On Thursday February 28 Anja, Ilse and I continued our documentation of heritage buildings in Bhimunipatnam.
In the morning we got an early start at 7:15 and went with Samuel to the hill of Pavuralakonda to the south of the town to document the Dutch building on the top.
At the foot of the hill is a ruined building that we had spotted last year as a potentially interesting building. But as Samuel explained to us, that building was actually built by his father in the early 20th century. The family lost ownership of the property later in court cases.
Anja and Ilse prepared a plan of the Dutch building. But as we investigated the building we began to wonder whether it really was built in the Dutch period. But we do not know of any historical records about the building. The oldest graffiti that we spotted was from February 1928.
I walked around the hillside, looking at the early Buddhist remains, and took photographs. The site within a large fenced area is actively protected by the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museum and it was good to the see the site not overgrown with weeds.
The hill provides scenic views in all directions.
A view to the north. The location of the Ameya World School is marked by the arrow.
Along the path up the hill from the town are a number of rock-cut water tanks and a few footprints incised into the bedrock.
At noon we had lunch with the sisters at St Ann’s and then we returned to the school and got set up for our presentation to some of the older students. I spoke about the early Buddhist sites in the area, Ilse spoke about modern architectural styles in the town and Anja spoke about heritage. Samuel came for our presentations and also spoke informally with some of the students later.
Samuel speaking with some students
In the morning we got an early start at 7:15 and went with Samuel to the hill of Pavuralakonda to the south of the town to document the Dutch building on the top.
At the foot of the hill is a ruined building that we had spotted last year as a potentially interesting building. But as Samuel explained to us, that building was actually built by his father in the early 20th century. The family lost ownership of the property later in court cases.
The building of Samuel’s father
Anja and Ilse prepared a plan of the Dutch building. But as we investigated the building we began to wonder whether it really was built in the Dutch period. But we do not know of any historical records about the building. The oldest graffiti that we spotted was from February 1928.
The Dutch building
The 1928 graffiti
I walked around the hillside, looking at the early Buddhist remains, and took photographs. The site within a large fenced area is actively protected by the Andhra Pradesh State Department of Archaeology and Museum and it was good to the see the site not overgrown with weeds.
Anja standing next to an early Buddhist brick stupa with the Dutch building in the background
A row of reconstructed cells of the Buddhist monastery
The hill provides scenic views in all directions.
A view to the north. The location of the Ameya World School is marked by the arrow.
A view to the south showing the restored tank that we had visited on the 26th.
A view to the northeast showing the St Ann’s Home.
Samuel’s house is behind in the grove of tall palm trees.
Along the path up the hill from the town are a number of rock-cut water tanks and a few footprints incised into the bedrock.
One of the rock-cut tanks along the way to the site
At noon we had lunch with the sisters at St Ann’s and then we returned to the school and got set up for our presentation to some of the older students. I spoke about the early Buddhist sites in the area, Ilse spoke about modern architectural styles in the town and Anja spoke about heritage. Samuel came for our presentations and also spoke informally with some of the students later.
Anja speaking to the students
Samuel speaking with some students
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