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.
An alternative explanation is, that the sound va (labiodental) is preferred to ba, pa (labials) in colloquial language and over a period of time tend to shift from pa to va. Hence "varam" from "puram".
Demographics
As of 2011[update]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 108,535 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] It has many major retail brand shops.
Governance
Civic administration
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]
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.
There are as many as 2,69,137 vehicle owners are licensed according to transport officials in the town. 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]
the Gunupudi Someswara (Somarama) temple, which is one of the five holy Pancharamas and
the temple of the local deity Mavullamma. The Shivalingam is known for changing its color according to the lunar month: Black during amavasya and white during pournami. Mavullamma is believed to have manifested herself here in the year 1200 CE with the temple being built around 1880 CE. According to local folklore the goddess' idol appeared inside a mango farm earning her the name Mamillamma (arising from mangoes) which was later modified to Mavullamma.
Many people from the city have become notable in the Telugu cinema industry such as:
Primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided, and private schools of the School Education Department of the state.[16][17] The mediums 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:
^"Details of Roads in each ULB of Andhra Pradesh". Commissioner and Directorate of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department – Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
^"School Education Department"(PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
.svg)
