ShantaeBpy at 00:35, 5 May 2026

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{{Short description|Archaeological site in Andhra Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Chandavaram Buddhist site
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| alternate_name = Chandavaram excavation site
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map =
| map_type = India Andhra Pradesh
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location on [[Andhra Pradesh]] map
| map_size =
| relief =
| coordinates = {{coord|15|55|58.5156|N|79|25|40.2240|E|display=inline,title}}
| map_dot_label =
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| location = [[Chandavaram, Donakonda mandal|Chandavaram]] village
| region = [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| type = [[Buddhist]] [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]] site
| part_of =
| length =
| width =
| area =
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| builder = [[Satavahana dynasty]]<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa">{{cite news|title=Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa|publisher=kostalife.com|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://www.kostalife.com/heritage/chandavaram-foothold-of-buddhist-mahastupa-in-andhra/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208234401/http://www.kostalife.com/heritage/chandavaram-foothold-of-buddhist-mahastupa-in-andhra/|archive-date=8 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| material= [[Limestone]]
| built = 2 century [[Before Christ|BCE]] to 2 century [[Common Era|CE]]
| abandoned =
| epochs = 
| cultures = [[Culture of Buddhism|Buddhist]]
| dependency_of =
| occupants =
| event =
| excavations = 1964
| archaeologists = Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry
| condition = Restored
| ownership = Public
| management =
| public_access = Yes
| other_designation =
| website = 
| notes =
}}

'''Chandavaram Buddhist site''' is an ancient Indian [[Buddhist]] site in [[Chandavaram, Donakonda mandal|Chandavaram]] village in [[Prakasam district]] in the Indian state of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="Easy pickings"/><ref name="About Chandavaram Excavation Site">{{cite news|title=About Chandavaram Excavation Site|publisher=Holidayiq.com|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://www.holidayiq.com/Chandavaram-Excavation-Site-Ongole-Sightseeing-857-18953.html|archive-date=10 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210192713/http://www.holidayiq.com/Chandavaram-Excavation-Site-Ongole-Sightseeing-857-18953.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Situated on the bank of [[Gundlakamma River]], the site is {{convert|10|km|mi}} northwest of [[Donakonda railway station]].<ref name="Chandavaram monastic cluster">{{cite news|title=Chandavaram monastic cluster|publisher=Monastic Asia|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://monastic-asia.wikidot.com/chandavaram}}</ref> The Chandavaram Buddhist site was built between the 2nd century [[Before Christ|BCE]] and the 2nd century [[Common Era|CE]] during the [[Satavahana dynasty]] and was discovered by Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry in 1964.<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/><ref name="Easy pickings">{{cite news|title=Easy pickings|work=[[India Today]]|access-date=1 December 2015|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/heritage/story/20010730-series-of-robberies-at-remote-buddhist-sites-in-andhra-pradesh-exposes-neglect-of-excavated-treasures-773893-2001-07-29}}</ref><ref name="Chandavaram Buddhist site">{{cite news|title=Chandavaram Buddhist site|publisher=Discovered India|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/andhra-pradesh/attractions/buddhist-centers/chandavaram-buddhist-site.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231083656/http://www.discoveredindia.com/andhra-pradesh/attractions/buddhist-centers/chandavaram-buddhist-site.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

Much of the sculpture has been removed from the site, and the best collection is in the [[Telangana State Archaeology Museum]], [[Hyderabad]]. Some of the best pieces from the site museum have been stolen in recent decades. It is in the [[Amaravati style]].

==History==
The first of its kind in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]], the Chandavaram Buddhist site was constructed between the 2nd century [[Before Christ|BCE]] and the 2nd century [[Common Era|CE]]. It was an active center for [[Buddhist]] religious activities, and was also inhabited at the time.<ref name="About Chandavaram Excavation Site"/><ref name="Chandavaram Buddhist site"/> The age of the site was determined by the [[Radiocarbon dating|carbon dating]] of [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] discovered during [[Excavation (archaeology)|excavation]]. The sculptural panels in the site are of the [[Amarāvatī mahācetiya#Amaravati School|Amaravati school]] which also suggests that the site was built between the 2nd century [[Before Christ|BCE]] and the 2nd century [[Common Era|CE]].<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/> The Chandavaram Buddhist site was used as a resting place by [[Buddhist monk]]s travelling from [[Varanasi|Kashi]] to [[Kanchipuram|Kanchi]].<ref name="Chandavaram Buddhist site"/> Discovered in 1964, the site was constructed during the [[Satavahana dynasty]].<ref name="Easy pickings"/> [[Ayaka pillars]] are absent from the site, indicating that the [[Hinayana]] form of [[Buddhism]] was prevalent in [[Chandavaram]].<ref name="Chandavaram, Andhra Pradesh">{{cite news|title=Chandavaram, Andhra Pradesh|publisher=Buddhist tourism|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/countries/india/buddhist-sites/chandavaram-andhra-pradesh.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923195013/http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/countries/india/buddhist-sites/chandavaram-andhra-pradesh.html|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The site houses a double terraced [[Stupa|Maha Stupa]] on a hilltop which is next in importance only to [[Sanchi Stupa]]. The hill on which the Maha Stupa is located is called Singarakonda.<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/><ref name="Chandavaram, Andhra Pradesh"/>

