Bhimavaram is a city in West Godavari district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhimavaram mandal in Narasapuram revenue division. As of 2011 census, it is the second most populous city in the district with a population of 142,184. It one of the major pilgrimage centers in the state, which is home to Somaramam, one of the five great Pancharama Kshetras. 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. Various stone inscriptions have been found in the town dating from his reign (c. 1096 C.E.). Bhimavaram is located 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. The town 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. Bhimavaram is famous for the Gunupudi Someswara (Somarama) temple, which is one of the five holy Pancharamas. Built during the 3rd century A.D., the Shiva lingam is known for changing its color according to the lunar month; black during amavasya and white during pournami. There are many notable people from cinema industry such as, Byrraju Ramalinga Raju, Trivikram Srinivas, Sivaji Raja, Penmatsa Subbaraju, Sunil (actor), Prabhas, Raja Ravindra, J V K Narayana Raju,etc. Other notable personalities include Chintalapati Venkata Prasada (Ch.V.P) Murthy Raju, K. V. K. Raju, Yellapragada Subbarow in Science field, Swami Jnanananda in mystics, Sri Dantuluri Narayana Raju (an academician), Sagi Rama Krishnam Raju. The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools of the School Education Department of the state. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu. There are numerous educational institutions in and around Bhimavaram. Some of the renowned institutions are S.R.K.R Engineering College, D.N.R Educational Institutions, K.G.R.L Group of Educational Institutions, Sri Vishnu Educational Society, Bhimavaram Institute of Engineering & Technology, Grandhi Varalakshmi Venkatarao Institute of Technology (GVIT).
