Buddhist Monuments: Their Role in the Development of Tourism in Andhra Pradesh

The study is concerned with the role of Buddhist art heritage in development of tourism in Andhra Pradesh. It showcases the history of Buddhism in the region, especially the many schools of Buddhism that flourished in the past. It focuses on the Buddhist circuit for tourists who visit the state every year, the total number of 22 sites being divided into three circuits: Hyderabad, Vijaywada and Vishakhapatnam. It details the many monuments and sites of Buddhist cultural and artistic significance that are to be found in the state—the sites that came into being between 200 BC and AD 250 in places of Buddhist importance including Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati. It also explores the marketability of the sites for development of tourism, explaining how the basic principles of marketing can be applied to the tourism industry.