SANKARAM CAVES
17.716700,83.000000
Description
Three double-chambered, Buddhist »caves« (man-made, rock-cut chambers used for religious purposes) or »rock cut caves« (note 1) noticed AIYAR (1906) and FRANCIS (1907 edited 1992: 223-225). CRAVEN (1969: 21) stresses that the »Sankaram Caves« are vaguely reported. DUTT (1981: 1) mentions several natural and man-made caves in Andhra Pradesh and refers expressively to »cave temples« at »Makkuva, Ramatirtham and Sankharam in Visakhapatnam districts in the Archaean (ancient) crystalline rocks« (note 2). ETYMOLOGY: »The name of the village Sankaram derived from the word Sangharama which meant monastery« (go2india.in/ap/sankaram.php accessed 2008.09.04). DUTT (1981: 1) spells »Sankharam« but DUTT (1981 plate 1 "Physiographical map of Andhra Pradesh" on scale 1: 3'000'000) indicates »Sankaram« north-west of Anakapalle. SITUATION: On Bojjanna Konda, the hill above the village of »Sankaram« (note 2), which lies at a travelling distance of 4 km along the road approximately north from Anakapalle (N17°41': E83°01'), a town and railway station which lies at a travelling distance of 31 km (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 96 C5) along the National Highway NH5 west of Visakhapatnam (N17°42': E83°18').
NOTE 1: »Sankaram village at Bojjanna Konda near Anakapalle is popular Buddhist heritage spot. Few century back this place was the center of Buddhist culture and teaching. … There are many monolithic stupas, rock cut caves, ruins of prayer halls, meditation halls, brick build structural edifices, resting places … During the excavation of this place many age old coins, clay tablets of Sitting Buddha were found. There are many Buddha statues carved on the rock-face of the caves« ( go2india.in/ap/sankaram.php accessed 2008.09.04). NOTE 2: Little doubt remains that it is not exactly the whole lot of »Visakhapatnam districts« (DUTT 1981: 1), of which there is only one, are found in »Archaean (ancient) crystalline rocks« but rather the »cave temples« themselves. NOTE 2: »Sankaram« (FRANCIS 1907 edited 1992: 223-225) or »Sankharam« (DUTT 1981: 1) is neither listed on nima.mil/geonames (accessed 16.11.2003) nor in IMPERIAL GAZETTEER (1907-1909, 24: 108-109, 510, 524) or in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006 index).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21.9 | PUDIMADAKA - BHIMUNIPATNAM SEA CAVES | ||
| 45.7 | REGA (Cave at) | ||
| 50.0 | Borra Caves | ||
| 50.1 | NILGALGUNTA (Cave at) | ||
| 62.8 | PEDDAGUNDA STREAM CAVE | ||
| 63.0 | KOTHIGUDA LIMESTONE OCCURRENCE | ||
| 67.9 | RAMATIRTHAM CAVE TEMPLES | ||
| 88.5 | KALINGAPATNAM - TUNI SEA CAVES | ||
| 92.4 | DEVUDU KONDA (Cave on the) |