Vizag, February 27, 2026: Authorities in Visakhapatnam are set to inaugurate a new interpretation and amenities centre next to the Thotlakonda Buddhist complex on March 1.
The facility, built adjacent to the hilltop site overlooking the Bay of Bengal, displays nine major excavated pieces including rare Buddhapadas, a Bharavahaka figure, Muchalinda serpent remains, and a horse sculpture tied to Buddha's life alongside nearly 20 archival images from the 1988–1992 digs.
Thotlakonda, a Hinayana Buddhist settlement active for about four centuries from the 2nd–3rd century BCE, features a main stupa, votive stupas, rock-cut water cisterns, residential cells, and dining areas.
Discovered via Indian Navy aerial survey and excavated by the State Department of Archaeology and Museums, the protected monument has long attracted tourists and students but lacked clear context for scattered remains.
