At Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam, This Region Is Famous For Its Buddhist Site

Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam is a port city on the Bay of Bengal. The city is known for its pristine beaches, temples and its rich history. The city attracts tourists, especially because of the spread of Buddhism across the city. One of the ancient Buddhist sites in the region is Thotlakonda. In an interview with Local18, Thotlakonda guide, Lakshman shared that this region is known for the glory and widespread dominance of Buddhism. Historically, the region was influenced by ancient Kalinga, an important source of the spread of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia. Thotlakonda is a hill on the sea coast and was an ideal attraction for the Buddhist monks to build a monastery here.

Maha Stupa is one of the attractions on the hill. It is known to be the remains of many Buddhist masters, who acquired knowledge through Buddhism. As per the guide, the Maha Stupa was built in five parts on the hill. Tourists who visit the site get to learn about each structure from the local guides.

Apart from the Maha Stupa, the hill is also famous for its water tanks. As per Lakshman, 11 water tanks were built for Buddhist monks on the hill. Tourists who visit the city can check out these places. They are made specially so that if they are dug on top of the hill, water can be stored year round here. As per the local guide, the construction at that time was made without any technical knowledge. Archaeologists identified the existence of the Hinayana Buddhist sect dating back to 300 BC.

The region gradually became a symbol of Buddhism in the city. Thotlakonda came to light during an aerial survey by the Indian Navy for setting up a naval base. As per Lakshman, the Thotlakonda Buddhist site was first identified in 1970. In 1978, the Andhra Pradesh Department of Archeology and Museums declared the Buddhist site as a protected monument under the Andhra Pradesh Antiquities, Historical Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960.

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