Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/eHRBbggShNA
Location: “WCMH+548, Jagannadhapuram, Andhra Pradesh 523326”
Chandavaram
Buddhist site is an ancient Indian Buddhist site in Chandavaram village in Prakasam
district in
the Indian state of Andhra
Pradesh. The site
is situated on the banks of Gundlakamma river and is believed to be built
between 2nd century BCE and 2nd Century AD during the
Satavahana dynasty. Veluri Venkata
Krishna Sastry discovered the site in 1964. This Buddhist site was the
first one that was established in the Andhra Pradesh.
Most of the sculptures from the site have been removed and
moved to Telengana Museum, from where many are stolen too. The architecture is
believed to be of Amaravati Style.
The site was believed to be active between 2 BCE and 2 AD. The sculptural panels in the site are of
the Amaravati school which
also suggests that the site was built between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE and used as a resting place by Buddhist monks
travelling from Kashi to Kanchi. Ayaka pillars are
absent from the site, indicating that the Hinayana form of Buddhism was prevalent in Chandavaram. The site houses a double terraced MahaStupa on
a hilltop which is next in importance only to Sanchi Stupa. The hill on which the MahaStupa is located is
called Singarakonda.
Architecturally, the main stupa is double terraced, on a
small hilltop. The main dome (MahaStupa) is 120 feet (37 m) in
circumference and 30 feet (9.1 m) high. It has carved panels that portray
the Dharmachakra (the wheel
of Dharma, one of the Ashtamangala of Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism).
Apart from the main stupa, the site also houses several viharas, Brahmi inscriptions and other stupas. In the
MahaStupa, there is a chaitya which is 1.6 metres (5.2 ft) high and 60 centimetres
(2.0 ft) wide.
The
MahaStupa resembles the Dharmarajika stupa* in Taxila, Pakistan. The panels on the main stupa are made of limestone. The panels and the drum sections of the main stupa exhibit
the Buddha footprint, stupas, Bodhi trees and also narratives in the form of Jataka tales along with other stories.
Since
the discovery, and multiple excavations almost 15 normal and more than 100
small stupas have been found. The site has a Main stupa, Maha Chaitya, museum,
Silamandapa, Vihara and Votive stupas.
*The Dharmarajika
Stupa, also referred to as the Great Stupa of Taxila, is a Buddhist stupa near Taxila, Pakistan. It was built over
the relics of the Buddha by Ashoka,during the 3rd century BCE. The stupa, along with the large
monastic complex that later developed around it, forms part of the Ruins of Taxila
Archaeologically
and Religiously, Chandavaram Buddhist site is very important
place. The artifacts found in these place help us to learn about the Buddhist
society and community so these must be preserved.
How to reach:
By
Rail: Donakonda railway station is the nearest railway station around 6 KMs from the
site
By
Road: The site is situated around 37 KMs from Markapur, 2.5 KMs on the right
from Vellampalli crossing on National Highway 544F
By
Air: The nearest airport is Vijaywada Gannavaram airport around 202 KMs