Bavikonda Buddhist Complex lies about 16 km from Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, 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, supposed to be one of the remains of the Buddha, *Inscriptions, * Pottery, *Relic caskets, *Tiles, *Bricks, *Coins etc. were recovered here by the State archaeological Department. The Buddhist sites of Thotlakonda 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) has already appealed to the authorities to ensure better protection of Buddhist sites by taking up the declaration of Bavikonda, Thotlakonda,

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. 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 Visakhapatnam 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 Visakhapatnam 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