Bavikonda, Buddhist archaeological site near Visakhapatnam, India

Bavikonda is an archaeological site on a hilltop near Visakhapatnam, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The excavated grounds reveal the outlines of monks' cells, prayer halls, burial mounds, and cisterns arranged across the plateau.

The monastic ruins at Bavikonda date to the 3rd century BCE. Excavations by the State Department of Archaeology uncovered a large Buddhist complex, including an urn holding a bone fragment believed to be a relic of the Buddha, along with inscriptions, pottery, relic caskets, tiles, bricks and coins. The nearby Buddhist sites of Thotlakonda and Pavurallakonda are close by.

The name Bavikonda comes from Telugu and means hill of wells, a reference to the water collection structures monks built on the slopes. Visitors can still see the remains of these cisterns today, scattered among the excavated monastery grounds.

Bavikonda sits on a hill about 130 m above sea level, roughly 16 km from Visakhapatnam, so allow time for the drive out of the city. The excavated complex spreads across the hilltop, with the nearby Buddhist sites of Thotlakonda and Pavurallakonda also worth planning for. Surfaces are uneven; wear sturdy footwear.

Excavations by the State archaeological department recovered a bone fragment kept in an urn, thought to be a relic of the Buddha, along with inscriptions, pottery, relic caskets, tiles, bricks and coins. The finds come from the large Buddhist complex on the hill, about 130 m above sea level and 16 km from Visakhapatnam.