(Bheemunipatnam (also known as Bheemili)[3]), is a suburb of Visakhapatnam, India. The town was named after Bhima, a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It was formerly administered under the Bheemunipatnam municipality but merged into GVMC in 2017. It is currently under the administration of Bheemunipatnam Revenue Division and its headquarters is at Bheemunipatnam.
Historical evidences of Buddhist Culture have been noticed at Bheemunipatnam dating back to 3rd century BCE on the hillock Pavurallakonda[4] (also known as Narsimhaswami Konda locally) in the town. Buddhist remains were found during the excavations here along with Relic caskets. Both the schools of Buddhism Hinayana and Mahayana were propagated in this land and also to the far east lands from the port of River Gosthani. See pavurallakonda page for more details.
Narasimha temple
Galigopuram of Narasimha temple
There is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha on the eastern side of Pavurallakonda facing the sea. As per the historical evidences the temple is constructed around 14th century by Mindi[5] Kings. There are two more temples in the town of Bhimili, which date back to the times of Chola's as Bheemeswaralayam and Choleswaralayam.
Dutch settlements
A Dutch map of Bheemunipatnam by Coenraad Pieter Keller with the projected new fort from 1756.
Known to the Dutch as Bimilipatnam, Bheemunipatnam was one among the major Dutch settlements[6] of the Dutch Coromandel coast in the 17th century. There are remnants of the Dutch East India Company trading post when the town was a port. The town contains one of the oldest Christian cemeteries on the coast.[7] Bhimili also had a currency mint[8] during the times of Dutch. Portuguese also visited Bhimili in the same time as the Dutch. St.Peter's church is a historical monument which signifies the ancient architecture.[9]
After Bheemunipatnam was plundered by Maratha troops in 1754, the local regent permitted the Dutch East India Company to construct a fort in the village, for which military engineer Coenraad Pieter Keller drew up plans. The fort that was constructed subsequently collapsed twice, for which Keller had to defend himself in front of his superiors in Batavia.[10]
East India Company
The British East India Company made Bheemunipatnam their main trading base on the east coast. The Bhimili port used to operate passenger vessels to Madras and Calcutta during the British Raj. The big clock tower in the town was built by the British.
Bheemunipatnam Port Trust
Bheemunipatnam (Bheemili ) was one of the ancient Dutch Harbor Towns. European merchants disembarked from the ships and made it their port. It was a Major port and Europeans resided here during the East India Company regime. Until 1958, huge ships from Malaysia and Singapore arrived at this port. Perfumes, textiles, etc were exported to other countries from here. There was a huge coco plantation spread across the local beaches that was also exported. Bheemunipatnam Port Trust was closed during British rule in India to Develop Visakhapatnam Port Trust and avoid other invaders entering the country. However, the lighthouse constructed by the British at Bheemunipatnam port stands as a witness to the European regime.
Nowadays Andhra Pradesh Government Wants to open the port again.
Demographics
According to Imperial Gazetteer of India,[11] It was entirely Zamindari land belonging to the Vizianagram estate. As of 2001[update] India census,[12] it had a population of 44,156. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Bheemunipatnam has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 67% and female literacy of 54%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Bos, J. (2019). "A Disastrous Project: C. P. Keller and the Fortification (Plans) of Bimilipatnam". In Storms, M.; Cams, M.; Demhardt, I.; Ormeling, F. (eds.). Mapping Asia: Cartographic Encounters Between East and West. Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography. Springer. pp. 219–228. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-90406-1_15.
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