Need to save AP Buddhist Heritage Sites

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh has the largest number of Buddhist heritage sites in the country and yet out of the four sites listed in UNESCO's World Heritage List, none are from the state. Identifying the need for fresh documentation of heritage sites in the states and preservation of culturally important sites, the Centre for Buddhist studies of University of Hyderabad organised a twoday workshop on Cultural Landscaping of Buddhist Heritage Sites in AP on Tuesday. Anil C Punetha, principal secretary, revenue department, inaugurated the IndoGerman workshop. Dr CB Varma, head, Centre for Buddhist Studies urged experts from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany and department of Archeology and Museums to underline the urgency for fresh documentation of at least 10 heritage sites using modern technologies like 3D photography, photogrammetary, radar and GIS photography.Prof Chenna Reddy and Prof Subramanyam of the Archaeology and Museums department said 155 Buddhist sites have not been explored due to financial constraints and threw light on 17 sites which are potential world heritage sites.