Gudiwada Dibba Buddhist Temple, Andhra Pradesh

Address

Gudiwada Dibba Buddhist Temple, Gudiwada village, Visakhapatnam district Andhra Pradesh 531162

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Gudiwada Dibba is a small hillock at Gudiwada village in Bhogapuram mandal, Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. It located on the banks of River Gosthani. The mound containing a Buddhist stupa is locally called as Lanjadibba. As many of Buddhist sites, this stupa was also subjected to large-scale vandalism. According to Sewell this stupa most have been of the same size as that of Sanchi, the basal area being nearly 140 feet square. As no traces of stone exist in the neighborhood it is supposed that the rail might have been made of brick or wood. Four stone receptacles each containing a crystal reliquary was also found from this stupa.

Puranic Significance

Explorations on this hillock (Gudiwada Dibba) in October 2012 yielded an ancient Buddhist heritage site possibly of 2nd Century BC. The site was documented by the State Archaeological department of Andhra Pradesh. The Hillock is formed of 2 flat terraces. The upper terrace towards the east consists of Buddhist Stupa remnants and a small rock cut cistern. The lower terrace towards the west consists of Buddhist Vihara remnants and two Hindu temples (probably constructed 100 years ago) dedicated to Goddess Durga. Rock cut steps are present towards River Gosthani at the west end of the hillock. This site has some resemblance to Pavurallakonda and Thotlakonda Buddhist site in the near Vicinity. It is 6 km away from Bheemunipatnam. Gudiwada Dibba Buddhist site is present very near to the commercial town of Thagarapuvalasa and Chittivalasa of Visakhapatnam district.