Buddha Vihara found in Konduru Tippa

Kadapa: A Buddhist site comprising brick-built ‘stupas’ and ‘viharas’ has been found on a hillock, Konduru Tippa, near Rajampet in Kadapa district during the recent explorations by the Department of Archaeology and Museums. .According to P. Chenna Reddy, Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, the site was spread over two acres and the ‘stupas’ and ‘viharas’ are datable to the 1st century BC to 5th century AD.

The earliest ‘stupas’ (built of 50 X 25 X 7-cm bricks) belong to the Satavahana period (1 {+s} {+t} century B.C to 2 {+n} {+d} century A.D).

Those in wheel shape in the second phase belong to the Ikshvaku period (3 {+r} {+d} Century A.D) and those of the last phase belong to the Vishanukundin period (5 {+t} {+h} Century A.D).

The site belonging to Seliya sect flourished on this hill for six centuries. Prof. Reddy said proposals for protection of the site were ready and excavations would be taken up shortly after obtaining approval from the Central Advisory Board for Archaeology.

This is the third Buddhist site in Kadapa district the other two were discovered at Adapur (Lanjekanumagutta) near Nandalur and at Naga Nadhesunu Kona at a distance of 4 KM from Kazipet , a mandal head quarter.

Courtesy: The Hindu