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Last Updated:: 14/09/2023
Bodhikonda and Ghanikonda
Ramateertham is a village panchayat in Nellimarla mandal of Vizianagaram district in Seemandhra. Ramateertham is one of the places made sacred by a traditional connection with Rama. The temple and village at the base of a chain of hills of solid rock on which are some perennial springs of water, and various places each in a way associated with the name of Rama. The Jains have also had a residence here, their remains consisting chiefly of natural caves with slab sculptures set in them, and some small ruined brick temples.
On the Black Granite hills one can find the ruins of some Buddhist and Jain structures known as Bodhikonda. Apart from it there are two other hills by name Gurabaktakonda (Gurubhakthulakonda) and Ghanikonda (also known as Durga Konda) on which one can find a 3rd-century BC Buddhist Monastic complex Remains and Rock cut caves with Jain Tirthankara images on the walls of the caves. This Place has a Historical importance as both the religions of Buddhism and Jainism flourished temporarily over here. At this place also the Buddhists are shown to have had a prior settlement in a place now sacred to the Hindus.
a. Bodhikonda
At Ramateertham there are three lines of hills standing parallel east and west, and each separated from the other by a narrow valley. The southernmost is known as the Bodhikonda, and on it are the spots connected with Rama, and Jaina remains consisting of natural caves, rock art, images and a ruined Jain brick temple towards south west of the hill.
b. Durgakonda (Ghanikonda)
The northern hill is the Durgakonda, so named from an image of that goddess which stands in a natural cave at its western base. In front of this cave and on the rock above it are some mounds. They contain both Buddhist and Jaina remains.
c. Gurabaktakonda
The central hill is known as the Gurabaktakonda (Gurubhakthulakonda) and it is high up on its northern side that the ruined Buddhist monastery stands. The hill is formed of precipitous bare solid rock, rounded on the top and about 500 feet in height. Near its south summit, under a vertical wall of rock is a perennial spring, beside which are a ruined brick mound and some Jaina images. On the rooky summit are some brick mounds. On the north face of the hill at a height of about 400 feet from the base is a long irregular rooky platform 903 feet in length and averaging more than 100 feet in breadth. The hill above it extends throughout its whole length in a vertical wall of rook about 100 feet high. Natural irregularities in the northern face of the platform have been made up by retaining walls of stone masonry.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramateertham