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Pilgrimage Guide › Sacred Sites 19–27 › Amaravati
Amaravati, on the Krishna River in Andhra Pradesh, was one of the greatest Buddhist centres of South India. It was home to the Mahachaitya, a great stupa begun around the 2nd century BCE and enlarged until the 3rd century CE.
Krishna River, near Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
About 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE
Vijayawada (about 65 km)
About 30 km
October to March
Amaravati Archaeological Museum
The Amaravati Mahachaitya was once about 30 metres high and 50 metres wide, covered with white limestone carvings of the Buddha’s life and the Jataka tales. This “Amaravati School” of art influenced Buddhist art from Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, including early Buddhist images in Thailand.
The site is linked with Acharya Nagarjuna, one of the greatest Buddhist philosophers, who taught nearby. The stupa was dismantled in the 18th century, and its surviving sculptures are now in the Amaravati Museum, the Government Museum in Chennai and the British Museum in London.
For Thai and Southeast Asian pilgrims, this is where many of the roots of their own temple art can be seen. The Amaravati style of carving travelled to Sri Lanka and then to Southeast Asia, shaping how the Buddha and his life stories were shown in stone.
The area remains important to Buddhists today: in 2006, the Dalai Lama gave the Kalachakra teachings here, drawing pilgrims from around the world. Visiting the museum and the stupa site is a meaningful way to honour this great South Indian centre of the Dharma.
Amaravati is about 30 km from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. The nearest airport is Vijayawada (VGA), about 65 km away. Buses and taxis run regularly from Vijayawada and Guntur. Read more in our complete guide to the Amaravati Buddhist Stupa.
October to March is best (about 20–32°C). Avoid April to June, when it can reach 45°C, and the monsoon (July–September). The museum is open year-round and is the best place to see the Amaravati carvings. Combine Amaravati with Nagarjunakonda for a South India Buddhist trail.
Prime Value Tours can include this sacred place in a private tour for your group, with an English or Thai-speaking guide, comfortable air-conditioned transport, vegetarian meals and unhurried time for chanting and meditation at every stop. Tell us your group size and travel dates, and we will plan the best route and send your quotation within 24 hours.
Amaravati is on the banks of the Krishna River, about 30 km from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, India.
It was a great Buddhist stupa, once about 30 metres high, covered with limestone carvings of the Buddha’s life. It was built from about the 2nd century BCE.
The Amaravati School of Buddhist art influenced Buddhist art in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, including early Buddhist images in Thailand.
Vijayawada Airport (VGA), about 65 km away.
At the Amaravati Archaeological Museum on site, the Government Museum in Chennai, and the British Museum in London.
Government-approved tour operator from Varanasi since 1999. Private Buddhist pilgrimage tours for Thai and Southeast Asian groups, with English or Thai-speaking guides.
