Temple Gopuram & Rajagopuram

Towers over the town

The gopurams, or gateway towers, of the Sri Sita Ramachandraswamy Temple are the landmark of Bhadrachalam. They are tiered towers covered in brightly painted stucco figures of gods, guardians and scenes from the Ramayana. They stand at the top of the steps that climb from the main street to the temple, and they can be seen from much of the town and from the river.

What to look for

Stand back and look at the tiers from the bottom up. The lower levels show guardian figures, and the upper ones show scenes from Rama's story and forms of Vishnu. The whole tower is crowned with a row of kalasas, the pot-shaped finials. The colours are renewed from time to time, and after fresh painting they are at their brightest.

Photographing the gopurams

Photography is not allowed inside the temple, so the gopurams are where most visitors take their temple photo. The best close view is from the steps below. Shoot upward to show the height, or step back into the street to fit in the full tower with pilgrims climbing towards it. From the Godavari bank, the towers rise above the town's rooftops. After dark, the lit towers make a good evening photo.

Crowds and changes

On Sri Rama Navami, Vaikuntha Ekadasi and weekends, the steps below the towers are packed, and stopping for photos holds up the queue. Step aside to shoot. A major expansion of the temple complex was launched in 2026, so scaffolding and changed approaches are possible. Remember that shoes come off before you climb the final steps to the temple.