Vijayawada: The massive Buddha Dharma Chakra that is being constructed at Varadhi Junction in Vijayawada is nearing completion. Being built at a cost of around Rs 8 crore, the structure is designed to be an icon of the upcoming capital city Amravati.
The chakra is massive — 53 feet in height, the base measures 23 feet x 30 feet x 4 feet and weighs 10 tonnes. Being made in pink stone, the chakra, once completed and unveiled, will be a sight to behold.
The Dharma chakra is being sculpted as part of the city beautification works. Sculptors from the Silpakala Mandiram in Nandyal, Kurnool districts, are working on the Chakra.
The dharma Chakra or Damma Chakra is one of the oldest symbols of Amaravati Sthupam. The Dharma Chakra is among the symbols of Buddhism across the globe. Since similar symbols are found in Jainism and Hinduism, historians say that it is likely that the Dharma Chakra as a symbol of Buddhism evolved from Hinduism.
The special pink coloured stone is being imported from Bansipahad in Rajasthan by the Amaravati Development Corporation.
The ADC plans to beautify the area around the Chakra in an attempt to symbolise the olden days. The ADC is developing four islands of around 1,000 sq. mt.; work on three has been completed and on the fourth island, where the Buddha Chakra is coming up, it is in the final stage.
The state government has been consciously attempting to give Amaravati a distinct Buddhist look, and most of the major structures are based on Buddhist constructions.
Speaking to this newspaper, ADC CMD D. Lakshmi Pardhasaradi, said “The work will be completed in about a month. We are reviewing the work with the contractor and plan to complete the entire project as early as possible.”
