Bhadradri Kothagudem is a large district in eastern Telangana, with Kothagudem town as its administrative headquarters. The district was formed from the erstwhile Khammam district on 11 October 2016 during Telangana’s district reorganisation. It combines major coal-mining and power-generation centres with extensive forests, the Godavari river belt and important pilgrimage destinations. Kothagudem is closely associated with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited, while Bhadrachalam is one of Telangana’s best-known temple towns. Other major attractions include Parnasala and Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary. The district administration records an area of 7,483 sq. km, a population of 10,69,261 and a literacy rate of 66.40 percent based on 2011 Census figures.
Quick Overview of Bhadradri Kothagudem District
| Particular | Details |
| State | Telangana |
| District Headquarters | Kothagudem |
| District Formation | 11 October 2016 |
| Area | 7,483 sq. km |
| Population | 10,69,261 |
| Literacy Rate | 66.40% |
| Revenue Divisions | 2 |
| Revenue Divisions Names | Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam |
| Mandals | 23 |
| Revenue Villages | 481 |
| Gram Panchayats | 479 on the current Panchayat Raj page |
| Current Municipalities | 4 on the dedicated municipalities page |
| Main Court | District Court Complex, Bhadradri Kothagudem |
| Main Railway Station | Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station |
| Railway Station Code | BDCR |
| Railway Zone | South Central Railway |
| Railway Division | Secunderabad Division |
| Main Kothagudem PIN Code | 507101 |
| Nearest Airport by District Travel Page | Vijayawada Airport |
| Official District Website | kothagudem.telangana.gov.in |
A small official-data difference should be noted. The district’s dedicated municipalities page currently lists four municipalities—Kothagudem, Palvancha, Manuguru and Yellandu—while the demographic summary still displays five municipalities. This guide uses the dedicated municipal listing for the present urban-body count.
Location of Bhadradri Kothagudem District
Bhadradri Kothagudem lies in the eastern and southeastern part of Telangana. It shares boundaries with Khammam, Mahabubabad and Jayashankar Bhupalpally districts and also borders Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The district’s position gives it strong road, industrial and cultural links with both Telangana and neighbouring states.
The Godavari River is the district’s most important river and passes through the Bhadrachalam region. The Kinnerasani River and reservoir are also important geographical features. Large areas of the district are forested, particularly towards Bhadrachalam, Dummugudem, Cherla, Gundala and the Kinnerasani side. Coal deposits have strongly shaped Kothagudem’s economy, while thermal power generation, paper manufacturing, agriculture and forest produce also contribute to the district’s economic importance.
Administration of Bhadradri Kothagudem District
Kothagudem town is the district administrative headquarters. The district has two revenue divisions: Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam. The current district portal records 23 mandals.
Mandals of Bhadradri Kothagudem District
- Allapalli
- Annapureddypalli
- Aswapuram
- Aswaraopeta
- Bhadrachalam
- Burgampadu
- Chandrugonda
- Cherla
- Chunchupalli
- Dammapeta
- Dummugudem
- Gundala
- Julurupadu
- Karakagudem
- Kothagudem
- Laxmidevipalli
- Manuguru
- Mulakalapalle
- Palwancha
- Pinapaka
- Sujathanagar
- Tekulapalle
- Yellandu
The demographic profile records 481 revenue villages. The Panchayat Raj department’s current page lists 479 Gram Panchayats covering the rural administrative network. Revenue administration, land matters, certificates and related public services are handled through the Collectorate, revenue divisional offices and mandal-level Tahsildar offices.
Municipalities and Important Towns
The dedicated municipal page currently lists four municipalities:
- Kothagudem
- Palvancha
- Manuguru
- Yellandu
Bhadrachalam is another major urban and pilgrimage centre even though it is not included in the current four-municipality list. Kothagudem, Palvancha, Manuguru, Yellandu and Bhadrachalam are among the district’s most important commercial, industrial or pilgrimage centres.
Bhadradri Kothagudem District Court
The district-level judiciary operates from the District Court Complex at Bhadradri Kothagudem. The judicial structure includes district and subordinate civil and criminal courts. The District Legal Services Authority also operates from the court complex and provides legal-aid services to eligible persons.
Citizens can use the official eCourts services to check case status, hearing dates, cause lists, court orders, case numbers and CNR details.
District Court Location
District Court Complex, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Telangana – 507101
The court complex is in the Kothagudem headquarters area and can be reached from the railway station, bus stand and major parts of the town by autorickshaw, taxi or other local road transport.
Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station
The principal railway station serving Kothagudem district headquarters is officially named Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station.
Railway Station Code: BDCR
Indian Railways lists Bhadrachalam Road under South Central Railway. The station comes under the Secunderabad Division and is the main railhead for Kothagudem town. The district administration also uses Bhadrachalam Road as the official railway station for reaching Kothagudem.
The name can be confusing to first-time visitors because Bhadrachalam Road station is in the Kothagudem area rather than in Bhadrachalam temple town. Bhadrachalam itself does not have a railway station in the town. Travellers going to the Bhadrachalam temple usually reach Kothagudem/Bhadrachalam Road by train and continue by road. Manuguru is another useful railway station for the eastern side of the district.
Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station Location
Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station is located in the Kothagudem urban area. Autorickshaws, local vehicles and taxis are normally available for Kothagudem town, Palvancha and onward road travel towards Bhadrachalam.
Road Connectivity
Road transport is particularly important in Bhadradri Kothagudem because several important pilgrimage, forest and industrial locations are away from the main railway station. Kothagudem has regular bus links with Hyderabad and major towns in Telangana as well as routes towards Andhra Pradesh. The district administration lists state-run bus services from Kothagudem towards Hyderabad, Kodad, Tirupati, Guntur and Visakhapatnam.
Kothagudem and Bhadrachalam are major bus centres for travel within the district. Road connections are also important for Palvancha, Manuguru, Yellandu, Aswaraopeta, Kinnerasani, Parnasala, Dummugudem and other interior areas.
Nearest Airport to Bhadradri Kothagudem
Bhadradri Kothagudem does not have a commercial airport of its own. The district’s current travel page lists Vijayawada Airport at about 142 km from Kothagudem and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad at about 208 km. The actual best airport depends on the destination within this large district and the available flight.
Vijayawada can be the shorter road option for Kothagudem-side travel, while Hyderabad generally offers a much wider choice of domestic and international flights. For Bhadrachalam and the eastern side of the district, road distance can differ substantially from the Kothagudem figures.
Bhadradri Kothagudem Pin Code
The main PIN code of Kothagudem is 507101. India Post lists Kothagudem Collieries Head Office under PIN 507101. Different towns and industrial areas in the district use separate postal codes.
- Kothagudem – 507101
- Bhadrachalam – 507111
- Palvancha – 507115
- Manuguru Collieries – 507117
- Sujathanagar – 507120
- Yellandu – 507123
- Sarapaka – 507128
- Cherla – 507133
- Aswaraopeta – 507301
- Dammapeta – 507306
Therefore, 507101 should not be used for every address in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The correct PIN depends on the specific town, colony, village or serving post office.
Major Tourist Places in Bhadradri Kothagudem District
Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple, Bhadrachalam
Bhadrachalam is the district’s best-known pilgrimage destination and stands on the banks of the Godavari River. The Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and attracts large numbers of devotees, especially during major religious festivals. The district tourism page places Bhadrachalam about 50 km by road from Kothagudem.
Parnasala
Parnasala is a religious and scenic village about 32 km from Bhadrachalam. Local tradition connects the place with episodes from the Ramayana, including the exile of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. It is reached mainly by road, and the district tourism portal also notes boat access in the area.
Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary
Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary lies near Palvancha and is one of the district’s major natural attractions. The sanctuary covers about 635.4 sq. km and includes forest habitat supporting wildlife such as leopard, spotted deer, gaur and numerous bird species. The Kinnerasani River and reservoir add to the landscape.
Peddamma Talli Temple
Peddamma Talli Temple is located near Palvancha on the Khammam–Bhadrachalam route. The district tourism page places it only a short distance from Palvancha town, making it easy to combine with other Kothagudem–Palvancha attractions.
Dummugudem and the Godavari Region
Dummugudem lies in the Godavari belt and is known for its river landscape and major irrigation activity. The broader Bhadrachalam–Dummugudem corridor is important for both pilgrimage travel and river-based sightseeing.
FAQs About Bhadradri Kothagudem District
Q. Is Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station actually in Bhadrachalam?
No. Bhadrachalam Road Railway Station, code BDCR, serves Kothagudem town. Bhadrachalam temple town is farther away by road. This is important when booking accommodation or arranging pickup from the station.
Q. Which railway station is best for visiting Bhadrachalam Temple?
Bhadrachalam Road at Kothagudem is the main railhead used by many visitors. From there, the temple is reached by road. Depending on the train and the traveller’s route, Manuguru can also be useful for some eastern parts of the district.
Q. Can Bhadrachalam and Parnasala be covered on the same day?
Yes. Parnasala is about 32 km from Bhadrachalam, so the two places are commonly combined. Visitors should start early if they want temple darshan, time at the Godavari riverfront and a relaxed visit to Parnasala.
Q. Is Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary close to Kothagudem?
It is closer to Palvancha. The district tourism information places the sanctuary about 12 km from Palvancha in one description, while its detailed travel section gives about 21 km by road. Visitors should therefore follow the current local route rather than relying on a single straight-line distance.
Q. Which airport is more convenient—Vijayawada or Hyderabad?
For Kothagudem, the district travel page lists Vijayawada Airport at about 142 km and Hyderabad airport at about 208 km. Vijayawada may reduce road travel, but Hyderabad normally offers many more flight choices. The better option depends on the flight schedule and final destination.
Q. Is 507101 the PIN code for all of Bhadradri Kothagudem?
No. 507101 is the main Kothagudem PIN. Bhadrachalam, Palvancha, Manuguru, Yellandu, Aswaraopeta and other towns use different PIN codes.