==Construction and structure==
[[File:Chandavaram buddha stupa 360 degree view.webm|thumb|360 degree view of Chadvaram site]]
[[File:Telangana State Archaeology Museum 047 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Section of railing in the Telangana State Archaeology Museum]]
Constructed during the [[Satavahana dynasty]], the Chandavaram Buddhist site houses a double terraced main [[stupa]] built on an elevated platform situated on a hilltop.<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/><ref name="About Chandavaram Excavation Site"/><ref name="Chandavaram, Andhra Pradesh"/> The MahaStupa exhibits the characteristics of stupas built under the [[Hinayana]] form of [[Buddhism]]. The main dome (MahaStupa) is {{convert|120|ft|m}} in circumference and {{convert|30|ft|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 [[vihara]]s, [[Brahmi script|Brahmi inscriptions]] and other stupas. In the MahaStupa, there is a [[chaitya]] which is {{convert|1.6|m|feet}} high and {{convert|60|cm|feet}} wide.<ref name="About Chandavaram Excavation Site"/><ref name="Chandavaram Buddhist site"/>

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 tree]]s and also narratives in the form of [[Jataka tales]] along with other stories. Since 1964, the Chandavaram Buddhist site has been excavated four times, and fifteen regular-sized and approximately one hundred small [[stupa]]s have been discovered. The site comprises the following:<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/>

{{Div col}}
*[[Stupa|Main Stupa]] (MahaStupa)
*[[Chaitya|Maha Chaitya]]
*Museum
*Silamandapa
*[[Vihara]]
*[[Votive offering|Votive Stupas]]
{{div col end}}

==Proposed statue of Buddha==
[[File:Hyderabad Dec2011 15.JPG|thumb|260px|left|Buddha statue, now at the [[Hussain Sagar]], [[Hyderabad]].]]
In 1985, a project called the "Buddha Poornima Project" was proposed. Under this project, the world's tallest standing [[monolith]] statue of [[Buddha]] was to be erected on the site. Made out of [[granite]], the statue was carved by 200 sculptors in two years and on completion it weighed 440 tonnes with an overall height of {{convert|17|m|feet}}. However, the [[Buddha Statue of Hyderabad|Buddha statue]] was transported to city of [[Hyderabad]] in 1988 instead, where it was erected in 1992 in the [[Hussain sagar lake]], where it stands today.<ref name="Chandavaram – Foothold of Buddhist Mahastupa"/><ref name="Buddha of the lake bottom">{{cite news|title=Buddha of the lake bottom|work=The Washington Post|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1990/04/09/buddha-of-the-lake-bottom/342902b7-7025-41d3-a856-c14c1fac3815/}}</ref><ref name="Buddha statue consecrated">{{cite news|title=Buddha statue consecrated|work=[[The Hindu]]|accessdate=1 December 2015|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article3234728.ece}}</ref>

==Archeological finds==
One [[Stupa|MahaStupa]], fifteen regular-sized and approximately one hundred small [[Stupa]]s have been discovered in the Chandavaram Buddhist site. Apart from the [[Chaitya|Maha Chaitya]], Silamandapa, [[Vihara]] and the [[Votive offering|Votive Stupas]], more than two dozen "Buddhist slabs" (decorated with designs and inscriptions) have also been discovered.<ref name="Chandavaram Buddhist site"/>

==Thefts from museum==
Robberies of artefacts has been reported at the Chandavaram Buddhist site since the year 2000. In Oct 2000, two {{convert|9|feet}} long panels, with engravings of the [[Bodhi tree]] and of the Chaitra were uprooted from a cement platform and stolen from the site's museum.<ref name="Easy pickings"/> In February 2001, three pillars, each measuring {{convert|9|feet}} long and including one in which the [[Buddha]] was represented as fire were stolen.<ref name="Easy pickings"/> In March 2001, three more ornate pillars and a lotus [[medallion]] were stolen.<ref name="Easy pickings"/>

==Geographic location==
{{Geographic location
|Centre = '''Chandavaram Buddhist site'''
|North = [[Macherla]] (100 Km)
|Northeast = [[Narasaraopet]] (93 Km)
|East =
|Southeast =
|South = [[Pamuru]] (100 Km)
|Southwest = [[Markapur]] (34 Km)
|West =
|Northwest =
}}

===Gallery===
;All [[Telangana State Archaeology Museum]]
<gallery widths="180px" heights="170px">
File:Telangana State Archaeology Museum 022.jpg|Drum panel of the chaitya with model stupa depicting the worship of [[Mucalinda]] the [[nagaraja]], before 300
File:Telangana State Archaeology Museum 049.jpg|Scenes from the life of Buddha; below, his birth. Before 100
File:Telangana State Archaeology Museum 038.jpg|Worship of a stupa, which has a [[Jataka]] scene. Before 100
File:Telangana State Archaeology Museum 031.jpg|Worship of thrones with [[dharmachakra]] (above) and [[Bodhi tree]] (below), 2nd century
</gallery>

== References ==
{{commonscat}}
{{Buddhism}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|India|Religion|History|Society}}
{{Buddhism topics}}
{{Indian Buddhist Caves}}

[[Category:Archaeological sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist holy sites in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Prakasam district]]
[[Category:Colossal Buddha statues in India]]
[[Category:Former populated places in India]]
[[Category:Stupas in India]]
[[Category:Buddhist buildings and structures in India]]

Chandavaram Buddhist site - Revision history

ShantaeBpy at 00:35, 5 May 2026