One of the most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh, Sankaram is located some 41 km away from Visakhapatnam. The name Sankaram derives from the term Sangharama. Sankaram is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. The main stupa here was initially carved out of rock and then covered with bricks.

In close proximity lies yet another significant Buddhist sites, Bojjanakonda, where you can see a number of images of the Buddha carved on the rock face of the caves. At Ligalametta,there are hundreds of rock cut monolithic stupas in rows, spread all over the hill. Among other Buddhist attractions here are relic casket, three chiatya halls, votive platforms, stupas and Vajrayana sculptures. The Vihara was functional for around a millennium and saw the development of the not only Theravada form of Buddhism but also Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism.


Quick Getaways

• Vishakhapatnam : A number of you will prefer to make Visakhapatnam your base for exploring Sankaram and other Buddhist sites nearby. Still, for those who choose otherwise, Visakhapatnam is worthvisiting destination. Till sometime back, Visakhapatnam was a fishing village, but today when you will visit it, you will be surprised to see the developments that have taken place. Highlights of this city include the lovely beaches – Ramakrishna and Rishikonda - where you can relax and unwind from your day to day stress. Other attractions of the city include Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Kali Temple, Kailasagiri, Mudasarlova Water Works And Park and Submarine Museum.
  
  
• Bavikonda : Located just 15 km northeast of the Visakhapatnam town, Bavikonda figures in the list of the oldest and immensely sacred Buddhist sites in the Asia. Excavation work carried out in 1982-87 have brought to surface an entire Buddhist establishment including a Mahachaitya. The most important finding of this site is, however, is a bone. This bone is widely regarded as the mortal remain of the Buddha himself. The urn in which this bone was found also contains a lot of ash.
  
  
• Simhachalam : Just 16 km from Visakhapatnam, Simhachalam is also known as Simhagiri or the Hill of Lion. Located here is an immensely famous temple of Lord Narasimha that was renovated by the Chalukyas in the 11th century and the Eastern Gangas in the 13th century. The temple’s architecture is wroth appreciating.