Nagarjunakonda,
a small island on a man-made lake along the edge of the river Krishna in Andhra
Pradesh, was named after a Buddhist monk Nagarjuna who had set up a Buddhist learning
centre here to preach the teachings of the Buddha in the valley. A home to ancient
chaityas, viharas, monasteries and stupas, the Nagarjunakonda caves are the richest
Buddhist sites in the southern India.
Dating back to 300 century CE,
the Nagarjunaconda caves, which were excavated in the 1950's, reflects upon a
major Mahayana learning centre in the early India. The representation of the Buddha
in physical forms not only reveals the phases of the Buddha's life but also reflects
a splendid architecture of these caves. The pictures of elephants and flowers
on the accurately carved pillars, high images of the Buddha in the cave temples
and the presence of the Mahachaitya a large structure which contains the sacred
relics of Lord Buddha, are some of the add on's to the splendid architecture of
the Nagarjunakonda caves.
Accessibility
By Air : The nearest airports are at Vijayawada, 65 kilometers away and
Hyderabad, the state's capital, 150 kilometers away.
By Rail : The
nearest railway station is at Guntur, 36 kilometers away from Nagarjunakonda.
By Road : The place can be reached by a good network of road by buses,
coaches and taxis. Regular buses link Nagarjunakonda to Hyderabad, Warangal, Vijaywada
and Guntur.
| Buddhist
Caves in India |
Ajanta
Caves, Maharashtra | Ellora Caves,
Maharashtra | Kanheri Caves, Maharashtra
Karla Caves, Maharashtra
| Junnar Caves, Maharashtra | Bhaja
Caves, Maharashtra
Nagarjunakonda,
Andhra Pradesh | Barabar Caves, Bihar
| Udaigiri Caves, Orissa
Khandgiri
Caves, Orissa | Ratnagiri Caves, Orissa
| Lalitagiri Caves, Orissa
Dhauli Caves, Orissa |
