Archaeologists find ancient Buddhist site in Andhra, estimate it to be from 1st Century AD

The site was discovered atop a hill in Guntur district's Putlagudem village.

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Archaeologists in Andhra Pradesh have discovered an ancient Buddhist site that dates back to 1st century AD.

The site was discovered atop a hill in Guntur district, in Putlagudem village of Achampet mandal.

A team headed by senior archaeologist and CEO of Culture Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), Dr E Sivanagi Reddy found the site.

“We found the Buddhist site atop a hill, locally called Bhairava Gutta. The area was dotted with broken pillars of Silamandapa in front of the dilapidated Venkateswara temple.The structures date back to the Satavahana rule," Reddy told TOI.

The Deccan Chronicle reported that the site had six limestone pillars with half lotus medallions and depicted animals and patterns.

Andhra Pradesh is home to several Buddhist sites, that date back to several centuries ago.

Just last week, one of the prime Buddhist tourist spots in the state in Ghantasala village in Krishna district, was all set to receive a boost, with a Rs 1,500 crore project.

“The new facility will be themed on the Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. A two-storied structure in Buddhist architecture resembling a pedestal with a 100-ft wide and 70-ft high Buddha in the Mahaparinirvana posture will be a major highlight,” Executive Director of the AP Tourism Development Corporation Mallikarjuna Rao told The Hindu.

There are also plans for a 'Buddhist circuit' being drafted by the AP Tourism and Culture department.

“Under Swadesh Darshan scheme, the state government will develop five places including Amaravati, where the government will construct tourism amenities centre, parking slots, Dhyana Buddha vanam (meditation halls) and more. The tourism department is taking utmost care on the new constructions and we are ensuring that these constructions should replicate the original Buddhist structures," secretary for tourism and culture Mukesh Kumar Meena told media persons.