20, మార్చి 2013, బుధవారం

Gudiwada Dibba: Buddhist site on the banks of Gosthani

Gudiwada Dibba is a small hillock at Gudiwada village in Bhogapuram mandal, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. It located on the banks of River Gosthani. This village is geographically located towards north of Tagarapuvalasa town but politically located in Bhogapuram mandal.


A small hillock with semi terraced area  is located on the banks of the river Gosthani at Gudiwada village. It consists of two Hindu temples at present but is full of Buddhist Remains scattered all over the hilltop terraced areas along with rock cut steps to the river on the west side of the hillock. This site would have flourished as a Hinayana Buddhist site from 2nd century BC to 3rd century AD.

Stupa Mound


Stupa Outline Bricks

The Hillock is formed as 2 flat terraces:
The upper terrace towards East consists of Buddhist Stupa (Possible Apsidal Stupa) remnants and a small rock cut cistern.
The lower terrace towards West consists of Buddhist Vihara remnants
Rock cut steps are present towards River Gosthani at the west end of the hillock.

View from Stupa Mound

Rock cut Steps

This site has some resemblance to Pavurallakonda and Thotlakonda Buddhist site in the near Vicinity. It is 6 KM away from Bheemunipatnam. Many Brick remnants are found scattered on the terraced area of this hillock. It would have served as a junction point and navigational point through the waters of River Gosthani and Bheemunipatnam sea routes. The absence of Buddhist Sculpture shows the possibility of an early Buddhist settlement at this place.

Rock cut Cistern


Explorations on this hillock (Gudiwada Dibba) during October 2012 yielded an ancient Buddhist heritage site possibly of 2nd Century BC. The site was documented by the State Archaeological department of Andhra Pradesh. The Excavations are yet to start at this ancient Buddhist site.

Brick Remants

The details of this site with evidences was provided by me(N Aditya Madhav) in 2012 to the State Archaeological department. This site was explored by me and my brothers (Pranav , Naveen) in 2011 under the study project BIRHAJ (Buddhism, Its Resemblances with Hinduism And Jainism).

The Terraced site at Gudiwada Dibba

12, జనవరి 2013, శనివారం

Pavurallakonda Buddhist Ruins Photo Calender 2013


A Monthly Photo Calender of Pavurallakonda Buddhist Monastic Ruins at Bheemili in Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Pavurallakonda or Pavurallabodu is the local name of a hill, popularly known as Narasimhaswamy konda, near Bheemunipatnam about 25 km towards North from Visakhapatnam city. It is located at a height of about 150 meters above mean sea level. It consists of a ruined hill top Buddhist Monastic Complex probably witnessed human habitation from 3rd Century BCE to 2nd century CE. It is one of the Largest Buddhist Monasteries of North Coastal Andhra Region. Hinayana Buddhism must have flourished at this hill-top site.


Note: Click on the image for full resolution and save the image :) 
Happy New Year 2013


Ruined Buddhist Relief

Rock cut Steps

Rock cut cistern {small}

Ruined stone pillar

Votive Stupa

Vihara

Rock cut steps to a Cistern {medium}

A Cistern

One among the 16 rock cut cisterns

Ruined Buddhist relief

Large rock cut cistern

Votive stupa remnants

2, జనవరి 2013, బుధవారం

Bavikonda Buddhist Ruins Photo Calender 2013

A Monthly Photo Calender of Bavikonda Buddhist Monastic Ruins at Visakhapatnam, 
Andhra Pradesh, India.


Bavikonda Buddhist Complex is about 16 km from Visakhapatnam city on a hill about 130 meter above Mean Sea Level. The term Bavikonda in Telugu language means a hill of wells. As per its name, Bavikonda is a hill which has wells for the collection of rainwater. Bavikonda Monastery dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

Note: Click on the image for full resolution and save the image :) 
Happy New Year 2013


View from an Apsidal Stupa at Bavikonda

Brick Remnants on a Votive Stupa

Stone path at Buddhist Viharas

Rock cut and Stone path

Maha Stupa and Stone Stupa view

Maha Stupa at Bavikonda

Rock cut steps at Viharas

Interior hall of Apsidal Stupa

Top view of a Votive Stupa

Stone Stupa at Bavikonda

Vihara Remnants at Bavikonda

A Votive Stupa at Bavikonda