In an effort to gain a deeper insight into the glorious cultural heritage of Nelakondapalli, an abode of the ancient Buddhist Mahastupa, a team of Buddhist monks from various countries visited the historic site on Sunday.
A team comprising delegates representing different countries, which follow Buddhism, had a first hand experience of the rich Buddhist architectural heritage of Nelakondapalli as part of a field visit organised by the government departments.
The tour was organised as a follow up to the international conference on Buddhism, which concluded in Hyderabad last week, sources said.
Rich heritage
The initiative forms an integral part of the State government’s endeavour to showcase the rich Buddhist architectural heritage of Telangana in the international arena.
The local residents and heritage lovers apprised the team of the significance of the ancient monument, considered one of the highest Buddhist stupas in south India.
They further told the visiting foreign delegation that a range of antiquities including terracotta figurines, red and blackware pottery, coins of Ikshvakus era, among others, were unearthed during the excavations carried out at the ancient site in 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Officials of Buddhavanam Project and others accompanied the team.
Meanwhile, in a statement historian Jeevan of Nelakondapalli-based Sidhardha Yoga Vidyalam appealed to the government to set up a museum either in Nelakondapalli or Khammam and complete the renovation work at the ancient site to bring it to its original glory and promote the glorious Buddhist heritage of Nelakondapalli.
