Prime Minister Inaugurated Projects Worth ₹58,000 Crore in the Capital City Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh (AP) | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

Prime Minister Inaugurated Projects Worth ₹58,000 Crore in the Capital City Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh (AP)

Posted 03 May 2025

2 min read

PM laid the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects that include the Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, etc.

  • PM also laid the foundation stone of Navdurga Testing Range, (to test Missiles) at Nagayalanka in AP.

About Amaravati (Capital of Andhra Pradesh)

  • Amaravati is a greenfield city along the banks of river Krishna, located in Guntur District.
  • The Capital project began in 2014, when Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

Buddhist Legacy of Amaravati

  • Amaravati Stupa (2nd Century BCE): Among the oldest Buddhist monuments in India & inscriptional evidence refers to it as the Maha Chaitya (The Great Stupa).
  • Spread of Buddha’s Teachings: Believed to be the place where Gautam Buddha first spread his teachings of "Kalachakra" (Wheel of time).
  • Believed to be residing in Amaravati Region, Acharya Nagarjuna propounded the Madhyamika philosophy. 
    • It is the basis for Mahayana Buddhism.
  • Chinese Pilgrims: Xuanzang (c. 602–664), visited Amaravati in the first millennium to collect sacred texts.

Other Historical Legacy of Amaravati (“the place for immortals”)

  • Satavahana Capital: Served as the capital of the Satavahana Kingdom from the mid-1st to early 3rd century AD.
  • Sri Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple: A medieval temple dedicated to Shiva.
  • Amaravati pioneered an independent school of art, on par with Gandhara and Mathura art styles.

Features of the Amaravati School of Art

  • Narrative Style: Depicts stories from the Buddha’s life. Dynamic Medallions: Energetic and expressive carvings that animate Buddhist narratives.
  • Naturalism: Realistic portrayal of scenes, making them visually engaging.
  • Architectural Elements: Found mainly on railings, plinths, and other parts of Buddhist stupas.
  • Material: Crafted from a white, marble-like stone that enhances detail and visual appeal.
  • Example: Buddha statue at Nagarjunakonda in the Amaravathi style.
  • Tags :
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Amravati
Watch News Today
Subscribe for Premium Features