India Tourism.org
» SOUTH
INDIA » Andhra
Pradesh Travel » Nagarjunakonda Tourism
Nagarjunakonda Tourism
Nagarjunakonda today, in its place flourishes Nagarjunasagar, a modern
township named after Acharya Nagarjuna, the founder and father of Mahayana Buddhism.
Relics of the Buddhist civilization found here, date back to the 3rd century
AD. The excavated remains were reconstructed and have been carefully preserved
at Nagarjunakonda, a unique island-museum in the midst of the man-made Nagarjunasagar
Lake.
The museum has been constructed in the shape of a Buddhist vihara and houses
a stupendous collection of relics of Buddha, Buddhist art and culture. The main
stupa called the Mahachaitya contains the sacred relics of Buddha.
The center of attraction is a partly ruined monolithic statue of Buddha in a
striking image of peace and poise.
The cultural remains of ancient man ranging from the prehistoric to the Neolithic
period, a university, vihara, monasteries, and an 'Aswamedha' sacrificial altar
dating back to the early historic period have been unearthed here.
Most of the monasteries were built by the Royal Ladies of the Ikshvaku Kingdom.
During the construction of the Nagarjunasagar Dam, the ruins of an ancient Buddhist
University were unearthed here. These have been reconstructed at Anupu, 4kms.away
from the right bank of the reservoir.
What's more, a 3rd century vihara and an amphitheatre with fine acoustics takes
one back into history.
Book
Journey with us ?