Archaeological Museum Visakhapatnam

The District Archaeological museum Visakhapatnam is located in the premises of Visakha museum on Beach road of Visakhapatnam. The objects display in the Archaeological section of Visakha museum represent the cultural aspects of the region including Visakhapatnam and its surrounds.

The Archaeological section new building added to the existing Visakha museum consists of five galleries viz., Five galleries are in the Museum. 1. Evolution of man & Pre –Historic Gallery, 2. Stone sculptures Gallery, 3. Bronze Gallery, 4 Coins Gallery and Pottery Gallery, 5. Celadon & Enamel Ware Gallery.

The sculptural gallery consists of stone sculptures ranging in date between the 1st Century A.D. to 16th Century A.D..These include Buddhist, Jain,Saivite,Vaishnavite and Saktite images. Among the Buddhist sculptures kept on display, the Buddha Padas and Chatra pieces from Bavikonda and Thotlakonda (Visakhapatnam district), pillars and sculptural friezes of railing from Panigiri and Tirumalagiri(NalgondaDist.), Buddha images from Takkellapadu(Guntur Dist.) and Nelakondapalli(Khammam Dist.)

Besides a few Buddhist sculptures including Buddha images received from central India on exchange of art objects scheme, are also displayed here for the purpose of comparative study in art styles. The Buddha images in different postures such as Buddha with Bhumisparsha Mudra, Buddha with Abhaya and Varada Mudras, Buddha with Dharmachakrapravartana Mudra and Buddha in Mahaparinurvana which are on display.

Only two Jaina images viz., Vardhamana Mahavira and Parsvanatha are displayed in the sculptural gallery.

The Saivite sculptures on display include Ganesa, Subrahmanya, heads of Siva, Sivalinga and Bhairava. Among the Vaishnavite idols, Kaliyana Krishna, Rama, Lakshamana and sita, Venugopala, flanked by Rukmini and Satyabhama and Surya are Noteworthy. Thc Saivato sculptures are represented by Saptamatrikas, Parvathi and Saraswathi.

The second gallery consists of bronze objects, copper plates, coins and other antiquities. The bronzes datable to the period between the 12th and 18th Centuries A. D. were recovered from Simhachalam, Bhogapuram and Siripuram belonging to Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts, by way of treasure troves. They include Bhairava, Lakhmi and Devotees ( Simhachalam), Vishnu , Sridevi and Bhudevi(Bhogapuram) and Vishnu and Bhudevi (vizianagaram) , Vishnu, Sridevi and a head of Tara (a Buddhist goddess). Inscriptions displayed in museum.

There are both stone and copper plate inscriptions are displayed the earliest stone inscription is datable to 1st century B.C in Brahmi characters from Kesanapalli a Buddhist site in Guntur District. This inscription reads Bandhukasa damura meaning the slab was donated by one Bandhuka.

The Saivite sculptures on display include Ganesa, Subrahmanya, heads of Siva, Sivalinga and Bhairava. Among the Vaishnavite idols, Kaliyana Krishna, Rama, Lakshamana and sita, Venugopala, flanked by Rukmini and Satyabhama and Surya are Noteworthy. Thc Saivato sculptures are represented by Saptamatrikas, Parvathi and Saraswathi.

Another interesting stone inscription in Tamil Characters dated to 1083 .A.D refers to the change of the name of Visakhapatnam to Kulothunga Chola Pattanam by military general of Kulothunga. The Chalukya —Chala king who ruled this area in 11th century A.D. The other stone inscription were issued by the Chalukyas of Yalamachili, and local Zemindars called Gajaapathis.

There are two copper plates belonging to the Eastern Gangas. The first set called Devakavadakuru plates of Rajaraja Devendra varma dated 1076 A.D. which register the gift of a few villages to their subordinates ie., Ayya Chiefs.

Another set known as “Munjeru Copper plates dated to the 9th century A.D. issued during the regal year of Anantavaram chadaganga which register a gift of a village Munjeru situated in Devada Vishaya of Kalingadesa to Brahmin of Chirkundi.

MAILING ADDRESS

Office of the Commissioner,
Department of Archaeology & Museums,
Government of Andhra Pradesh
Bapu Museum,M.G. Road, Vijayawada (Urban),
Pin Code: 520002.

Phone #: 0866-2577986.
Email: diraparch@gmail.com

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