Monday, March 14, 2011

SANKARAM BUDDHIST EXCAVATIONS ,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

  • The settlement consists of two kinds of structures — religious and secular. 

  • Religious structures include stupas, chaityagrihas, assemblage and platforms. Secular constructions include viharas, kitchen, stores etc.
                               
                                           
  • Hinayana school of Buddhism was practiced at Bavikonda. It contained large quantities of ash, charcoal, bone and earthenware which probably were the remains of Gautama Buddha.
                             
                                         
  • This proves that Buddhist civilization seems to have flourished in Southern India once upon a time.  

SANKARAM BUDDHIST EXCAVATIONS ,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH


  • Its altitude is 138 mt. A small area of about 40 acres flat-terraced land, which is filled with Buddhist occupancy. 

  • It is said that Buddhist monasteries flourished here during the period of 3rd Century B.C. and 3rd Century A.D. Bavikonda is left with a Buddhist compound where about 26 structures in three phases can be evidently seen. 

  • It is said that one can trace the existence of Buddhism with its earthly remains of a bone piece piled within an urn. 
                                  
                                         
  • The artifacts recovered here include Roman coins and satavahana coins apart from pottery dating back to 3rd century BC and 2nd Century A.D. 

  • Excavations on the hill-top brought to light an extensive Buddhist establishment consisting of a Mahachaitya, stupas, chaityagrihas, a congregation hall, platforms, viharas, kitchen-cum-store complex, pottery, relic caskets, tiles, stuccos, iron objects, moulded bricks, coins etc.  

SANKARAM BUDDHIST EXCAVATIONS ,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

  • Bavikonda in Telugu means a hill of wells.Buddhist heritage destination Bavikonda, on the North west of Timmapuram. 
                                       
                                           
  • Bavikonda stands as one of the ancient sanctified Buddhist centres in Asia. Bavikonda came into existence due to the path, which leads to the beach road of Bheemunipatnam (Bhimli) where the existence of wells along the hill accumulates rainwater, which is used for the purpose of drinking. 
                                         
                                              
  • Bavikonda lay along the ancient trade route which connected Andhradesa with North India through Kalinga.