There are 32 Buddhist heritage sites in the three north coastal districts. The excavation work at many places has been stopped three years ago as permission of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is required for it. The few sites that have been partially developed are crying for attention.
A. P. Tourism is operating a bus to Thotlakonda as part of the city package tour. Roads have been laid to Thotlakonda and Bhavikonda by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) several years ago.
Though landscaping has been done on the way to the hilltops, not many development works could be initiated as scientific restoration of the site has to be done.
“We have plans to extend our bus to Bhavikonda also, besides providing drinking water and subsequently toilets at Thotlakonda and Bhavikonda in coordination with the Archaeology Department, which is involved in the construction of pathways and other works,” Tourism General Manager G. Bheemasankara Rao told The Hindu .
“There are no immediate plans for operating special packages to the Buddhist sites. Wide publicity is required to popularise the sites and amenities have to be developed for tourists,” he says.
“ A kutcha road was laid to Pavuralakonda more than a decade ago. We have taken up fencing and jungle clearance, and renovation of the Dutch building atop this hill has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 40 lakh,” says K. Narasimha Naidu, in-charge Assistant Director of the State Archaeology Department.
