Bojjannakonda Sankaram Monasery, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Bojjannakonda Sankaram Monasery, Rebaka, Sankaram village, Vishakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh 531032

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda are two Buddhist rock-cut caves on adjacent hillocks, situated near a village called Sankaram, which is a few kilometres away from Anakapalle, Vishakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The sites are believed to date between 4th and 9th Century A.D, the north of the village are two hills, the one on the east called Bojjannakonda and the other on the west called Lingalakonda, both of which are surrounded by paddy fields. The original name of Bojjannakonda is Buddina Konda. Sankaram village at Bojjanna Konda near Anakapalle is popular Buddhist heritage spot. Few century back this place was the center of Buddhist culture and teaching. The name of the village Sankaram derived from the word Sangharama which meant monastery. There are many monolithic stupas, rock cut caves, ruins of prayer halls, meditation halls, brick build structural edifices, resting places available on the twin hills of Bojjanna Konda and Lingala Konda. This place is located by the side of the river Sarada. During the excavation of this place many age old coins, clay tablets of Sitting Buddha were found. There are many Buddha statues carved on the rock-face of the caves. In the near by hill of Lingalametta there are big and small rock cut monolithic stupas carved on single rocks of different shapes. Some stupas are as high as a two stored building..