A site that intrigues you

About 40 kilometers away from Visakhapatnam, there are two hills situated on the east and west sides. The hills have become famous tourist attractions and are referred to as Bojjanna Konda (east) and Lingala Konda (west). The hills consist of various monolithic stupas, and rock cut caves for the visitors to observe. You would be amazed to witness the dome of the large stupa that is entirely made of bricks.

Talking about Bojjana Konda alone, it is a Buddhist site that has a lot of caves on the hillock and some rough and fine carvings too. If you are a history lover, and want to explore Buddhist customs, traditions and culture, Bojjana Konda will tell you a lot and always intrigue you to know more.

Where Buddha's devotees worshipped

It is said the Buddhist monks used to worship at the east hills, Bojjana Konda, over 2,000 years ago. At that time, it was also referred to as the Buddhuni Konda which literally means “Hills belonging to the Buddhas.”

In order to generate employment opportunities for the local people at Bojjana Konda and ensure the steady flow of maintenance funds for the region, there is a talk around declaring Bojjana Konda as a heritage site. The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage has made an appeal to the authorities to declare Thotlakonda, Pavurallakonda and Bojjannakonda as heritage sites by UNESCO so they can be protected as Buddhist sites.

Things you can do around the hill

You can enjoy the panoramic view of the place. You can also witness an image of Hariti, the Buddhist goddess at the foot of the Bojjana Konda hills. There are about six rock cut caves, all sculptured in different ways. The primary cave has sixteen pillars and also a monolithic stupa. The most significant thing that you should do at the Bojjana Konda is observe everything around, take account of the intricate details and gain knowledge on Buddhism. You get to see the bird eye view of the nearby beautiful village. Just have an adventurous walk at Bojjana Konda and you will be thrilled. While you step on the carvings and enter the caves, you will have a thrilling experience. Each cave has engraved pillars that signifies the principles of Buddhism. There are sculptured panels at the center of the caves. The six rock cut caves give you an adventurous experience while your journey of reaching the top of the hill. Spend some time in the prayer rooms. If you are a religious person, there are prayer halls too. They have an elevated platform where the leader of the devotees used to sit while the followers would sit encircling him. Lamp holders are still found in these prayer halls. Observe the splendid statue at Bojjana Konda. When you visit the Bojjana Konda, you will be welcomed by a life sized figure of Lord Buddha. His face has a calming expression like he is still meditating. No wonder the place is going to give you a serene experience that will freshen up your mind.

You will always find local people coming to Bojjana Konda to spend time with their family and friends. It is a perfect spot to host picnics and get togethers with your loved ones.

Timings

Opening time - 09:00 AM

Closing time - 05:00 PM

Must visit attractions nearby

Lingala Konda, the adjacent west hill from Bojjana Konda is equally beautiful and is also a Buddhist heritage site. Nookambika Temple is also a famous tourist spot nearby. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Nookambika and is also named after her. Simhachalam is another popular pilgrimage destination, situated quite close to the Sankaram village. Apart from it being a religious site, it’s also famous for the spectacular art that the local people make here.