Visakhapatnam is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is between the Eastern Ghats and the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is the second largest city on the east coast of India after Chennai, and the fourth largest in South India. It is one of the four smart cities of Andhra Pradesh selected under the Smart Cities Mission and is the headquarters of Visakhapatnam district. Vizag is popularly knows as shipbuilding capital of India due to presence of multiple shipyard such as Hindustan Shipyard, Naval Dockyard and being the central naval command of the east coast.
Coastal Andhra, also known as Kosta Andhra, is a geographic region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, comprising the coastal districts of the state between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, from the northern border with Orissa to Rayalaseema in the south. It includes major cities such as Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada as well as the state capital Amaravati and is recognized for its fertile lands, rich cultural heritage, and economic importance. Coastal Andhra plays a significant role in the state's agricultural output, particularly in rice and tobacco production, supported by abundant water resources from the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers.
Amaravathi is a village located on the banks of the Krishna River in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It serves as the administrative centre of Amaravathi mandal and lies within the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region. Known for its cultural heritage, Amaravathi lends its name to the state's newly planned capital, Amaravati, located 35 kilometers to the east. Amaravathi is notable for its prominent place in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Shravasti is a town in Shravasti district in Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was the capital of the ancient Indian kingdom of Kosala and the place where the Buddha lived most after his enlightenment. It is near the Rapti river in the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh India, close to the Nepalese border.
Anakapalli is a residential neighborhood in the city of Visakhapatnam, also the headquarters of Anakapalli district of Andhra Pradesh. In 2015 Anakapalli municipality was merged with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. It falls under zone 7 of GVMC. It contains India's second largest jaggery market.
Amadalavalasa is a town in Srikakulam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and also the mandal headquarters of Amadalavalasa mandal. The town is spread over an area of 19.65 km2 (7.59 sq mi), which is under the jurisdiction of Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Srikakulam Road railway station is situated at Amadalavalasa.
(Bheemunipatnam ), is a suburb of Visakhapatnam, India. The town was named after Bhima, a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It was formerly administered under the Bheemunipatnam municipality but merged into GVMC in 2017. It is currently under the administration of Bheemunipatnam Revenue Division and its headquarters is at Bheemunipatnam.
Nagarjunakonda is a historical town, now an island located near Nagarjuna Sagar in Palnadu district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of India's richest Buddhist sites, and now lies almost entirely under the lake created by the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. With the construction of the dam, the archaeological relics at Nagarjunakonda were submerged, and had to be excavated and transferred to higher land, which has become an island.
The most important places in Buddhism are located in the Indo-Gangetic Plain of southern Nepal and northern India. This is the area where Gautama Buddha was born, lived, and taught, and the main sites connected to his life are now important places of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindus. Many countries that are or were predominantly Buddhist have shrines and places which can be visited as a pilgrimage.
Salihundam, is a village and panchayat in Gara Mandal of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. It is a historically important Buddhist monument of ancient Kalinga and a major tourist attraction It is a village lying on top of the hill on the south bank of the Vamsadhara River. It is at a distance of 5 KM west to Kalingapatnam and 10 KM from Singupuram and 18 KM from Srikakulam town. It was known as Salipetaka.
In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or to a shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim.
Pushpagiri was an ancient Indian mahavihara or monastic complex located atop Langudi Hill in Jajpur district of Odisha, India. Pushpagiri was mentioned in the writings of the Chinese traveller Xuanzang and some other ancient sources. Until the 1990s, it was hypothesised to be one or all of the Lalitgiri-Ratnagiri-Udayagiri group of monastic sites, also located in Jajpur district. These sites contain ruins of many buildings, stupas of various sizes, sculptures, and other artifacts.
Nelakondapally, also referred to as Nelakondapalli or Nela Kondapalli, is a town and headquarters of a mandal in Khammam district, Telangana, India. It is also an archaeological site important to early Buddhism and Hinduism, where excavations have discovered a major stupa site near an ancient manmade lake, another site where Buddhist and Hindu artwork were carved in pre-3rd century India, both sites also yielding hundreds of ancient rare coins with Shaiva and Vaishnava inscriptions from the dynasties of Andhra Ikshvakus and Vishnukundinas. Nelakondapally is also the birthplace of Bhakta Ramadasu.
Lalitagiri is a major Buddhist complex in the Indian state of Odisha. The complex is home to stupas, 'esoteric' Buddha images, and monasteries (viharas), which is the oldest site in the region. Significant finds at this complex include Buddha's relics. Tantric Buddhism was practiced at this site.
Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda are two rock-cut caves of Buddhist origin on adjacent hillocks situated near the village of Sankaram, Anakapalle of ancient Kalinga in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The sites are believed to have been established between the 4th and 9th centuries AD, when Buddhism was the majority religion of Sankaram (Sangharam). The original name of Bojjannakonda is Buddina Konda.
Bavikonda Buddhist Complex lies about 16 km from Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, on a hill about 130 metres above mean sea level. The term Bavikonda in Telugu means a hill of wells. As per its name, Bavikonda is a hill which has wells for the collection of rainwater. Bavikonda Monastic ruins dates back to the 3rd century BCE.
Pavurallakonda or Pavurallabodu is a hill popularly known as Narasimhaswamy Konda. It is located near Bheemunipatnam, about 25 km north of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Phanigiri is a Buddhist site in Suryapet district, Telangana. It dates to the 1st Century BCE - 4th century CE period.
Chandavaram Buddhist site is an ancient Indian Buddhist site in Chandavaram village in Prakasam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated on the bank of Gundlakamma River, the site is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northwest of Donakonda railway station. The Chandavaram Buddhist site was built between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE during the Satavahana dynasty and was discovered by Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry in 1964.
Visakhapatnam is a major metropolitan city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, and it holds the distinction of being the largest city in the state. The rich history of Visakhapatnam dates back over 2,500 years, with its present name potentially given by the Eastern Chalukyas king to their family deity Visakha in 1010 CE. Visakhapatnam was once part of the Kalinga Kingdom around 260 BC before coming under the influence of the Maurya Empire. During this period, Buddhism flourished, leading to the construction of significant monuments between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE. The city's documented existence begins in 1068 CE, under the rule of King Vishakhavarman. In the 7th century, Visakhapatnam witnessed the conquest of the Eastern Chalukyas, and by the 14th century, it became part of the Reddi Kingdom. The era of European colonization commenced in 1630 with the Dutch, followed by the British taking control in 1757 after a brief interlude of French influence. The Battle of Vizagapatam in 1804 during the Napoleonic Wars emphasized the strategic importance of the city. Following India's independence in 1947, Visakhapatnam became part of the Madras Presidency, later becoming an integral part of Andhra Pradesh. Today, it stands as the largest city in Andhra Pradesh, playing a pivotal role in the state's economy. The city's industrial growth saw a transformative phase with the inauguration of Visakhapatnam Port operations on December 19, 1933, firmly establishing it as a major industrial centre.
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