Thotlakonda Monastery

The Thotlakonda (Toṭlakoṇḍa) monastic complex is around 15km north of Visakhapatnam, and is situated on a hill overlooking the Bay of Bengal. There was evidently brisk trade from this area, as coins from Rome and Sātavāhana lead coins were found here, and that is how the monastery came to be built up during the 2nd BCE – 2nd CE time period.

The monastery belongs to the pre-Mahāyāna period. The name derives from the cisterns (Toṭla in Telegu) found at the site. The original name of the site appears to have been Senagiri (Hill of Hawks). It seems to have been primarily a monastic site, and there are around 100 vihāras for the monks built here. It is very similar to the nearby Bavikonda Monastery, which is only 5km away.

This large site also contains a Mahā Stūpa and other Votive Stūpas, a number of Chaitya Halls, Buddhapāda shrines, as well as a large dining hall together with kitchen and store room areas. It is about 5km away from the similar Bavikonda site. The Mahā Stūpa was recently rebuilt after damage caused by the monsoon weather in 2019.