Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/EX08-tjWhwc
Location: “Amaravati Stupam Andhra Pradesh, H9G4+7HQ, Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh 522020”
References: https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/andhra-pradesh/amaravati
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaravati_Stupa
https://timescontent.timesofindia.com/photo/travel/Amaravati-Stupa/533692
Amaravati is located in the Andhra Pradesh is a sort
of a twin city with Vijaywada, which served as the capital of Satavahanas
during the 3rd century BC and is known for its rich historical,
cultural and religious heritage. Amaravati means “the place of the immortals”.
The place is primarily being recognized for the great
Amaravati Stupa and the Amaralingeshwara Temple amongst various other temples, ruins
and monuments and once served as a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. This is the
place where Gautama Buddha first spread his teachings of “Kalachakra”.
Amaravati stupa is believed to have been built in
phases between the 3rd century BC and aboud 250 CE. Around 50 CE, it
is believed to have been enlarged with new sculptures. The earliest inscription
from the site belongs to the early centuries BCE but it cannot be assigned to
Aśoka with certainty. The earliest phase from which we have architectural or
sculpted remains seems to be post-Mauryan, from the 2nd century BCE. The main
construction phases of Amaravati fall in two main periods, with the stupa
enlarged in the second by additions to the main solid earth mound, faced with
brick, consisting of railings (vedikā) and carved slabs placed around
the stūpa proper. As elsewhere these slabs are usually called 'drum
slabs' because they were placed round the vertical lower part or
"drum" (tholobate) of the stūpa. The late period of construction
started around ca. 50 BCE and continued until circa 250 CE. The exterior
surfaces of the stupa and the railings were in effect all new, with the old
elements reused or discarded.
The work of this period has generally been divided
into three phases on the basis of the styles and content of the railing
sculpture and so dates that can be assigned to parts of the great limestone
railing. Shimada dates the first phase to 50–1 BCE, about the same period as
the Sanchi stūpa I
gateways. The second phase is 50–100 CE, the same period as Karli chaitya and
the Pandavleni Caves (no. 3 and 10) at Nasik.
The third phase is circa 200–250 CE based on comparisons with Nagarjunakonda sculpture.
Some other types of sculpture belong to an even later time, about the seventh
or eighth centuries, and include standing Bodhisattvas and goddesses. Amaravātī
continued to be active after this time, probably to about the thirteenth
century.
During the period of the decline of Buddhism in India,
the stupa was neglected and was buried under rubble and grass. A 14th-century
inscription in Sri Lanka mentions repairs made to the stupa,
and after that it was forgotten. The stupa is related to the Vajrayana teachings
of Kalachakra, still practiced today in Tibetan Buddhism. The Dalai Lama of Tibet conducted
a Kalachakra initiation at this location in 2006, attended by over 100,000
pilgrims.
The history of the sculptures for the stupa is complicated
and scholarly understanding of it is still developing. The subject matter of
many detailed narrative reliefs is still unidentified, and many reliefs of
the first main phase round the drum were turned round in the second, and
recarved on their previously plain backs, before being re-mounted on the drum.
The earlier sculptures, now invisible and facing into the stupa, were often
badly abraded or worn down in this position.
With phases of construction, the sculptures of the
previous pages were replaced with new sculptures.
How
to Reach:
By Road: Good roads connect Amaravati to Guntur, which
is also connected to all the nearby places by a good network of road. By road,
you first arrive in Guntur and from here, you can either hire a taxi or opt for
a bus. The distance between these two destinations is around 32 km. Also Vijayawada
is very well connected to Amaravati by road.
By Air: The nearest airport to Amaravati is Vijayawada
Airport, which is located at a distance of around 80 km from here. This airport
is connected to all the important cities of India. From the airport, you can
rent a cab to go to Amaravathi. Private and government bus services is also
available.
By Train: Vijayawada is the nearest major railway
station around 64 KMs from Amaravati Stupa. There are buses, hired taxis and
local transports that are available.
Parking
and Photography:
Parking is not an issue for the stupa but for other
monuments around things could be a bit challenging.
Photography is allowed. No drones in the region.
Stay
options:
There are good hotels to stay at Amaravati too. We
stayed at Vijaywada as we had to visit few other temples and monuments near
Vijayawada too.
Timings:
9 AM to 6 PM
Entry Fee:
There
is no entry fee for children under 15 years of age, while adults pay INR 20.