# 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 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 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°40′N 80°53′E﻿ / ﻿17.67°N 80.88°E﻿ / 17.67; 80.88. 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.

## Climate

Climate data for Bhadrachalam (1991–2020) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 37.1 (98.8) | 40.0 (104.0) | 42.8 (109.0) | 46.4 (115.5) | 48.6 (119.5) | 47.5 (117.5) | 40.8 (105.4) | 38.2 (100.8) | 39.2 (102.6) | 38.2 (100.8) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.6 (99.7) | 48.6 (119.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.7 (87.3) | 33.8 (92.8) | 37.1 (98.8) | 39.2 (102.6) | 41.1 (106.0) | 37.0 (98.6) | 32.7 (90.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.2 (88.2) | 30.1 (86.2) | 34.3 (93.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 17.7 (63.9) | 20.0 (68.0) | 23.1 (73.6) | 25.7 (78.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 26.6 (79.9) | 25.2 (77.4) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.7 (76.5) | 23.5 (74.3) | 20.2 (68.4) | 17.0 (62.6) | 23.1 (73.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) | 9.2 (48.6) | 10.6 (51.1) | 17.0 (62.6) | 18.6 (65.5) | 19.4 (66.9) | 20.0 (68.0) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.5 (67.1) | 14.4 (57.9) | 10.0 (50.0) | 8.4 (47.1) | 8.4 (47.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 3.9 (0.15) | 5.3 (0.21) | 4.8 (0.19) | 34.1 (1.34) | 38.4 (1.51) | 127.5 (5.02) | 307.3 (12.10) | 325.0 (12.80) | 180.8 (7.12) | 74.9 (2.95) | 18.0 (0.71) | 9.2 (0.36) | 1,129.3 (44.46) |
| Average rainy days | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 14.1 | 13.4 | 7.9 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 53.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) | 55 | 46 | 44 | 44 | 40 | 56 | 73 | 77 | 77 | 73 | 65 | 61 | 59 |
| Source: India Meteorological Department ||||||||||||||

## 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 services APSRTC and TGSRTC operate buses from Bhadrachalam to various towns in different states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha apart from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
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 as well as to Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Amalapuram, Guntur, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh State .