| Buddhism was a dominant religion in the southern Indian | | | | stupas, chaitya grihas, viharas (10 with 72 cells), and a |
| state of Andhra Pradesh. Actually, Andhra Pradesh | | | | stone-pillared congregation hall at Thotlakonda show |
| provided a rich and fertile ground for the rise and | | | | this Buddhist site was once a thriving Buddhist centre. |
| progress of Buddhism in the distant past. So much so | | | | Bavikonda |
| that the religion not only took deep roots in the state | | | | Located at a distance of about 15 km away from the |
| but also spread to the Far East from here. | | | | Vizag City, the Buddhist site of Bavikonda is spread |
| Andhra Pradesh's close links with Buddhism is borne | | | | over an area of 40 acres. Here, the Hinayana from of |
| out of the fact that the state has several Buddhist | | | | Buddhism was widely practiced between the 3rd |
| sites which are rich with Buddhist monasteries, | | | | century BC and 3rd century AD. The site has |
| chaityas, viharas, mahachaityas, and sculptures. | | | | impressive Buddhist remains with a monastery, and an |
| Among the many Buddhist spots of the state, these | | | | urn containing the mortal remains of the Lord Buddha |
| are the leading ones: | | | | being the main ones. |
| Nagarjunakonda | | | | Anupa |
| Nagarjunakonda gets its name from the renowned | | | | This Buddhist site's claim to fame rests on the fact |
| Buddhist scholar and monk Acharya Nagarajuna--the | | | | that here the ruins of a Buddhist university and a |
| founder of the Mahayana form of Buddhism. | | | | stadium have been discovered. |
| Nagarajuna propagated Madhyamika and made Vijay | | | | Sankarm |
| Puri, also called Sriparvata an excellent centre of | | | | A famous Buddhist heritage site and pilgrimage |
| learning. Sriparvata was the capital of the Ikshvaku | | | | destination, the scenic Buddhist site of Sankaram, |
| Kings. | | | | locally called Bojjannakonda, is located 40 km away |
| At present, Nagarjunakonda is famous as an excellent | | | | from the Vizag City. This Andhra Pradesh Buddhist |
| Island Museum where one can see excellent Buddhist | | | | site is unique as here all the three forms of |
| sculptures and artifacts beautifully restored and | | | | Buddhism-Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayan--seem |
| preserved. | | | | to have been practiced in the distant past. The |
| Amravati | | | | discovery of rock-cut caves, monolithic votive stupas, |
| One of the oldest Buddhist sites in India, Amravati--also | | | | chaitya halls, vajrayana sculptures, and votive |
| called Dhanyakatak--is located on the banks of the | | | | platforms at Sankaram further show the site's close |
| Krishna River, and has the largest Buddhist stupa in the | | | | links with Buddhism. |
| world. This wonderful Buddhist spot attracts the | | | | Besides these Buddhist spots, Andhra Pradesh has |
| tourists on the trail of Lord Buddha in good numbers. | | | | several other key Buddhist sites such as |
| Thotlakonda | | | | Jaggayyapeta, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Guntupalli, |
| Located at a distance of 16 km away from the Vizag | | | | Salilhundam, Adurru, and Dhulikatta, besides many |
| City, Thotlakonda is an important Buddhist destination in | | | | others. |
| Andhra Pradesh. The discovery of many Buddhist | | | | |