Raw data
Guṇṭupalle, excavated cave monastery - Huntington & Chandrasekhar (2000:57)
Guntupalle is about 60 km east of Vijayawada. Situated amidst a picturesque hill and ravine, Guntapalle has a rock cut cave, a circular Chaitya Hall (meeting hall), several standing images of Buddha and more than 30 votive stupas and Viharas (monasteries). Both rock cut and structural, architecture at Guntapalle dates from the Satavahana period of 2nd to 1st century B.C. The stupas have limestone cladding over brick-work. The monuments are built on a terrace approached by a long flight of steps.
The Chaitya Hall has an unusual circular plan and a dome shaped ceiling adorned with rock cut beams resembling wooden rafters. A horseshoe–shaped arch stands at the entrance.
http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/architecture_bud.html
The headquarters of West Godavari district is located at Eluru. Guntupalli is a part of this district and is close to Kamavarapukota. The distance of Gunutupalli from Vijaywada is around 85 kms and from Eluru is 40 kms.
For a Buddhist tourist to Andhra Pradesh, a visit to Guntupalli is highly recommended because it is widely acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful Buddhist sites in the region. The site is located atop a hill and has rock cut chaityas, votive stupas and viharas, several images of the Buddha for you to see. All these Buddhist treasures are believed to pre date even the world famous Ajanta and Ellora caves of Maharashtra. It is also believed that the great Buddhist Logician, Dignaga made this place his residence for quiet sometime during his life.
http://www.buddhist-tourism.com/countries/india/buddhist-sites/guntupalli-andhra-pradesh.html
Eluru, India Page
Other names: El?ru,West Godavari,West Godāvari,Ellore
World:India:State of Andhra Pradesh
Lat 16.7000 Long 81.1000
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Eluru.html
Kamavarapukota, India Page
Other names: Kāmavarapukota
World:India:State of Andhra Pradesh
Lat 17.0167 Long 81.2000
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Kamavarapukota.html
He was an antevasaka in monastery perhaps aligned to Nagaparvata ie Mahanaga Parvata, the great hill monastery of Guntupalle, located just 27 km north of Peddavegi.
www.asi.nic.in/…/Indian%20Archaeology%201986-87%20A%20Review.pdf
Peda-vegi is a village and a mandal in West Godavari district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is located 12 km from the city of Eluru […] Histor. The Eastern Chalakyas ruled coastal Andhra from 700 to 1200, with Vengi, near the village of Pedavegi, as their capital. Historical evidence can be found at the villages of Pedavegi and Guntupalli (Jilakarragudem).
Coordinates: 16.770809°N 81.103864°E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedavegi
The ancient city of Vengipura : archaeological excavations at …
Alibris has The ancient city of Vengipura : archaeological excavations at Peddavegi and other books by Inguva Karthikeya Sarma, including new & used copies, …
www.alibris.com/…/The%20ancient%20city%20of%20Vengipura%20: %20archaeological%20excavations%20at%20Peddavegi
Input by: tmciolek, Aug 29, 2009
Buddhist monuments
1) Rock-cut temple 2) Large Monastery 3) Small Monastery 4) Brick Chaitya 5) Ruined Mandapa 6) Stone built Stupa and Large group of stupas.
Location: Guntupalle District: West Godavari
http://www.asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp
Input by: tmciolek, Sep 4, 2009
Final data (and their sources)
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Guntupalle monastery, IN.
lat=17.0299 long=81.1670
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Guṇṭupalle monastery
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India:State of Andhra Pradesh
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
final data ….
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., Lat 17.0299 Long 81.1670 - estimated position (using maps.google.com) of the near hill from Kamavarapukota - tmc, 11 Jan 2010.
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
final data ….
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Kamavarapukota - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Kamavarapukota.html
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
final data ….
8. The settlement's coordinates
*Exactly, Lat 17.0167 Long 81.2000 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Kamavarapukota.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
final data ….
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
final data ….
11. Date-early
- 2nd to 1st century B.C. - http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/architecture_bud.html
12. Date-intermediate
final data ….
13. Date-late
final data ….
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
final data ….
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
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16. Additional notes
final data (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)….
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
final data ….
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