description Dhulikatta Stupa Overview
The Dhulikatta Stupa is a significant Buddhist monument located in Telangana, India, constructed during the Satavahana period in the 2nd century BCE. It is an excavated site distinguished by its elaborate stone ayaka platforms, which are characteristic structural elements of ancient South Asian stupas. The site serves as an important archaeological record of early Buddhist architecture.
help Dhulikatta Stupa FAQ
Where is the Dhulikatta Stupa located?
The Dhulikatta Stupa is an archaeological Buddhist site in Telangana, India, near the villages of Dhulikatta and Vadkapur. The site is associated with the ancient Buddhist and Satavahana-era landscape of the region.
What are the ayaka platforms at Dhulikatta?
The stupa has projecting ayaka platforms arranged at the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. These platforms are a notable architectural feature of several ancient Buddhist stupas in the Deccan.
How old is the Dhulikatta Stupa?
An inscription at the site has been paleographically dated to the 2nd century BCE. The monument was later embellished with carved limestone elements during the early Satavahana period.
What symbols were used at Dhulikatta instead of a human Buddha image?
The site uses symbolic Buddhist imagery associated with early aniconic practice, including footprints, a throne, a parasol, and a fire pillar. One prominent carved subject is Naga Muchilinda, the serpent associated with protecting the Buddha.
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