukkoti(December–January).

Bhadrachalam is the most revenue earning town in Khammam District due to the famous Ramalayam (Rama's temple).

Sri Govinda Raja Swamy Temple (Tatagudi) This is one of the most ancient temples of Bhadrachalam and holds significance as this temple is dedicated to Sri Govinda Raja Swamy. It is located in one of the main centres of the town known as Tatagudi Centre. A perfect place for ones to be lost in devotion to the deity and enjoy the serene vegetation.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Bhadrachalam&oldid=2001228"