Buddhism spread to Andhra Pradesh and
surrounding areas in the third and second centuries BC. This fact is
proved by stupas and other Buddhist structures in various parts of
Andhra Pradesh. From Vijayapuri or 'Sriparvata' and Amaravati, Buddhism
spread to the Far East including China and Japan and to Srilanka. There
are dozens of Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh.
Amravati
The city of Amravati is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It
lies on the right bank of River Krishna, at a distance of approximately
65 km from Vijayawada. The erstwhile capital of Satavahana dynasty, it
came under the influence of Buddhism through the Kushanas of Mathura.
One of the major attractions of Amravati consists of the remains of a
2000-year-old Buddhist settlement, along with the great Buddhist stupa.
There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Amaresvara in the city.
Nagarjunakonda
Nagarjunakonda is a valley situated in Guntur District of Andhra
Pradesh. It lies at a distance of approximately 150 km from the capital
city of Hyderabad. Nagarjuna Konda is named after Nagarjuna, a Buddhist
monk, who lived here around the turn of the 2nd century AD. A
magnificent example of ancient Buddhist architecture, it is remake of
the original Buddhist site. The original valley was shifted, as it was
at the danger of being submerged under the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. The
valley symbolizes a lost civilization, which flourished thousand years
ago.
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