The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : A rich heritage in a state of neglect

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 12, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

A rich heritage in a state of neglect

G.V.R. Subba Rao

Buddhist chaitya at Dhanambodu destroyed

Stone carvings on the chaitya crushed, used as limestone
Sculptures are used as washing stones

A view of the Buddhist chaitya at Dhanambodu near Jaggayyapeta in Krishna district.

JAGGAYYAPETA: Ignorance of the historical importance of a Buddhist chaitya at Dhanambodu, which means ‘a hill of wealth’, near here has led to its “vandalisation” by some local people. The site dates back to 2nd century B.C. The local people crushed the stone carvings on the chaitya and used it as limestone, while some others used the sculptures or pillars as washing stones, thus vandalising a rich heritage.

Rare stupa

The Dhanambodu chaitya has, apparently, been totally neglected by respective governments, though it “closely resembles” the famous Nagarjunakonda. It is stated to be one of the rare votive stupas in the State. Though there is no accurate written evidence, its construction is believed to have started during the period of Ashoka. However, the inscriptional evidence is available from the Ikshvaku period. The earliest history is not available, as local people have destroyed it for their domestic use, according to senior archaeologists.

A number of pillars and broken sculptures of the Mandapa can be found on the site. The remains are embellished with beautiful greenish limestone slabs. A barbed fence around the site and a warning board are the only proof of the measures taken by the government to protect the monument, say local people. The lotus petals on the basement of the chaitya at Dhanambodu resemble the designs found on Nagarjunakonda. It is considered to be a big stupa, as it has a diameter of 3 metres. Small stupas have a diameter of 1 to 2 metres, points out Jitendra Das, Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India at Hyderabad.

Development plans

“We’ll be developing the site by spending Rs. 50 lakhs over the next two years. A compound wall encircling the 5-acre site, basic amenities like drinking water, benches for the visitors and gardening would be provided,” he says.

The site, also known as Velagiri site, was partially excavated during the British period. Alexander V of the East India Company excavated the site for the first time. It was in a dilapidated condition then, says D. Kanna Babu, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist. The Dhanambodu site hogged the limelight once again during the recent Jaggayyapeta festival. The State Government projected the site as a cultural heritage during the celebrations, and local MLA and Government Whip Samineni Udaya Bhanu vowed to develop the chaitya as a tourist destination. Some of his proposals include creating basic amenities for visitors, opening a museum and a garden and developing shade trees for the development of the Buddhist site. A resolution was passed during the festival to develop the site by spending Rs. 2 crores.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh