Bheemunipatnam

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?Bheemunipatnam Andhra Pradesh • India
Bheemunipatnam
Coordinates: 17°32′N 83°16′E / 17.53, 83.26
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Visakhapatnam
Population	44,156 (2001)
Codes • Pincode	• 531 163

Coordinates: 17°32′N 83°16′E / 17.53, 83.26 Bheemunipatnam or Bhimunipatnam or Bimlipatam also known as Bheemili, is a city, a municipality and Mandal headquarters in Visakhapatnam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

It was the first municipality in Indian mainland, established on 9th February 1861. 140-Years of its formation has been celebrated in 2001.

Bheemunipatnam is supposed to have originated in the days of the Pandavas (its named after Bheema). Most probably its origins were around the 16th century, when a boat load of Dutch dropped anchor with the intention of making the lovely harbour (the River Gosthani meets the Bay of Bengal).

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Assembly Constituency
4 Spiritual Organisations
5 Features
6 Panchayats
7 References

[edit] Geography

Bheemunipatnam is located at 17.53N 83.26E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 51 meters (170 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Bheemunipatnam 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.

[edit] Assembly Constituency

Bheemunipatnam is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. There are 1,52,059 registered voters in Bheemunipatnam constituency in 1999 elections.

List of Elected Members:^[3]

1951 - Kaligotla Suryanarayana
1955 - Gottumukkala Jagannadha Raju
1978 - Datla Jagannadha Raju
1983 - Poosapati Anand Gajapathi Raju
1985, 1989, 1994 and 1999 - Raja Sagi Devi Prasanna Appala Narasimha Raju
2004 - Karri Seetharamu

[edit] Spiritual Organisations

Visakahapatnam Branch of Sri Viswa Viznana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham is situated on the sea shore of Bheemunipatnam. It has been Inaugurated By the Finance Minister of Andhra pradesh Shri Yanamala Ramakrishnudu on 2001-12-24. At this ashram regular prayers will be conducted on every thrusday. Disciples Around Visakhapatnam Attend to these Prayers and Spiritual discourses.⁵

A Branch Of Umar Alisha Rural Development Trustis also present in that premises. The trust takes up acitvites such as Blood Donation Camps, Free Homeopathic Medical Camps etc for the benefit of the rural areas near Bheemunipatnam.

[edit] Features

The 25 Kilometers stretch of road from Visakhapatnam literally hugging the coastline is simply breathtaking. Bheemili lies at the mouth of River Gosthani joining the Bay of Bengal and forms an alluring recess to the town. It was one of the Dutch settlements. Hollanders Green as the name indicates started as a resting place for the dead Dutchmen but one can see many English graves. Hollanders Green certainly makes the oldest Christian grave in Andhra Pradesh and the graves of the early Dutchmen. 'Erra Matti Dibbalu', literally meaning Red Earth Hillocks just looks like a mini Chambal Valley. This place is pretty famous than anything else because a number of Telugu movies have been picturised here. There is an old Church dated back to 1850s called 'The Red Church'. Another church, 'The Andhra Baptist' has a rich history of more than 130 years. The Light House dated to 1868 acts as a citadel on the shores of Bheemili beach. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Narasimha on a hillock. Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja China Jeeyar Swami has set up the Vedic Adhyayana Research Institute Jeeyar Ashram (VARIJA) on the pristine beach of Visakhapatnam-Bheemunipatnam Road.