Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/xs4gKV268EU
Locatoin: "G, Mamidikuduru Road, Mamidikududru, Adurru, Andhra Pradesh 533247"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adurru
https://eastgodavari.ap.gov.in/tourist-place/adurru
Adurru is a village and a second century Buddhist
site archaeological site. Adurru is also locally known as DubrajuGudi (because
of the presence of a famous mound which the localites call as DubrajuGudi) and
is believed to be a 2400 years old site in the Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra
Pradesh (Mamidikuduru mandal).
Few contest this as the
Razole taluk of East Godavari dist. The
site is situated close to the banks of Vainetya river (around 5 KMs): a
distributary of Godavari.
The foundation of the stupa here was laid by
Sanghmitra, Ashoka’s daughter on her way to Sri Lanka. In contrast, a
comprehensive list of Buddhist stupa sites released during the year 2016 in
Andhra Pradesh and nearby regions, dates this monastic archaeological site to
about 2nd-century CE
This site was excavated by Archaeological Survey of
India in 1923. The operation unearthed several stupas, chaityas and viharas.
The Mahastupa, built on wheel shaped plan 17 feet in diameter with a raised
platform running all around the drum and Ayaka platforms on cardinal
directions.
Till
1960, people sacrificed animals at the mound during a
two-day annual festival called Dubaraju Teertham, which was held on 13-14
January on the occasion of Sankranti. However, when the ruins were confirmed to
be a former Buddhist site, the site was taken over by the ASI, and all
sacrifices were banned.
The
ruins of a large stupa (maha-stupa),
besides other artifacts, have been discovered at the site. Excavations
carried out in the year 1953 brought to surface a mahastupa which measures 17
feet in diameter. A raised platform surrounds it all around. The excavations
also revealed shreds of jars, troughs, dishes and bowls of red and kaolin. The
excavation site covers an area of 2.04 acres and makes for a worthwhile visit
during your Buddhist trip to Andhra Pradesh.
How To Reach:
By Air – The airports at Hyderabad and Vizag are the
closest airport from Adurru.
By Rail – The nearest major railway station from
Adurru is located in Rajahumundry, around 130 km away. Nearest Railway Station
is Palakollu Railway Station. Few trains have halt at palakollu railway
station.
By Road- Adurru is well connected by road. Buses run from
Machilipatnam which is 17 km away. Machilipatnam, itself is 70 km from
Vijaywada and well connected to it by road. Best option is to travel by own
vehicle. If you are coming from Amalapuram, google map first shows a left turn
at Pasarlapudi (opposite the road towards Bala Balaji temple), but it leads to
a kuccha road through which car won’t travel. After visiting the Bala Balaji
temple, and coming the Pasarlapudi point, we took the left turn at
Mamidikuduru, the road was narrow but quite ok to travel to the stupa.
Distance:
·
From Razole: 25 min (15.3
km) via NH214
·
From Palakollu: 51 min (35.8
km) via NH214
·
From Amalapuram: 25 min (14.3
km) via NH214 and Adurru – Moripalem Rd
·
From Rajahmundry: 1 h 33 min
(74.3 km) via NH 5 and Rajavaram – Podalada Rd