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Art and culture

Thotlakonda monastery:

The mahastupa of the 2,000-year-old Buddhist heritage site of Thotlakonda, reconstructed in 2016 by the state archaeology department, has collapsed during the recent torrential rainfall.

Key facts:

Thotlakonda Buddhist Complexis situated near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Thotlakonda was well within the influence of ancient Kalinga, which was an important source of dissemination of Buddhism to Sri Lanka and various parts of Southeast Asia.

The excavations have established the existence of a Hinayana Buddhist complex which flourished 2000 years ago.

The excavations reveal Satavahana dynasty lead and Roman silver coins indicating foreign trade; terracotta tiles, stucco decorative pieces, sculptured panels, miniature stupa models in stone, and Buddha footprints were also found.

The excavations also yielded twelve inscriptions in the Brahmi script.

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