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Context: The President of India laid the foundation stone for the project ‘Development of Pilgrimage Facilities at Bhadrachalam Group of Temples’ at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam in the Bhadradri Kothagudem District of the state of Telangana.

Details:

Bhadrachalam Temple:

Situated on left bank of Godavari river in the state of Telangana
Dedicated to Lord Rama
Has dravidian style architecture with an influence of Mughal Art
It was contructed in 17th Centuary by Bhakta Ramdasu (popularly known as Bhakt Raamadaas). He was born as Gopanna.
The temple at Bhadrachalam, Sri Seetha Ramchandra Swamyvari Devasthanam, is said to be more than 350 years old and is closely associated with epic of Ramayana.
It is believed that Lord Rama with his wife Goddess Sita and brother Lakshmana spent some part of their 14 years of exile at a village called Parnasala, a part of Dandakaranya forest near Bhadrachalam Temple.

PRASAD Scheme:

The Government of India launched the PRASAD scheme in the year 2014-2015 under the Ministry of Tourism. The full form of the PRASAD scheme is ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’.
This scheme focuses on developing and identifying pilgrimage sites across India for enriching the religious tourism experience. It aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience.
The growth of domestic tourism hugely depends on pilgrimage tourism.
For tapping the potential of pilgrimage tourism, there is a need for holistic development of the selected pilgrimage destinations by the government along with the cooperation of other stakeholders.
The PRASAD scheme aims at paving the way for the development and promotion of religious tourism in India.