BDCR/Bhadrachalam Road (3 PFs)

Local Name: Kothagudem

भद्राचलम रोड

భద్రాచలం రోడ్

Track: Single Electric-Line

This station is located in Kothagudem town. But called as 'Bhadrachalam Road' to help the pilgrims, visiting the temple at Bhadrachalam, to co-relate.
-
1. There is a bus stand right outside the railway station. All the buses from 'TSRTC bus stand Kothagudem', going towards the town of Bhadrachalam will stop there. But if you are lucky, you will get seat, if not better take an auto to the bus stand and you can get a seat. The frequency is quite good, as a lot of buses from many parts of AP, TS...
more...

go to Bhadrachalam via Kothagudem.
The distance between the station and the bus stand is just a Km or so.
Pic 3 - The timings are worn off, but it shows that a lot of buses are there.
-
2. The distance between Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam is around 40 Kms. The Express buses take a little over an hour due to bad road conditions and a little diversion into the villages. But other buses like SL, UD, AC buses take just an hour.
-
3. On the way, you will cross the mighty Godavari river and in the right you can also have a distant look at the temple which is located on the banks of the river on top of a hillock.
Pics 1 and 2.
-
4. Tell the conductor and get down before the bus stand at the temple stop. At the stop, there will be autos waiting. Share autos nowadays charge Rs. 15 per head. Near the stop itself there is a temple office, where you can book dormitories and rooms.
-
5. The temple has all the facilities like cloak room, rooms for staying etc... Mobiles too need to be kept in the storage facility as they are not allowed inside.
The climb to the main temple is not steep or arduous, just a hundred or less steps.
Prasadam is available near the back of the temple.
Annadhanam is also there they said, but you will have to enquire. If not, there are many hotels near the temple or many near the bus stand.
After the visit, you can return back to the bus stand by the same share auto basis (Rs. 15).
-
6. Parnashala is another place of interest. It is located some 35 Kms from the temple. There are buses available from the bus stand. Decent frequency from what I inquired. I myself have not gone but seen on my way to another place. As per legend, it was here that Ravana abducted Sita and also the place where Rama and Sita stayed for some time during their exile.
Parnashala and Bhadrachalam are at the south of Dandakaranya forest.
-
You can read more on the net
click here
click here
or
YouTube videos where Parnashala video is available.
There is a hut and wooden figures to depict the story.
Here is one : click here

Facilities available at platform 1:
1) Sleeper class waiting room
2) Upper class waiting room
3) Retiring rooms are located on platform 1 towards the end (not towards Dornakal/Manuguru side)
4) Drinking water facilities
5)...
more...

Toilets
Outside station, there are lot of autos/cabs/buses available to reach Bhadrachalam, the temple town. Autos/cabs charge Rs. 50/- per head from Kothagudem to Bhadrachalam (Kothagudem is place where Bhadrachalam road station is located).
On the main road outside railway station, many hotels and lodges are located.