Buddhist remains on a mound called ‘Ernamma Pallu Dibba’ behind the Zilla Parishad High School at Ghantasala in Krishna district were unearthed on Sunday.
Speaking to the media, archaeologist E. SivaNagi Reddy said that limestone pillars carved with half-lotus medallions, two limestone panels and a fragment of a Buddha image were visible, after a close examination. “These remains, basing on the style of art and architecture are datable to the 3rd Century AD — i.e., Ikshwaku times,” according to Mr. Reddy, who works as the chief executive officer of the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati. The inscription issued by Upasika Bodhisiri, wife of a mariner, mentioned that she built a stone-pillared pavilion at Ghantasala for the benefit of the devotees visiting the mahastupa. He said these remains of the pillars and the fragment of the Buddha image might belong to the above pavilion.
Mr. Reddy appealed to the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India to shift these remains to the local site museum at Ghantasala, for safety and security.
These periodical surveys are conducted under the campaign ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’.
