Bhadrachalam Bhadradri
Temple town
Bhadrachalam Temple
Nickname:  BCM
Bhadrachalam Bhadrachalam (Telangana) Show map of Telangana Bhadrachalam Bhadrachalam (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 17°40′08″N 80°53′37″E / 17.668800°N 80.893600°E / 17.668800; 80.893600
Country	India
State	Telangana
District	Bhadradri Kothagudem district
Government
• Body	Nagar Palika
Area [1]
• Total	12.00 km2 (4.63 sq mi)
Elevation	90 m (300 ft)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	50,087
• Rank	40th in Telangana
• Density	7,121/km2 (18,440/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	507111
Telephone code	08743
Vehicle registration	TS-28
Sex ratio	1:1 ♂/♀
Distance from Kothagudem	40 kilometres (25 mi)
Distance from Hyderabad	325 kilometres (202 mi)
Website	telangana.gov.in www.telanganatourism.gov.in

Bhadrachalam is a census town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district in the Indian state of Telangana.^[3] 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) east of state capital, Hyderabad,115 kilometres (71 mi) from Khammam,178 kilometres (111 mi) from Suryapet,180 kilometres (112 mi) from Warangal,187 kilometres (116 mi) from Vijayawada,220 kilometres (137 mi) and 350 kilometres (217 mi) from Visakhapatnam.

History

The town has a documented history of Lord Sri Rama temple constructed c. 17th century CE by Kancherla Gopanna.^[4]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Bhadrachalam area also has several Hindu temples connected with epic Ramayana.^[5] It is referred as "Dakshina Saketa Puri" in the movie "Sri Ramadasu".

Geography

Bhadrachalam is located at 17°40′N 80°53′E / 17.67°N 80.88°E / 17.67; 80.88.^[6] It has an average elevation of 50 metres (164 feet). The zero feet gauge level of Godavari River at Bhadracham is equal to +32.6 m msl.

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[7] 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. Andhra Pradesh state bus service APSRTC operates buses frequently to Bhadrachalam.

The nearest railway station is Bhadrachalam Road railway station,^[8] 40 km (25 mi) from the town.

Bhadrachalam is connected^[how?] to Hyderabad, Khammam, Suryapet, Nalgonda, Warangal, Nizamabad, Ramagundam, Godavarikhani, Miryalaguda, and Karimnagar cities in Telangana state as well as to Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Amalapuram, Guntur, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh State .