Bojjannakonda, Buddhist rock-cut caves in Sankaram, India.
Bojjannakonda is a site with rock-cut caves carved into hillsides near Visakhapatnam. The complex includes meditation chambers, prayer halls, and several stupas of different sizes carved directly from the stone.
The site likely developed between the 7th and 11th centuries and remained hidden until archaeologists rediscovered it in the early 1900s. Artifacts found there show that merchants and pilgrims used this place over many generations.
The caves show how Buddhist practitioners of different traditions gathered to pray and meditate over many centuries. You can still see evidence of their daily practices reflected in how the spaces are arranged.
The site sits about 26 kilometers from Visakhapatnam and is easily accessible by main road. It remains open year-round with no entrance fee, giving you freedom to spend as much time exploring as you wish.
One cave stands out with sixteen pillars arranged around a carved stupa, while the umbrella design on the ceiling links cleverly to the stupa's peak below. This architectural detail shows the builders' attention to creating visual harmony within the stone.
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