Nagarjunakonda
The island takes its name from the Buddhist monk, Nagarjuna, who lived around the turn of the 2nd century AD. Excavations carried out in its this valley have unearthed the Maha Chaitya, Viharas and Monasteries. Nagarjunakonda is 150 kms. from Hyderabad, the state capital of Andhra Pradesh.Named after acharya Nagarjuna, a Buddhist Scholar, Nagarjuna Konda is a burning feat of both engineering and ancient Buddhist architecture. The site is a remake of another original, to save it from submersion, under the Nagarjuna Sagar dam. While the dam is one of the largest, the site also presents some of the most antique items of Buddhism. More than that it represents a lost civilization, rich and excellent, thousand years ago, in the same place where Nagarjuna Sagar dam is now situated. The excavations led to the findings of ruins of a university, some statues of Buddha, relics and other pieces of Buddhist origin. The museum at Nagarjuna konda houses all these precious findings which, are considered priceless, in terms of Buddhist sentiments and, not to forget, for the rest of the artistic people too.
The ancient sculptures are thought to be built mainly during the Ikshvaku rule, which was the golden era for this region due to commercial and political success. Now, in the midst of the dam, it's like an artificial island, proudly representing the glorious past and the fabulous present.
Location :
The site is located in Guntur District, at a distance of 150 km from Hyderabad, the state capital. The Guntur District is located between Latitude: 16º18'North and Longitude: 80º27'East
Ethipothala Water falls : The waterfalls are natural and the scenic beauty of the place is mesmerizing, the Chandravanka river flows down straight from a height of 70 ft, with hammering sounds and swift speed, and thrashes on to a lagoon which, serves as a crocodile breeding centre. So, you get another attraction for the time and price of one. The flow rushes in to a deep green forest. Ethipothala is a popular picnic spot, not only for the reptiles, but also for the tourist folk.
Nagarjuna Konda museum : The museum houses all the important excavated items including relics by Buddha himself, stone images, Jataka tales encrypted panels and many other inscriptions.Nagarjuna sagar waterfall : The dam, which caters to irrigation 10 lakh acres of land, is one of the largest man-made dams in the world. In the middle it contains the Nagarjuna Sagar Island which houses a museum.
Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary : Situated between Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam, Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is a home ground to many types of playful animals, the dreadful tigers and some of the rarest birds.