Four Stūpa Sites in Andhradesa

high-definition creative commons photographs from stūpa sites at Ghaṇṭaśālā, Bhaṭṭiproḷu, Jaggayyapēṭa and Kottūru, together with further information.

 

Ghaṇṭaśālā

The Ghaṇṭaśālā Mahā Stūpa lies on the left hand side of the Krishna river, inland around 12km, and virtually opposite to the Bhaṭṭiproḷu stūpa which is on the right hand side. It was measured at around 112ft in diametre, and an assumed 23ft high. The land around it had risen over the years, and it is now stood in a shallow pit.

Ghaṇṭaśālā Mahā Stūpa

The assumed shape of the stūpa,
diagram by Alexander Rea

use j/k or left/right arrow
to navigate through the photos below

001 Approach to the Mahā Stūpa, Ghaṇṭaśālā

01 Approach to the Mahā Stūpa, Ghaṇṭaśālā

002 The Mahā Stūpa on Lower Ground, Ghaṇṭaśālā

02 The Mahā Stūpa on Lower Ground, Ghaṇṭaśālā

003 Stūpa Showing Brickwork, Ghaṇṭaśālā

03 Stūpa Showing Brickwork, Ghaṇṭaśālā

004 Stūpa from Behind, Ghaṇṭaśālā

04 Stūpa from Behind, Ghaṇṭaśālā

There is a museum run by the Archeological Survey of India at Ghaṇṭaśālā. We were able to take photographs of the artifacts lying around outside the museum, but were forbidden to take photos inside.

005 Archeological Museum, Ghaṇṭaśālā

05 Archeological Museum, Ghaṇṭaśālā

006 Part of a Column, Ghaṇṭaśālā

06 Part of a Column, Ghaṇṭaśālā

007 Column Finial, Ghaṇṭaśālā

07 Column Finial, Ghaṇṭaśālā

008 Roundel, Ghaṇṭaśālā

08 Roundel, Ghaṇṭaśālā

Bhaṭṭiproḷu

The Bhaṭṭiproḷu Mahā Stūpa lies on the right hand side of the Krishna river. It is thought to be one of the earliest sites, dating to the 3rd-2nd centuries BCE. It was larger than the Ghaṇṭaśālā Mahā Stūpa, being around 148ft in diameter, and an assumed 40ft in height. Important relic caskets were discovered here. The Brahmi-type script that was used for the inscriptions here is unique and is named after the site.

009 Mahā Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

09 Mahā Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

010 Partially Rebuilt Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

10 Partially Rebuilt Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

011 Mahā Stūpa from Side, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

11 Mahā Stūpa from Side, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

012 Mahā Stūpa Remains, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

12 Mahā Stūpa Remains, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

013 Steps to Mahā Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

13 Steps to Mahā Stūpa, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

014 Typical Long Bricks

14 Typical Long Bricks

015 Stonework on Site, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

15 Stonework on Site, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

016 Stonework on Site, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

16 Stonework on Site, Bhaṭṭiproḷu

Jaggayyapēṭa

The Stūpa at Jaggayyapēṭa is another early construction, probably from around the 2nd century BCE. The stūpa is smaller than the previous two. On the day we visited the site was closed and was hard of access. It really seemed to have been abandoned. We accessed the site by climbing over the fence.

017 Main Stūpa, Jaggayyapēṭa

17 Main Stūpa, Jaggayyapēṭa

018 Main Stūpa, Jaggayyapēṭa

18 Main Stūpa, Jaggayyapēṭa

019 Columns Still Standing, Jaggayyapēṭa

19 Columns Still Standing, Jaggayyapēṭa

020 Caitya Gṛha, Jaggayyapēṭa

20 Caitya Gṛha, Jaggayyapēṭa

021 Small Remains, Jaggayyapēṭa

21 Small Remains, Jaggayyapēṭa

022 Remains Strewn Around, Jaggayyapēṭa

22 Remains Strewn Around, Jaggayyapēṭa

023 Finial with Lotus and Rams, Jaggayyapēṭa

23 Finial with Lotus and Rams, Jaggayyapēṭa

024 Lotus Finial, Jaggayyapēṭa

24 Lotus Finial, Jaggayyapēṭa

025 Lotus Finial, Jaggayyapēṭa

25 Lotus Finial, Jaggayyapēṭa

Kottūru

At Kottūru there is a Mahā Stūpa, and further up the hill, there is a small excavated cave complex. There are apparently also vihāras at the site, but they may have been overgrown, as we didn't see them.

026 Mahā Stūpa, Kottūru

26 Mahā Stūpa, Kottūru

027 Mahā Stūpa from Approach, Kottūru

27 Mahā Stūpa from Approach, Kottūru

028 Steps to the Caves, Kottūru

28 Steps to the Caves, Kottūru

029 Excavated Caves, Kottūru

29 Excavated Caves, Kottūru

030 Excavated Caves, Kottūru

30 Excavated Caves, Kottūru

 

Photographs by Anandajoti Bhikkhu

About this Website

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License