Location: "Parnasala, Telangana 507137"
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/DOppGIa7B8g
Around 38 KMs from Bhadrachalam town is the pilgrimage place of Pranasala village with a beautiful temple dedicated to Shri Rama, belonging to the Bhadradri Kothagudem District. It was earlier part of the Khammam district of Telengana. It is one of the several Hindu temples connected with Epic Ramayana.
This place on the banks of the mighty Godavari river
is one of the most peaceful, serene, and enchanting places that one must visit
if in and around Bhadrachalam. The temple is situated in a very beautiful
village and walk around the temple through the village gives an enchanting
experience. There are a lot of shops and eateries near the Godavari bank with
beautiful view of the river. One can easily spent a peaceful 2-3 hours here.
Legend:
According to legend Shri Rama spent some of the 14
years of exile at this location. Parnasala is said to be the place where the
evil-minded demon king Ravana abducted Goddess Sita. The locals believe
that Sita,
the beloved consort of "Shri Rama" bathed in the stream here and
dried her clothes on "Radhagutta"
where the imprints are seen even today. The demon king "Ravana"
parked his Pushpaka on the hillock on the opposite
side of the river and abducted her. An earthen ditch reportedly caused
when Ravana removed
earth to carry off Sita to Lanka can
be seen here.
Another legend states that this historical village is
the place where Maricha was killed by Shri Ram when he came in disguise as a
golden deer to deceive Goddess Sita.
A small hut in Pranasala consists of the beautifully
painted sculptures of Lord Rama, Sita, and Lakshman. Here, one can see
Seethavagu, where the beloved consort of Rama bathed, and Naracheeralu, where
goddess Sitha dried her clothes on 'Radhagutta'. The place is also known as
Shoka Rama as it depicts the sorrowful mood of the Rama in his life. There are
also footprints around the town depicting the traces of Lord Rama's stay. Also,
there are footprints of the golden deer and wheels of Ravana's Chariot in which
he kidnapped Sita.
The hermitage was built by Shri Rama was named
Parnasala because it was surrounded by trees (Parna means leaves and Sala means
house). It is said that Lord Rama used to offer prayers to Lord Shiva at a
nearby cave temple called Shiva cave.
History:
The history of Parnasala can be
traced back to the Vedic period. The Vedas mention the importance of forests
and their conservation, and the forests surrounding Parnasala were considered
sacred. The village is located on the banks of the river Godavari, which has
been mentioned in the Vedas as one of the seven holy rivers of India.
Parnasala is also associated with
the Buddhist period.
Major
Festivals:
·
Ekadashi
·
Shri Rama Navami
·
Karthika Poornima
How
to Reach:
By Air: The nearest airport is at Hyderabad,
around 300 km. from Bhadrachalam
Train: The nearest railway station is near
Kothagudem and Manugur.
By Road: Parnashala
is 70 KMs away
from Kothagudem town. There are frequent
buses available to Parnasala from Bhadrachalam once every 2 hours.
Timings and Entry:
Morning: 5 am to 1 pm
Evening: 3 pm to 8:30 pm
Entry Fee: Free
Nearby
Places to visit:
·
Abhaya Anjaneya Temple (17th
century) again built by Bhakta Ramadasu
·
Seetha Ramachandraswamy temple at
Bhadrachalam of course
·
Boating in Godavari
·
Papikondalu tourism
Photography:
Photography is not allowed inside the temple. But
there are photographers who can click your or family photograph for Rs 100/-.
It’s a very calm, peaceful and well managed environment inside. From outside
photography is allowed. Drone can be used from a distance outside.
Parking is near the entry gate of the temple. I don’t
remember if there is any parking charge, most probably there is none, but some
online content is showing 100 Rs, which I doubt. Parking can also be done in
the middle in front of the back gate on the Godavari River view point where
there are a lot of shops for breakfast/lunch and souvenirs.