Bhimavaram

Bhimavaram
City
Somarama Temple of Gunupudi, Bhimavaram
Nickname(s): Second Bardoli of India
Bhimavaram
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Bhimavaram
Bhimavaram (India)
Coordinates: 16°32′35″N 81°31′23″E / 16.543°N 81.523°E / 16.543; 81.523Coordinates: 16°32′35″N 81°31′23″E / 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
Area[1]
 • City 25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi)
Area rank 20 (Andhra Pradesh)
Elevation 7 m (23 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • City 142,184
 • Density 5,500/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
 • Metro[3] 146,961
Languages
 • Official Telugu
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 534 20x
Area code(s) 08816
Vehicle registration AP 37
Website bhimavaram.cdma.ap.gov.in

Bhimavaram is a city in West Godavari district of the Andhra Pradesh state of India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhimavaram mandal in Narasapuram revenue division.[4][5] As of 2011 census, it is the second most populous city in the district with a population of 142,184. It is one of the major pilgrimage centers in the state, which is home to Somaramam, one of the five great Pancharama Kshetras.[6]

History

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.).[7]

Etymology

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.[8] 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.

Demographics

As of 2011 census of India, the town had a population of 142,184. The total population constitutes 70,066 males and 72,214 females—a sex ratio of 1031 females per 1000 males. 12,157 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 6,149 are boys and 6,008 are girls—a ratio of 977 girls per 1000 boys. The average literacy rate stands at 83.41% with 1,08,535 literates, significantly higher than the state average of 73.00%.[2][9] Its urban agglomeration population was 146,961.[5]

Economy

A patch of paddy fields near Bhimavaram

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.[7]

Governance

Civic administration

Bhimavaram Municipality was established in April 1948. It was upgraded to 'Selection Grade municipality' in 2011.[10] The municipality is spread over an area of 25.64 km2 (9.90 sq mi).[1] 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).[5]

Politics

Bhimavaram assembly constituency is a legislative assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.

Transport

The town has a total road length of 201.60 km (125.27 mi).[11] 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.[12] Bhimavaram town railway station is classified as 'A–category' in the Vijayawada railway division of South Central Railway zone.[13][14] The Gudivada–Bhimavaram section connects it with Visakhapatnam–Vijayawada section of Howrah-Chennai main line.

There are as many as 2,69,137 vehicle owners are licensed according to transport officials in the city. Out of this, about 13,064 are autos, 1236 school buses, 9908 lorries, 11,129 cars, 2,04,728 motorbikes, 2,833 three-wheelers, 15 car travels, and 5 bus travel vehicles.[15]

Culture

Evening in Bhimavaram

Bhimavaram is famous for the Gunupudi Someswara (Somarama) temple, which is one of the five holy Pancharamas. Built during the 3rd century A.D., the Shiva lingam is known for changing its color according to the lunar month: black during amavasya and white during pournami.

There are many notable people from the 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, and professor and military Major Krishna Bhimavarapu.

Education

Primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided, and private schools of the School Education Department of the state.[16][17] The medium of instruction followed by schools are English and Telugu.

There are numerous higher educational institutions in and around Bhimavaram.[18] Some of the renowned institutions are S.R.K.R Engineering College,[19] D.N.R Educational Institutions,[20] K.G.R.L Group of Educational Institutions,[21] Sri Vishnu Educational Society,[22] Bhimavaram Institute of Engineering & Technology,[23] Grandhi Varalakshmi Venkatarao Institute of Technology (GVIT),[24] Dr.C.S.N. degree and P.G college.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Andhra Pradesh (India): Districts, Cities, Towns and Outgrowth Wards – Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". citypopulation.de.
  3. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh (India): State, Major Agglomerations & Cities – Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". citypopulation.de.
  4. ↑ "West Godavari District Mandals" (PDF). Census of India. p. 457. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "District Census Handbook – West Godavari" (PDF). Census of India. p. 22,23–54. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Toursim". Bhimavaram Municipality. Archived from the original on 16 March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  7. 1 2 "About Bhimavaram Municipality". Bhimavaram Municipality. 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Welcome to Bhimavaram Info". bhimavaraminfo.com.
  9. ↑ "Literacy of AP (Census 2011)" (PDF). AP govt. portal. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "Administration". Bhimavaram Municipality. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "Details of Roads in each ULB of Andhra Pradesh". Commissioner and Directorate of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Developmemt Department – Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  12. ↑ "Bus Stations in Districts". Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Vijayawada Division – a profile" (PDF). Indian Railways. Retrieved 2013-02-13.
  14. ↑ "BVRM/Bhimavaram Junction Railway Station". India Rail Info. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Traffic hurdles in Bhimavaram aplenty". Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "The Department of School Education – Official AP State Government Portal | AP State Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "Bhimavaram Schools, Colleges, Engineering Colleges, Degree Colleges List – BhimavaramTV.com". bhimavaramtv.com. Archived from the original on 2014-08-08.
  19. ↑ "SRKR Engineering College". srkrec.ac.in.
  20. ↑ "(Autonomous) Affiliated to Andhra University, Reaccredited at the "A" Level by NAAC". DNR College. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  21. ↑ "Kgrl College". Kgrlcollege.net. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  22. ↑ "Sri Vishnu Educational Society". srivishnu.edu.in.
  23. ↑ "Home". bietbvrm.ac.in.
  24. ↑ "Welcome to GVIT". www.gvit.ac.in.
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