While TDP founder N T Rama Rao has the credit of installing the world’s tallest monolith of Gautama Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chadnrababu Naidu is making moves to have a 40-feet Buddha statue atop of a hill at Seethanagaram near

This project will be commissioned by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). It is now looking for a consultant to prepare a technical and feasibility report, after which tenders will be floated.

As Amaravati is known as a popular Buddhist destination and Chief Minister Chadnrababu Naidu also named newly constructing capital city after Amaravati, he is keen in tje development of archaeological sites and Buddhist circuits around this place. So he has directed APTDC to take up this project.

According to APTDC Managing Director M Girija Shankar the proposed statue will be a new attraction for the tourists visiting Andhra Pradesh. A 45-feett statue of Lord Buddha is located in Bhutan.

Similarly, she said efforts are also being made to invite Dalai Lama for the Kalachakra which would be held in Amaravati either towards the end of December 2017 or in the first week of January, 2018.

The state government is hopeful that visit of Dalai Lama for Kalachakra attended will popularise the Buddhist shrines in the State. Already the state government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for development of five Buddhist shrines Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, Sankaram, Salihundamand Bojjannakonda.