NAGARJUNAKONDA

The Nagarjunakonda site (or Nagarjuna’s hill) is named after the Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna and is located in Macherla Mandal of the Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. It was of great religious significance for both Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths. About from 3rd to 4th century AD, it was a flourishing Buddhist centre supporting several sects of Buddhism that culminated into the Mahayana pantheon.

At present, it is a unique island housing an archaeological museum that has transplanted and reconstructed monuments of Nagarjunakonda valley. These relics can be dated from the prehistoric to late medieval times. The carved architectural units that once decorated the various stupas, capture the life of Buddha from his birth to Mahaparinirvana, passing through the events of great departure, meditation, enlightenment and preaching. The popular miracles he performed during his life time and the stories of the previous births known as the Jatakas also form the subjects of carvings.  

The nearest major city is Hyderabad, 150 km away.