The term Bavikonda in Telgu language means a hill of wells. As per its name, Bavikonda is a hill which has wells for the collection of rainwater. Bavikonda is located 15 km from the town of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, India and is an immensely significant Buddhist site.

Excavation carried out in 1982-87 revealed an entire Buddhist establishment comprising a Mahachaitya, embedded with relic caskets, large vihara complex, numerous votive stupas, a stone pillared congregation hall, rectangular halls, a refectory etc. Artefacts discovered from the site include Roman and Satavahana coins and pottery dating back to the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. A significant finding here is a piece of bone stored in an urn. This bone is widely supposed to be the mortal remains of the Buddha. In the urn, there is also a large quantity of ash.

The Bavikonda site, today, is counted amongst one of the oldest and immensely sacred Buddhist sites in the Asia. The ruins of the site stand reminder to the great Buddhist civilisation that once existed in the southern part of India. The site, infact, also reminds a number of visitors of the Borobudur in Indonesia.


Quick Getaway

• Visakhapatnam : Famously known as the City of Destiny, Visakhapatnam sprawls along the seashore of the Bay of Bengal. For tourists, Visakhapatnam offers loads of attractions, from lakes to cool beaches, beautiful hill ranges, caves and valleys enclosures. Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Ramakrishna Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Vuda Park and Kailasagiri are just some of the names of worthvisiting attraction in Cisakhapatnam.
  
  
• Sankaram : Sankaram is 41 kms from Visakhapatnam and is also a well known Buddhist site in Andhra Pradesh. Worthseeing here are the remnants of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that were discovered in an excavation
  
  
• Thotlakonda : Around 16 km from Visakhapatnam is the Thotlakonda, a Buddhist complex situated on the top of a hill. The site spreads over an area of 120 acres and has been declared a protected monument by the government of Andhra Pradesh. Excavations carried out here have brought to surface three kinds of structural remains – religious, secular and civil. To be more precise the structures include a Mahastupa, 16 votive stupas, a stone pillared congregation hall, 11 rock-cut cisterns, well paved stone path ways, an apsidal chaitya-griha, 3 circular chaitgya-grihas , two votive platforms, 10 viharas, a kitchen complex with three halls and a refectory (dinning hall). Apart from the structures, the Buddhist treasures excavated from here include nine Satavahana and five roman silver coins, terracotta tiles, stucco decorative pieces, sculptured panels, miniature stupa models in stone, Buddha padas depicted with asthamangal symbols, early historic pottery etc.
  
  
• Pavuralakonda :
  Pavuralakonda is located 24 km from Visakhapatnam and preserves the remains of a Buddhist settlement that date back to 1st century BC to 2nd century AD. The site has 16 cisterns that were meant to accumulate rain water.
  
  
• Gopalapatnam : A small village on the left bank of River Tandava, Gopalapatnam has a number of Buddhist remains around it. These remains include brick built stupas, viharas and other Buddhist remains. Excavations carried out in the area also brought to surface ancient pottery.
  
  
• Ankapalle : Ankapalle is known for the ruins of a Buddhist temple together with remains of a number of other Buddhist monuments.