Hotels near Buddhist Stupa, Amaravati

A famous centre for Buddhist learning and a site for spiritual yearning is credited to the amazing Amaravati Stupa. Flaunting Buddhist art and architecture, the structure is as consecrated to the Buddhists as the famous Sanchi Stupa. Amaravati has been instrumental in spreading Buddhism on the East Coast. It was an important centre for Buddhist learning in India.

The Stupa illustrates Buddha in a human form subduing an elephant. It has a brick-built circular drum with rectangular platforms in four cardinal directions with each being the base of five pillars that depict the entire life of Buddha- Birth, Renunciation, Enlightenment, First Sermon and Death. The entire monument was covered with sculptured slabs. Mounted on this drum was a huge circular dome with amazing decorations. Four gateways were pierced on four sides of the stupa and lion sculptures were seated on them for warding-off evil spirits and protecting the sanctum.

Things you would like to know:

• The monument barring the plinth is now in ruins but a miniature model of the stupa and the original panels have been preserved in a museum on the site that would help you get a glimpse of the great architecture.
• Locally the stupa is known as 'Deepaladinne' or 'Mound of Lamps'.
• Its original height was 27m and diameter 50m whereas it presently measures, 1.55m high and 49.40m in diameter.
• It dates back to nearly 2,000 years.
• It was discovered by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, a British archaeologist, in 1797.