A Haven For Buddhist Treasure

Are you seeking the calmness and tranquility that are associated for ages with the Buddha

? Are you looking for the incessant energy usually found in ancient temples? Are you looking for places that are historically significant as far as Buddhism is concerned? Then, you should be on a flight to Vizag, thats an hours travel away from Hyderabad- the bustling state capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Vizag is situated on the eastern coast of Andhra Pradesh. Some ancient accounts date the city back to the 5th Century AD and indicate that the city was name after Princess Vishaka. It is one of the few places that still hold on to connections with heritage and history, while still making impressive industrial progress.

The state of Andhra Pradesh has a strong association with Buddhism. In fact, over the years, as many as 140 Buddhist sites have been excavated all over the state. Perhaps the best testimony to the states association with Buddhism can be seen in the installation of a huge 18-metre monolithic statue in the midst of the Hussain Sagar Lake, a water body in between Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Vizag is one of the most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. Pavuralakonda or the hill of pigeons, a minor Buddhist site lies approximately 24 km from Vizag city. It is locally known as the Narasimhaswamy Konda and is situated near the Bheemunipatnam beach.

Close by is the Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex that was established many centuries ago. Thotlakonda is located 128 MSL with a striking view of the sea and Eastern Ghats. The high point of this trip is a stunning view of the curved coastline. The complex was stablished during the period of Hinayana Buddhism, a time when symbols such as Pudukas and other non-human remains were used to worship Buddha. It is estimated that the monastery at Thotlakonda accommodated more than a hundred monks.

Not too far away from Thotlakonda is Bavikonda, another Buddhist center of the Theravada school of Buddhism. Many consider Bavikonda to be one of the oldest and most sacred of Buddhist centres in Asia.

Besides Buddhist sites, there many things that a keen traveler can explore such as roadside stalls that serve spicy chaats, paani puri, aloo tikki and samosas. While such stalls exist in almost every Indian city, when in Vizag, one must not miss Tamatar Chaat which is served in kulhads at Deena Chat in Nariyal Galli. In addition, one could take home boxes of Gajak from the various shops in Chowkhamba Lane.

To discover more about the tourist places in Vizag, a tourist can choose from a range of overnight bus journey options from Hyderabad, or choose to travel by an airline that connects the city to other parts of India.

by: Shruthi Srinivas

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