Bavikonda Buddhist Complex lies about 16 km from

Visakhapatnam , image_alt = , image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura (S20), INS ...

, in the

Indian state India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions. History Pre-indepen ...

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

, on a hill about 130 metres above mean sea level. The term Bavikonda in

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...

means a hill of wells. As per its name, Bavikonda is a hill which has wells for the collection of rainwater. Bavikonda Monastic ruins dates back to the 3rd century BCE. A large Buddhist complex was excavated at this site. The excavated remnants are as follows: *A piece of bone stored in an

urn An urn is a vase, often with a cover, with a typically narrowed neck above a rounded body and a footed pedestal. Describing a vessel as an "urn", as opposed to a vase or other terms, generally reflects its use rather than any particular shape or ...

, supposed to be one of the remains of the

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...

, *Inscriptions, *

Pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other ceramic materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. Major types include earthenware, stoneware and por ...

, *Relic caskets, *Tiles, *Bricks, *Coins etc. were recovered here by the State archaeological Department. The Buddhist sites of

Thotlakonda Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex is situated on a hill near Bheemunipatnam about from Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, India. The hill is about above sea level and overlooks the sea. The Telugu name ''Toṭlakoṇḍa'' derived from the presence ...

and

Pavurallakonda Pavurallakonda or Pavurallabodu is the local name of a hill, popularly known as Narasimhaswamy Konda, near Bheemunipatnam about 25 km towards north of Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located at a height of ab ...

are situated close by. The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage (

INTACH The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is a non-profit charitable organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. In 2007, the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative status with Unite ...

) has already appealed to the authorities to ensure better protection of Buddhist sites by taking up the declaration of Bavikonda,

and

Bojjannakonda Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda are two Buddhism rock-cut caves on adjacent hillocks, situated near a village called Sankaram, Anakapalle of ancient Kalinga. in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The sites are believed to date between 4th and 9 ...

as heritage sites by

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

. This will not only pave the way for steady flow of funds but also generate employment opportunities for the locals.

Gallery

File:Bavikonda stupas.JPG, Bavikonda stupas

File:A stone stupa at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg, A stone stupa at Bavikonda File:Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg, Stupa at Bavikonda near Visakhapatnam File:Bavikonda Mahastupa Visakhapatnam AP.jpg, Bavikonda Mahastupa

File:Walls of Apsidal stupa at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg, Walls of Apsidal stupa at Bavikonda File:Votive Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg, Votive Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam File:Vihara at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg, Vihara at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam File:Votive stupas at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg, Votive stupas at Bavikonda File:View at Bavikonda in Visakhapatnam.jpg, View at Bavikonda in Visakhapatnam File:Bricks on a votive stupa at Bavikonda.jpg, Bricks on a votive stupa at Bavikonda

References

External links

{{Authority control Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh Stupas in India Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh Tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam Buildings and structures in Visakhapatnam district