A memorable visit to Bhadrachalam

During June last week, we visited Bhadralachalam [325 Kms from Hyderabad,Andhra Pradesh in South India] for two days. My family members and relatives-a group of 5 in all spent two days in Bhadrachalam- a famous pilgrim shrine, the abode of Lord Rama, situated at the bank of holy river Godavari. We enjoyed for two days the pilgrimage and Rotary Club District Awards event.

RAMA TEMPLE ON BANKS OF GODAVARI RIVER:
The main attraction is the famous Rama temple built in the 17th century. It has the four-armed idol of Ram holding a bow, arrow, conch shell and the chakra, accompanied by his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. We walked along River Godavari, took few snaps and sprinkled water on head as a custom. I captured this picture near Godavari river.

PARNASHALA is about 35 Kms from Bhadrachalam on the banks of River Godavari. This is supposed to be the exact spot where Rama, during his vanavasa in Dandakaranya, constructed a hermitage and spent his exile with his concert Sita and brother Laxmana. The picturesque display of some scenes of vanavasa could be seen at Parnashala. We could see the foot prints of Sita Devi, Mosaic of Maarecha in the guise of golden deer and Ravana in the guise of Sanyasi for Bhikshatana. We have visited another place in the vicinity Sita Vaagu-where she had bathed and marks of her saree on the fock near Sita Vaagu. We had a brief boat ride in river Godavari at this place though we could not visit due to cancellation of plying of cruise to PAAPIKONDALU picnic spot [50 Kms from Bhadrachalam, where mighty river Godavari narrows down and passes through a stretch of hills and the resultant picturesque is visitor's delight.
ROTARY DISTRICT AWARDS FUNCTION:
It was a glittering Annual event attended by about 400 Rotarians with their family members from various other places. I have joined Rtn. Sivakumar who received 7 Awards on behalf of Rotary Club of Secunderabad West, in recognitions of various service projects by the Club, particularly for the services rendered by me as Director-Vocational Service for the mega Career Seminar on Bio-technology. It was the best satisfaction to us as the recognitions were accorded in a Holy place like Bhadrachalam. We were accommodated in Guest House of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation. We have not seen such a big property of APTDC any where else,which has elegant rooms + sprawling lawns + restaurant attached.

The e-abode of Rama is on http://www.bhadrachalarama.org the web site of Sree Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Vaari Devastanam integrated with audio of Raamdaasa keertana as I browse its home page. I have been listening to it several times while I was compiling this blog.