Thotlakonda Buddhist Complex to open new interpretation center in Visakhapatnam

The ancient Buddhist complex of Thotlakonda, which dates back to the 2nd and 3rd century BC, is set to get a new public interface with an interpretation and convenience center adjacent to the main site. The centre, expected to open to visitors from March 1, aims to present the excavated remains and archival material in a way that allows the Buddhist complex on the hill to speak with greater clarity to contemporary audiences.

Situated on a windswept hill overlooking the Bay of Bengal near Kapuluppada, about 15 kilometers from Visakhapatnam city, Thotlakonda has long remained a quiet but significant marker of the region’s maritime and Buddhist past. The site, under the state Archeology and Museums Department, has been attracting tourists, scholars and school students for a long time.

The new center houses nine major exhibits, as well as other structural pieces that were previously kept in storage or left exposed on the site. The new center attempts to consolidate those pieces into a coherent public narrative. The initiative was led by Visakhapatnam District Collector MN Harendheera Prasad, who revived and completed the project after construction activity had earlier halted. In 2025, ₹9 lakh was sanctioned by KS Vishwanathan, the then commissioner of the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority, for the construction of the building. After that the work slowed down until the district administration took a fresh focus and put the structure in place.

R Falgun Rao, assistant director at the Department of Archeology and Museums, Visakhapatnam, says about 20 photographs documenting excavations of the late 1980s and early 1990s will line the walls. “The intention,” he says, “is to create a space where visitors can understand the context of the remains rather than viewing them as isolated stones.” A modest book and souvenir counter and a refreshment stall are also planned.

objects that speak

Two of the most fascinating exhibits are the Buddhapadas or the carved footprints of the Buddha. Historian Jayshree Hatangadi points out that these are unusually high. “In many of the later representations, Buddhapadas feature elaborate iconography such as wheels, lotuses and auspicious symbols. The Thotlakonda specimens display minimal ornamentation, suggesting an earlier stage before such visual vocabulary became widespread,” she says. His restraint provides valuable insight into the early aniconic traditions of Buddhism, when iconographic presence preceded anthropomorphic depictions.

Another notable work is the Bharvarhak, a strong male figure that once lay in the open at this site. Scholars interpret the figure as a symbol of service and reverence, possibly representing the communities whose labor sustained the monastic establishment. Carved ear ornaments and costumes indicate the clothing practices of that period.

The remains of the serpent king Muchalinda, who is believed to have sheltered the meditating Buddha under his hood, also rest on a pedestal. The piece retains the coiled form and suggestion of multiple hoods, evoking a narrative that travels across Buddhist art traditions. A sculptural representation of Kanthaka, the horse associated with a lamp post and Siddhartha’s renunciation, further broadens the interpretive framework. Together, these fragments extend the conversation from monastic routine to the broader cosmology and storytelling that shaped early Buddhist communities.

a hill was discovered

The scholarly account of the discovery of Thotlakonda comes from an aerial reconnaissance of the Indian Navy, which was surveying the northeastern coastline for a possible naval base. The hill’s unusual outline attracted attention, leading to land exploration and eventual excavation. Researchers VV Krishna Sastry, B Subramaniam and N Rama Krishna Rao documented the findings in detail.

Between 1988 and 1992, five field seasons of excavation revealed brick and stone remains of a major stupa, several votive stupas, stone platforms, and structural outlines of residential quarters. Artefacts recovered from the trenches include early historic pottery such as Brown Ware and Black and Red Ware, Satavahana and Roman coins, Brahmi-inscribed labels, fragments of inscribed umbrellas, terracotta and glass beads, bangles, plaster fragments and sculpture fragments. The material record suggested continued occupation and participation in trade circuits that connected the region to extensive sea routes.

After its identification, the hill was declared a protected monument under the Andhra Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1960. Some architectural fragments were collected and placed near the main stupa mound, although many remained without interpretive support. The Interpretation Center attempts to address this gap by situating individual objects within a coherent narrative.

perpetual monastic life

According to Falgun Rao, the complex reflects a flourishing Hinayana Buddhist settlement that remained active for about four centuries. The hilltop location overlooking the Bay of Bengal would have allowed the monks to observe maritime movement while maintaining contemplative solitude. Water management systems carved into the rock, residential chambers, dining rooms and meeting places indicate an organized monastic routine rather than a transient residence.

The new center collects early sculpture fragments, relevant photographs and brief explanations and seeks to provide an entry point for school students, researchers and tourists who might otherwise struggle to interpret the scattered remains.

The nominal entry fee of ₹20 for adults and ₹10 for children for access to the main area has been removed. The Department of Archeology and Museums is now awaiting corporate CSR support to operationalize the ticketing and entry infrastructure.

published – February 27, 2026 10:59 am IST