Restored Buddhist Stupa unveiled in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Tourism Minister Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao on Tuesday said the Thotlakonda and other Buddhist sites in and around Visakhapatnam, located atop hillocks overlooking the sea, will be developed as an international tourist destination.

He was speaking after inaugurating a restored Buddhist Stupa and a new amenities center at Thotlakonda monument in the presence of Mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari and VMRDA Chairperson Akkaramani Vijaya Nirmala.

The Minister said that under the Department of Tourism and Archeology, the historic monuments at Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, Pavuralakonda and Red Mounds in Visakhapatnam district will be developed to attract domestic and foreign tourists. He said bus services will be introduced soon to Thotlakonda in the morning and evening.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has already directed the officials to explore construction of star hotels with international facilities in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. The Minister said the new tourism policy will be implemented by Dussehra.

VMRDA Chairman Vijaya Nirmala said Maha Stupa at Thotlakonda is one of the famous historical monuments in Visakhapatnam and promised to improve infrastructure and set up a meditation centre at the Buddhist site.

Venkata Kumari said Thotlakonda needs to be developed as a tourist destination. VMRDA Commissioner Venkata Ramana Reddy, Buddhist monk Ven. Dhammananda Banteji, said Thottlakonda and other Buddhist sites in the region have the potential to become an international tourist destination for people from South East Asia and other regions.