Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple, Bhadrachalam
Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem district (on the Godavari) · Lord Rama as Vaikuntha Rama (four-armed, holding conch, discus, bow and arrow) with Sita seated on his lap and Lakshmana beside him
The 17th-century Rama temple of Bhakta Ramadasu on the Godavari, home of the state's Sri Rama Navami celestial wedding.
Bhadrachalam is the most important Rama temple in the Telugu lands, on a hill called Bhadradri above the Godavari river. The present temple was built in the second half of the 17th century by Kancharla Gopanna, a revenue officer under the last Golconda sultan. He is remembered as the poet-saint Bhakta Ramadasu. Every Sri Rama Navami, the wedding of Sita and Rama (Sita Rama Kalyanam) is held here in front of lakhs of devotees. Talambralu with pearls and silk robes are sent on behalf of the state government, a custom that goes back to the Qutb Shahi kings.
Timings
- Temple opens: approx. 4:00 AM (Suprabhatam 4:00 AM on Sundays, 4:30 AM Mon–Sat)
- Morning darshan: approx. 5:30 AM – 1:00 PM (paused for Nitya Kalyanam and rituals)
- Afternoon closure: approx. 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Evening darshan: approx. 3:00 – 9:00 PM
- Temple closes: approx. 9:00 – 9:30 PM after Pavalimpu Seva
- Special darshan counter: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM (₹100)
Darshan types and costs
- Sarva Darshan – Free
- Special Darshanam – ₹100 per person
- Sri Rama Navami Kalyanam tickets (Mithila Stadium sectors) – 2025: ₹7,500 (2 persons, special), and sector tickets at ₹2,500 / ₹2,000 / ₹1,000 / ₹300 / ₹150 (1 person each)
- Sri Rama Maha Pattabhishekam ticket – 2025: ₹1,500 (2 persons)
- Vaikuntha Ekadasi Uttara Dwara Darshan – Past years: ₹250 – ₹2,000 (2021–22). Check official site
Sevas and costs
- Suprabhatam – ₹200 (Mon–Sat 4:30 AM; Sundays 4:00 AM)
- Abhishekam at Bhadruni Kovela – ₹100 (Mon–Sat, 7:00 AM)
- Antaralaya Abhishekam (main deity) – ₹1,500 (Sundays, 7:00 AM)
- Antaralaya Archana – ₹300 (Daily, 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM)
- Sahasranamarchana – ₹200 (Daily, 8:30 AM)
- Nitya Kalyanam – ₹1,500 (Daily, 9:00 AM (Beda Mandapam))
- Veda Ashirvachanam – ₹500 (Daily, after darshan, in the Beda Mandapam: every 30 minutes, 8:00 – 11:30 AM and 5:00 –…)
- Vendi Ratha Seva (silver chariot) – ₹1,116 (Daily, 6:00 PM)
- Alaya Chuttu Seva – ₹500 (Daily, 7:00 PM)
- Vahana Seva – ₹1,000 (bearers' charges extra) (Daily, 7:00 PM)
- Pavalimpu Seva – ₹200 (Daily, 9:00 PM)
- Sandhya Harathi – ₹500 (Fridays, 6:00 PM)
- Suvarna Tulasi Ashtottara Namarchana – ₹500 (Saturdays, 8:30 – 11:00 AM)
- Suvarna Pushpa Ashtottara Namarchana – ₹500 (Sundays, 9:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Tulasimala Alankarana – ₹1,000 (Saturdays, 7:00 AM)
- Sri Rama Pattabhishekam – ₹1,000 (Monthly on Pushyami (Pushya) nakshatra, 11:00 AM)
- Sudarshana Homam – ₹1,516 (Monthly on Chitta (Chitra) nakshatra, 9:00 AM)
- Laksha Kumkumarchana – ₹500 (Monthly on Bahula (Krishna paksha) Ekadasi, 3:30 PM)
- Weekly abhishekams of sub-shrines – ₹100 each (8:00 AM: Anjaneya (Tue), Ranganayaka (Wed), Govindaraja (Thu), Lakshmi Tayaru (Fri),…)
- Nithya Sarva Kainkarya Seva (Udayasthamana Seva) – ₹5,000 (Daily, 5:00 AM – 9:30 PM (full day))
- Nithya Pula Alankarana Seva – ₹5,000 (Mon–Sat)
- Tulabharam – ₹100 (ticket; the offered material is extra) (Daily, 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM and 3:00 – 8:00 PM)
- Gopuja – ₹25 (Daily, 8:00 AM – 12:00 noon)
- Sri Rama Navami Mutyala Samarpana – ₹10,000 (During the Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavam)
- Mutyala Talambralu by post – 2025: ₹1,116 (talambralu + jaggery prasadam) and ₹5,000 (with scarf/holy cloth); check official site (Booked around Sri Rama Navami)
How to book darshan
All Arjitha sevas, special darshan, rooms, talambralu and Kalyanam tickets are sold on the official Devasthanam website, which runs on the Telangana Endowments platform. Counters at the temple sell remaining seva tickets.
Bhadrachalam Devasthanam official booking site
Dress code
Traditional dress is expected for all Arjitha sevas, the Kalyanam and antaralaya entry. Men: dhoti/pancha with an upper cloth (kanduva); women: saree, half-saree or chudidar with dupatta. Avoid shorts, sleeveless tops and jeans even in the general queue.
Best time to visit
October to March for pleasant weather. Sri Rama Navami (March/April) for the Kalyanam, and Vaikuntha Ekadasi (Dec/Jan) for Uttara Dwara darshan and the Godavari Teppotsavam, if you can handle very large crowds. Summers are very hot (40°C+). During the monsoon (July–September) the Godavari can flood and close the ghats and roads.
How to reach
- air: Rajahmundry (approx. 180–190 km), Vijayawada (approx. 190–200 km) or Hyderabad (approx. 310–320 km). Taxis and buses run from all three.
- rail: Bhadrachalam Road station (code BDCR) at Kothagudem, approx. 40 km. Has direct trains from Secunderabad (check current timetable). Buses and taxis run from the station to Bhadrachalam.
- road: TGSRTC and APSRTC buses from Hyderabad (MGBS, about 7–8 hours), Khammam (about 120 km), Vijayawada and Rajahmundry. The town is on the Godavari, with a bridge to the Andhra Pradesh side.
Festivals
- Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavam (Vasanta Paksha Tirukalyana Brahmotsavam) – Chaitra month (Mar/Apr), about 12–15 days. In 2026 the Kalyanam was scheduled for 27 March and the Maha Pattabhishekam for 28 March; in 2025 they were on 6 and 7 April
- Vaikuntha (Mukkoti) Ekadasi and Adhyayanotsavam – Margashira/Pushya month (Dec/Jan), festival about 21 days. In 2026, Mukkoti Ekadasi falls around 20 December (check official calendar)
- Dasara / Vijayadasami – Ashvayuja month (Sep/Oct), 10 days
- Vasanthotsavam – Around Holi (Phalguna Pournami, Feb/Mar)
- Bhakta Ramadasu Jayanti – Magha month (Jan/Feb), check official site
- Kartika Masam / Laksha Deepotsavam – Oct/Nov