Archaeological surveys in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, have identified a massive 3rd-century BCE Buddhist complex. The site includes a large stupa foundation and an adjacent vihara (monastery) that likely housed dozens of monks during the Mauryan expansion into the South.
Initial findings include shards of Northern Black Polished Ware and limestone railings carved with lotus motifs. The discovery suggests that Srikakulam was a much more prominent center of early Buddhism than previously thought, serving as a transit point for missionaries traveling along the eastern coast of India toward Southeast Asia.