This Small town is situated around 68kms from Vijayawada on the south bank of the Krishna river. Amaravati is considered the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage center in South India. It is best known for the Great Stupa or Maha Chaitya, believed to have been 32 meters in height and 32 meters diameter, larger than the one at Sanchi, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The dome was faced with intricately carved marble slabs. The origins of the stupa goes back to the 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. The excavations by Col. Colin Mackenzie in 1797 recovered the magnificent railings and sculptured friezes. Almost all these excavated items are now displayed in the museums at Chennai and Kolkata. It is locally known as 'Deepaladinne' or 'Hillock of lamps'. Amaravathi is also well known for the Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple. The temple built during the period from 10C - 11C by the eastern Chalukyas was largely renovated in 18C by a local chief Venkatadri Nayudu and the presiding deity is Lord Shiva.