NGRI to Map Buried Remains at Nelakondapalli
. The site flourished during the Satavahana, Ikshvaku and Vishnukundin periods and served as a major centre of Buddhist religious and cultural activity in the region.
Hyderabad:The CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), in collaboration with the Heritage department, will conduct an underground survey at the Nelakondapalli Buddhist site in Khammam district to detect buried structures and assess the extent of ancient settlements. Three locations have been identified for investigation: the Buddhist Mahastupa site, the Bairagulagutta area and palm oil gardens near Bairagulagutta.
A ground penetrating radar (GPR) system will be deployed for the survey, scheduled for November 21 and 22 at three locations. The GPR is a modern, non-invasive geophysical technique used to investigate subsurface features without disturbing archaeological deposits.
Heritage department director Prof. Arjun Rao Kuthadi recently held discussions with NGRI director Dr Prakash Kumar on conducting the scientific survey. At the Mahastupa site, the survey will focus on identifying the presence of possible buried structural remains within and around the existing Buddhist stupa complex. The Bairagulagutta area will be examined to determine the extent of ancient habitation and locate potential subsurface archaeological remains.
Based on the findings, the department will identify areas suitable for systematic archaeological excavations and prepare proposals for further investigation, conservation and site development. Prof. Arjun Rao said the survey would help identify possible underground brick structures, foundations, walls, buried architectural remains and other archaeological anomalies.
Nelakondapalli, located about 21 km from Khammam, is one of Telangana’s most important early historic Buddhist archaeological sites. The site flourished during the Satavahana, Ikshvaku and Vishnukundin periods and served as a major centre of Buddhist religious and cultural activity in the region.
Recent explorations at Bairagulagutta and nearby habitations unearthed brick structures, limestone architectural fragments, terracotta beads, pottery and other antiquities, prompting the need for further scientific investigation. Earlier excavations at the site brought to light a massive brick-built Mahastupa, Buddhist viharas (monastic complexes), an assembly hall, monks’ residential cells and several associated structures.