Amaravathi declared heritage city

‘Amaravathi is among the 12 cities in India that have been declared heritage cities’. The town is also popular among tourists, as the Amaralingeswara Temple is located there. In 2006, it hosted the 30th Kalachakra, which was attended by the Dalai Lama.

A replica of Buddhist Mahastupa located at the Archaeology Museum at Amaravathi in Guntur District. The town is declared as a heritage city. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

Amaravathi, a historical town where a Buddhist Stupa and a school of art named after the Buddha are located, has been declared Unesco Heritage City, Narsaraopet MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao said on Friday. It is located some 40 km away from Guntur.

The town is among the 12 towns/cities across India that have been declared heritage cities, Mr. Rao said.

Mr. Rao thanked Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu for choosing Amaravathi for the heritage tag. He added that Mr. Naidu had promised that special attention would be given to protecting and promoting the culture of the town with Unesco help.

Dharanikota, located near Amaravathi, was once the capital of the Satavahana dynasty, and it later emerged as a key centre of Buddhism. The town is also popular among tourists, as the Amaralingeswara Temple is located there. In 2006, it hosted the 30th Kalachakra, which was attended by the Dalai Lama.

“I thank Mr. Naidu on behalf of the people of Guntur district for choosing Amaravathi as a heritage city. This move will help in preserving the legacy and history of the town,” Mr. Rao said.