8 Day(s) 7 Night(s)
An important center for Buddhist learning, Nagarjunakonda, is located on the banks of the river Nagarjunakonda Krishna at about 65 km from Vijaywada and 150 km from Hyderabad in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The place was earlier known as Vijayapuri the capital of the Ikshvaku Kingdom. Nagarjunakonda was one of the main Buddhist centers of India from the 2nd century B.C until the third century A.D. It is believed that a great Buddhist scholar and founder father of Mahayana Buddhism, Nagarjuna founded the University here. The place was a great place for worship by Monks and scholars. The place is named after him Nagarjuna and Konda mean Hill in Telgu. Nagarjuna made it a centre for the propagation of Buddhist teachings in South India.
One of the early river valley civilizations took birth here. Enthused by the peaceful environs of this place, Buddhists made this land a great hub of learning, setting up one of the four major Viharas here. Further down in history, one of the first Hindu kingdoms of South India, Ikshvakus, made this city their capital. Once Vijayapuri, today Nagarjunasagar, this hoary land of antiquity and enlightenment now boasts of the world’s tallest masonry dam, the Nagarjuna Sagar. It was built on the Krishna River at Nagarjuna Sagar between Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh state and Nalgonda district of Telangana state, India.
Nagarjunakonda was a marvelous city of stupas, chaityas, monasteries, and impressive structures adorning them. The city had a large Amphitheatre with ideal acoustics, royal baths, harbors and bathing Ghats along the river, an altar to sacrifice horses, and a fine-designed drainage system. The excavations have also unearthed some outstanding memorial pillars, jewelry, coins, statues, and some impressive white marble excellent sculptures of Buddha, depicting the life of Lord Buddha. All the excavated items are now housed in the Museum on the island. It also features a statue of Buddha which is 10ft high. The Great stupa, Mahachaitya, contains the sacred relics of the Buddha- an earring and a small tooth. The large stupa is decorated with a large garland ornament. The stupa is 18 meters in height and measures 32.3 meters in diameter and 4 meters in width. The Nagarjunakonda stupa had a circular central column, with eight radial walls gathering a peripheral circular wall, thus creating the appearance in the sketch of a cartwheel with its hub, spokes, and felly.
The Nagarjunakonda is a captivating place to be as even at sky-scraping noon it offers a 360 view of the surrounding lake circled by forest-covered hills. A visit to Nagarjunakonda is fascinating as it takes you to that launch ride of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam.
Places of Interest:
Anupu (Monastery and University complex; temple; open air theatre), Relocated buildings on Nagarjunakonda (Mahachaitya); Bodhisri Chaitya; Burial site, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, Buddhavana.
How to go there
By Air : Nearest airport is at Vijayawada, which is 65 kms away, and Hyderabad, which is 150 kms from here.
Bodhgaya – Varanasi
By Train : Guntur is the nearest railway station, which is 36 kms, and another railway station is in Vijayawada, which is 82 kms away.
By Road : Nagarjunakonda is well connected by road to other cities. Regular buses ply to all the pilgrimage spots. 150 kms from Hyderabad, 36 kms from Guntur and 82 kms from Vijay Wada. Taxis are also easily available.