Bhimavaram is a city and headquarters of West Godavari district of the Andhra Pradesh state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhimavaram mandal. As of 2011[update] census, it is the most populous urban area in the district with a population of 210,000. It is one of the major pilgrimage centers in the state, which is home to Somaramam, one of the five great Pancharama Kshetras.[4]
Bhimavaram | |
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City | |
Nickname(s): Second Bardoli of India and
Las Vegas of Andhra Pradesh | |
Bhimavaram Location in Andhra Pradesh, India Show map of Andhra PradeshBhimavaram Bhimavaram (India) Show map of India | |
Coordinates: 16.543°N 81.523°E / 16.543; 81.523 | |
Country | India |
State | Andhra Pradesh |
Region | Coastal Andhra |
District | West Godavari district |
Mandal | Bhimavaram mandal |
Founded by | Chalukya Bhima I |
Government | |
• Body | Bhimavaram Municipality |
• MLA | Grandhi Srinivas |
Area | |
• City | 25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi) |
• Rank | 20 (Andhra Pradesh) |
Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
Population (2011)[2] | |
• City | 163,875 |
• Rank | 23 |
• Density | 6,400/km2 (17,000/sq mi) |
• Metro | 210,000 |
Languages | |
• Official | Telugu |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
PIN | 534 201
534 202 534 204 534 206 |
Area code | 08816 |
Vehicle registration | AP-37 |
Website | bhimavaram |
Along with much of present-day coastal Andhra Pradesh, Bhimavaram was controlled by the Chola dynasty. Under Kulothunga Chola I, Bhimavaram was ruled by his sons who served as viceroys. Stone inscriptions have been found in the town dating from his reign (c. 1096 C.E.).[5]
The name Bhimavaram literally means "the gift of Bhima". According to a legend, in around 890–918 AD, an Eastern Chalukya king named Chalukya Bheema built a Siva temple and laid the foundation to this town.[6] It was originally called "Bhimapuram", but the name gradually changed to "Bhimavaram"; "puram" refers to a dwelling place while "varam" means an endowment in Telugu.
According to census 2011 information the sub-district code of Bhimavaram Block (CD) is 04984. Total area of bhimavaram mandal is 194 km² including 168.35 km² rural area and 26.14 km² urban area. Bhimavaram mandal has a population of 2,26,497 peoples, out of which urban population is 1,46,961 while rural population is 79,536. Bhimavaram has a population density of 1165 inhabitants per square kilometre. There are about 61,920 houses in the sub-district, including 39,174 urban houses and 22,746 rural houses.
When it comes to literacy, 72.21% population of bhimavaram mandal is literate, out of which 75.32% males and 69.16% females are literate. There are about 14 villages in bhimavaram mandal, which you can browse from bhimavaram mandal villages list (along with gram panchayat information) below.
Bhimavaram is in the epicentre of the Godavari delta region. It is one of the principal trade centres of paddy in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Agriculture-based businesses like food processing, aqua culture, rice mills etc., are the chief sources of the town's revenue. It serves as a distribution centre as well as commercial centre to its hinterland. The town is the regional centre for higher education and is known for its specialized health services.[5]It has many major Retail brand shops like KLM, DMart, Coastal city centre etc..,
Its urban agglomeration covers Bhimavaram Municipality, partly out growths of Rayalam (rural) and Chinamiram. It has an area of 26.14 km2 (10.09 sq mi).[7]
Trace of Bhimavaram Municipality Evolution:[8]
Bhimavaram assembly constituency is a legislative assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Grandhi Srinivas is the current MLA.
The town has a total road length of 201.60 km (125.27 mi).[9] It is well connected with other places in the country by national highways. NH 216 passes through the town.
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Bhimavaram bus station.[10] Bhimavaram Junction railway station is classified as 'NSG-4' in South Central Railway zone.[11][12] The Gudivada–Bhimavaram section connects it with Howrah-Chennai main line.
Bhimavaram Town railway station is well-connected with daily trains to major cities like Hyderabad,Vizag,Tirupathi,Mumbai,Chennai and Bangalore.
There are as many as 269,137 vehicle owners are licensed according to transport officials in the town. Out of this, about 13,064 are autos, 1,236 school buses, 9,908 lorries, 11,129 cars, 204,728 motorbikes, 2,833 three-wheelers, 15 car travels, and 5 bus travel vehicles.[13]
The nearest airport to Bhimavaram is Rajahmundry Airport, which is 80 km away. Bhimavaram is located at distance of 120km from Vijayawada 265 km from Visakhapatnam and 400 km from Hyderabad
Bhimavaram is famous for the Gunupudi Someswara (Somarama) temple, which is one of the five holy Pancharamas and the temple of the local deity Mavullamma. The Shiva lingam is known for changing its color according to the lunar month: Black during amavasya and white during pournami.
The local deity Mavullamma is believed to have manifested here in the year 1200 CE with the temple being built around 1880 CE. According to local folklore the goddess manifested between a mango farm earning her the name Mamillamma (arising from mangoes) which was later adapted to Mavullamma.
Many people from the city have become notable in the Telugu cinema industry such as, Trivikram Srinivas, Sivaji Raja, Penmatsa Subbaraju, Sunil, Prabhas and Raja Ravindra.
Other notable personalities include Krishnam Raju Gadiraju, K. V. K. Raju, Yellapragada Subbarao in science, mystic Swami Jnanananda, Industrialists B. V. Raju, Byrraju Ramalinga Raju and freedom fighter Alluri Sitarama Raju.
Primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided, and private schools of the School Education Department of the state.[14][15] The mediums of instruction followed by schools are English and Telugu.
There are numerous higher educational institutions in and around Bhimavaram.[16] Some of the renowned institutions are S.R.K.R Engineering College,[17] D.N.R Educational Institutions,[18] K.G.R.L Group of Educational Institutions,[19] Sri Vishnu Educational Society,[20] Bhimavaram Institute of Engineering & Technology,[21] Grandhi Varalakshmi Venkatarao Institute of Technology (GVIT),[22] Dr. C.S.N. degree and P.G college.
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See also: List of villages in West Godavari district |
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