BAVIKONDA ,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.  

                                           

BAVIKONDA ,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.

• 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. 

• The artifacts recovered here include Roman coins and satavahana coins apart from pottery dating back to 3rd century BC and 2nd Century A.D.  
    

BAVIKONDA ,VISAKHAPATNAM,ANDHRA PRADESH

• 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. 

• Excavation carried out in 1982-87 revealed an entire Buddhist establishment comprising a Mahachaitya, embedded with relic caskets, large vihara complex, numerous votive stupas, a stone pillared congregation hall, rectangular halls, a refectory etc.

 

• Artefacts discovered from the site include Roman and Satavahana coins and pottery dating back to the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD.

                                

                                            

• A significant finding here is a piece of bone stored in an urn. This bone is widely supposed to be the mortal remains of the Buddha. In the urn, there is also a large quantity of ash.

 

• The Bavikonda site, today, is counted amongst one of the oldest and immensely sacred Buddhist sites in the Asia. 

• The ruins of the site stand reminder to the great Buddhist civilisation that once existed in the southern part of India. The site, infact, also reminds a number of visitors of the Borobudur in Indonesia.