SANKARAM BUDDHIST EXCAVATIONS,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

• One of the most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh, Sankaram is located some 41 km away from Visakhapatnam. 

• The name Sankaram derives from the term Sangharama. Sankaram is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. 

• The main stupa here was initially carved out of rock and then covered with bricks. 

               

                                    

• In close proximity lies yet another significant Buddhist sites, Bojjanakonda, where you can see a number of images of the Buddha carved on the rock face of the caves. 

• At Ligalametta,there are hundreds of rock cut monolithic stupas in rows, spread all over the hill. Among other Buddhist attractions here are relic casket, three chiatya halls, votive platforms, stupas and Vajrayana sculptures. 

• The Vihara was functional for around a millennium and saw the development of the not only Theravada form of Buddhism but also Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism.

            

                                  

• Ancient Buddist sites are all around surronded Visakhapatnam, most of which have been excavated recently . The imprint of Buddhist legacy is so strong here that the interest of archeologists in this area is growing by the day.

  

LINE OF THREE HILLS,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Visakhapatnam is framed by a line of three hills, each with a shrine sacred to different religions. Venkateswara temple on the south hill called Sri Venkateswara Konda is a Hindu shrine. The north hill Darga Konda houses a Muslim shrine, Baba Ishaq Madina Dargah and the Christian shrine, Church of the Virgin Mary is on the central and the highest Ross Hill. 

• Sri Venkateswara Konda has a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, this hill on the south of the line of three hills, is believed to have been built by an European Captain Blackmoor in 1866, according to the Telugu inscriptions. Pyramidal entrance gopura, which is small steeply present in this temple. From here one can view the port channel, which was the entrance of the inner harbour for ships and liners.

                

                               

• Named after Monsieur Ross, the highest mount Ross Hill is among the line of three hills, the central one.Roman Catholic Chapel 'Mother Mary's Church' present over the hilltop was house built a on it by Monsieur Ross in 1864 which was later converted.

• Shrines of the stages of the cross are lined through the pathway to the church. Even from this ross hill excellent views of the ship building yard can be seen. 

• The north hillock of the line of three hills has a mosque and the mausoleum of the Muslim saint, Baba Ishaq Madina Darga Konda, who was revered for his prophecies, is known as Darga konda. It has been visited and venerated by Hindu and Muslim devotees alike.  

             

                                             

  

DOLPHIN'S NOSE ,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

• Dolphin's Nose, a mammoth rocky headland of about 174 meter high, is situated in the southern part of Visakhapatnam city. 

   

                                

• The rock resembles a dolphin’s nose is nicely placed at an altitude of 358 meter with its projection to the Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam. 

      

                                               

• This is a verdant attraction for many visitors as it is nature’s gift in its rarest form. 

       

                                

• A renowned powerful light house highly useful for the shippers and has a light beam that can be seen as far as 64 km out at sea is also placed nearby. 

                                                                                            

• One can have a panoramic view of the city from this place.