Ancient · Buddhist · India

Salihundam

శాలిహుండం

Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh · 18.3353°, 84.0368°

Gautama Buddha (stupas; images of Tara and Marichi)Undetermined—

Sacred since

100 CE

first attestation / structure

Standing structure

2nd–12th c.

Undetermined

History & significance

A hillock in ancient Kalinga carrying four stupas and a large monastic complex, showing that Buddhism flourished here in the second and third centuries and that Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana practice all left traces, including sculptures of Tara and Marichi. Discovered by Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy in 1919 and later excavated by the state, the site is regarded as a point from which Buddhism spread towards Sumatra and the Far East; the village's older name Salipetaka means 'rice emporium'.

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