Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam is a census town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district in the Indian state of Telangana. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage town with the Bhadrachalam Temple of Rama, situated on the banks of Godavari River. It is located 312 km east of state capital, Hyderabad,115 km from Khammam,178 km from Suryapet,180 km from Warangal,187 km from Vijayawada,220 km and 350 km from Visakhapatnam.



History
The town has a documented history of a Rama Temple constructed c. 17th century CE by Kancherla Gopanna.

Gopanna (1620 - 1688), 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.

The Bhadrachalam area also has several Hindu temples associated with the epic Ramayana. It is referred as "Dakshina Saketa Puri" in the movie "Sri Ramadasu".

Geography
Bhadrachalam is located at 17.67°N, 80.88°W. 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
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. Andhra Pradesh state bus service APSRTC operates buses frequently to Bhadrachalam.

The nearest railway station is Bhadrachalam Road railway station, 40 km from the town.

Bhadrachalam is connected 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.