Kamal Guha at 02:23, 24 November 2023

2023-11-24T02:23:23Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bavikonda
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Protected Buddhist monument complex
| image_skyline = Apsidal Stupa at Bavikonda near Visakhapatnam.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = [[Apsidal]] [[Stupa]] at Bavikonda
| pushpin_map = India Visakhapatnam
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|17|49|2|N|83|23|27|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Visakhapatnam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = AP
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Visakhapatnam]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:Holy relic sites map of Andhra Pradesh.jpg|thumb|250px|Holy relic sites map of Andhra Pradesh]]
'''Bavikonda Buddhist Complex''' lies about 16 km from [[Visakhapatnam]], in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], on a hill about 130 metres above mean sea level. The term Bavikonda in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] means a '''hill of wells'''. As per its name, Bavikonda is a hill which has wells for the collection of rainwater. Bavikonda<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ZZPAQAAMAAJ&q=bavikonda&dq=bavikonda|title=Bavikonda: A Buddhist Site in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh|year=1994| publisher=Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh }}</ref> Monastic ruins dates back to the 3rd century BCE.

A large Buddhist complex was excavated at this site. The excavated remnants are as follows:
*A piece of bone stored in an [[urn]], supposed to be one of the remains of the [[Buddha]],
*Inscriptions,
*[[Pottery]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ju1tAAAAMAAJ&q=pavurallakonda&dq=pavurallakonda |title=Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society Volume 39|year=1995| publisher=Andhra Historical Research Society }}</ref>
*Relic caskets,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tYGAAAAYAAJ&q=bavikonda&dq=bavikonda |title=Buddhist Relic-Caskets In South India| publisher=Bharatiya Kala Prakashan }}</ref>
*Tiles,
*Bricks,
*Coins etc.
were recovered here by the State archaeological Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museums.ap.nic.in/b-sites.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2012-10-24 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209160246/http://museums.ap.nic.in/b-sites.htm |archive-date=2012-02-09 }}</ref>

The Buddhist sites of [[Thotlakonda]] and [[Pavurallakonda]] are situated close by.

The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage ([[INTACH]]) has already appealed to the authorities to ensure better protection of Buddhist sites by taking up the declaration of '''Bavikonda''', [[Thotlakonda]], [[Pavurallakonda]] and [[Bojjannakonda]] as heritage sites by [[UNESCO]]. This will not only pave the way for steady flow of funds but also generate employment opportunities for the locals.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Bavikonda stupas.JPG|Bavikonda stupas [[Visakhapatnam]]
File:A stone stupa at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg|A stone stupa at Bavikonda
File:Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg|Stupa at Bavikonda near Visakhapatnam
File:Bavikonda Mahastupa Visakhapatnam AP.jpg|Bavikonda Mahastupa [[Visakhapatnam]]
File:Walls of Apsidal stupa at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg|Walls of Apsidal stupa at Bavikonda
File:Votive Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg|Votive Stupa at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam
File:Vihara at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam.jpg|Vihara at Bavikonda Visakhapatnam
File:Votive stupas at Bavikonda, Visakhapatnam.jpg|Votive stupas at Bavikonda
File:View at Bavikonda in Visakhapatnam.jpg|View at Bavikonda in Visakhapatnam
File:Bricks on a votive stupa at Bavikonda.jpg|Bricks on a votive stupa at Bavikonda
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bavikonda}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh}}

[[Category:Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Visakhapatnam]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Visakhapatnam district]]

Bavikonda - Revision history

Kamal Guha at 02:23, 24 November 2023