Raw data
Ruined Buddhist Monastery at Gurubhaktulakonda
Location: Ramatirthalu Ramatirtham
District: Vizianagaram
http://www.asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_andhra.asp
Ramathirtham is a small village, located about 13 km Vizianagaram in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. The prime attraction is the Bodikonda Hill.
http://www.india9.com/i9show/Ramathirtham-20991.htm
Ramathirtham is famous for the 1000 years old sri rama temple situated on the Bavikonda hill. On the southern most hill stand the remains of Rama temple, vestiges of Jainism and natural caves. The northern hill known as Durgakonda is named after goddess Durga whose statue is in a natural cave. The central hill known as Gurubhaktakonda contains a number of Buddhist structures. Excavations conducted by A.Rea brought to light images of Buddha, a Satavahana lead coin, clay seals, votive stupas etc. One of the clay seals contained the name of the local king Sri Siva (maka) Vijaya Raja Selasaghasa who ruled the area from 1st & 2nd AD. The Buddhist remains at Ramathirtham consist of a maha stupa, five chaityagrihas, five viharas and five votive stupas and remains of a monastery. How to Reach This Place Road: 13 km from Vizianagaram by Road.
http://www.my-telugu.com/tour/districts/vizianagaram/vizianagaram-temple-ramathirtham.shtml
Bavikonda, an important Buddhist heritage site located on a hill about 15kms., northeast from Visakhapatnam city. Here the Buddhist habitation is noticed on a 40 acres flat terraced area. Bavikonda in Telugu means a hill of wells. A Hinayana school of Buddhism was practiced here. Bavikonda Monastery flourished between 3rd Century B.C., and 3rd Century A.D., The discovery of relic caskets in Mahachaitya is significant. Bavikonda has remains of an entire Buddhist complex, comprising 26 structures belonging to three phases. A piece of bone stored in an urn recovered here is believed to belong to the mortal remains of the Buddha. It also contains large quantity of ash, charcoal, and earthenware. Three abandoned water tanks were also have been found on this hillock.
http://tourism4india.in/india/Visakhapatnam/Spots/Bavikonda.aspx
Vizianagaram, India Page
Other names: Vizianagram,Vizianagram City,Viguyanagram
World:India:State of Andhra Pradesh
Lat 18.1167 Long 83.4167
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vizianagaram.html
Vishakhapatnam, India Page
Other names: Vaisakhapattanam,Vizag,Vishākhapatnam,Visakhapatnam,Vizagapatam,Vaisākhapattanam
World:India:State of Andhra Pradesh
Lat 17.7000 Long 83.3000
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
Input by: tmciolek, Sep 4th, 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 Gurubhaktulakonda monastery, IN.
lat=17.8210 long=83.3999
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Gurubhaktulakonda monastery
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India: State of Andhra Pradesh
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
- Bavikonda monastery - http://tourism4india.in/india/Visakhapatnam/Spots/Bavikonda.aspx
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx. Lat 17.8210 Long 83.3999 - determined from http://maps.google.com, via a search for "Bavikonda", - tmc, 11 Jan 2010.
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
final data ….
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
- Vishakhapatnam - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Vaisakhapattanam - ttp://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
- Vizag - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
- Vishākhapatnam - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
- Visakhapatnam - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
- Vizagapatam - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
- Vaisākhapattanam - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Exactly, Lat 17.7000 Long 83.3000 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Vishakhapatnam.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
final data ….
11. Date-early
12. Date-intermediate
final data ….
13. Date-late
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
final data ….
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
final data ….
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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