Guntupalli Buddhist Cave Temples

The Guntupalli Buddhist monuments, near Kamavarapukota in what is now Eluru district (formerly West Godavari), are among the least visited but most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh. The complex includes a remarkable circular chaitya (prayer hall) cut from solid rock, stupas, and the remains of monastic cells arranged on a hillside above the Krishna River valley.

The circular chaitya hall is the centrepiece — a rock-cut circular chamber with a vaulted ceiling, dating to the 3rd century BCE. The site is not heavily developed for tourism, which means it is quiet and atmospheric; you may have the place largely to yourself on weekdays. The surrounding hills and forested slopes add to the sense of remoteness. The nearest significant town is Eluru, from which the site is accessible by road; hire a local guide or driver who knows the approach, as signage is limited.

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The Guntupalli site dates to the 3rd century BCE — contemporary with the earliest Buddhist monuments at Sanchi and Amaravati. The rock-cut circular chaitya hall here is believed to be one of the oldest such structures in India, predating the more famous cave temples of Ajanta by several centuries. The site was discovered by archaeologists in the 19th century and has been excavated intermittently since.