Bojjannakonda Stūpa, Cave and Monastic Complex, Andhra Pradesh

Bojjannakonda (Bojjannakoṇḍā) and Lingalakonda (Liṅgalakoṇḍā) are two rock-cut sites of Buddhist origin on adjacent hillocks situated near the village of Sankaram, near Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh. The sites are believed to have been established between the 4th and 9th centuries CE, when Buddhism was still the majority religion in the area. The original name of Bojjannakoṇḍa (Pot-Belly Hill) is Buddhuni Koṇḍa (The Hill of Buddhas).

This was one of the most impressive sites I visited on my trip, and we were fortunate to have the expert guidance of Mr. Srinivas-ji, who has been visiting the site for 40 years, and organising to keep it protected. I am sure we would have missed many things without having him along as guide.

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to navigate through the photos below

01 Signboard on Approach Road

Bojjannakoṇḍa

the main hill is Bojjannakoṇḍa which features a Chaitya Grha cut into the rock-side and large Buddha images carved into niches, which are visible for miles around. This is only the most visible part though. There are rock-carved stūpas all over the hillside.

On another level, behind these, are a Mahā Stūpa and opposite, a monastery. Around the Mahā Stūpa are many smaller stūpas carved out of living rock, as well as brick-built Chaitya Gṛhas and other buildings. Around the peak opposite the Mahā Stūpa is the monastic complex, comprising many vihāras around the lower level, and rooms for study and worship on the top level.

02 Steps and Rock-Cut Cave Site

03 Buddhas in Niches

04 Buddhas with Cave Below

05 Meditating Buddha

06 Buddha with Devas and Humans

07 Buddha from the Side

08 Buddha Statue in Niche

09 Buddha and Deva

10 Polished Buddha Statue

11 Buddha Statue

12 Buddha and Bodhisattvas

13 Stūpa and Devotee

14 Meditating Buddha in Cave

19 Columns Inside the Chaitya Gṛha

20 Bodhisattva on Column

21 Stūpas Carved from the Hillside

22 Stūpas and Memorial Stone

23 Rock-Cut Stūpas

24 Stūpas from Above

25 Stūpa with Harmika

26 Remains of Mahā Stūpa

27 Mahā Stūpa from the Side

28 Mahā Stūpa

29 Cave Below Mahā Stūpa

30 Brickwork Around Mahā Stūpa

31 Rock-Cut Stūpas and Brickwork

32 Brick Built Saṅghārāma

33 Individual Vihāras

34 Small and Large Stūpas

35 Broken Stūpa with Harmika

41 Stūpas and Countryside

42 Surrounding Countryside

43 Hay Stūpa in Field

44 Brickwork

45 Small Stūpas

46 Stūpas and Brickwork

47 Small Chaitya Gṛha

48 Individual Stūpa

49 Saṅghārāma Vihāras

50 Vihāras

51 Vihāras

52 Vihāras

53 Brick Built and Stone Stūpas

54 Brick Chaitya Gṛha

55 Brick Stūpa

56 Buildings on the Plateau

57 Main Image House at the End

58 Srinivas-ji Before the Image House

59 View of Mahā Stūpa from the Plateau

60 View of Mahā Stūpa from the Plateau

Liṅgalakoṇḍa

The so-called Liṅgalakoṇḍa (Hill of Liṅgas) is actually covered in scores of stūpas. The Hindus, having lost the meaning of the stūpa, see them as Śivaliṅgas, hence the name. Some of the rock-cut stūpas here are around 30ft tall.

Again there is more than one section to see, and it is not obvious how to get to the section at the back where these large stūpas are situated. In this section there are also a couple of meditation cave excavations, which are now inhabited by bats.