more-in The ancient town of Amaravathi in Guntur district on Thursday played host to Nirmala Birla, wife of the late G.P. Birla and chairperson of Birla Science Centre, Birla Planetarium and Birla Science Museum, in Hyderabad. The 80-year-old lady arrived in a charter flight to Vijayawada along with Kamlakar, Director of the Hyderabad Science Centre and Museum, and an entourage that included a doctor, a nurse, a cook and armed security personnel. A few persons associated with her in her projects also accompanied her. From Vijayawada, she headed to the Panakala Narasimha Swamy temple in Mangalagiri and then to the ancient Amaravathi town. In this ancient town, she visited tshe Amaravathi Heritage Centre and Museum where she was received by the Chief Curator Amareswar Galla. She said she had wanted to visit the place for the last seven years as she was keen on seeing some of the heritage sculptures. Interacting with Mr. Galla, she sought to know the difference between the Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism through the sculptures in original. Replicas, however, both at the Amaravathi Museum and the Archaeological Museum where she visited later, did not impress her much and she was more interested in knowing all about the remains of the Mahastupa. Saddened by the fact that “so much of our heritage has been removed by the British surveyors and colonial administrators,” she expressed her delight for the privilege to see the original caskets and corporeal relics of the Buddha. She said she was interested in seeing the originals and not the replicas. The news of her plans to visit the town sent the museum officials into a tizzy as finding a decent place where the lady could stop over along with her entourage was a major challenge. They finally zeroed in on a newly-constructed lodge in the Temple Street where she was invited to spend the few hours she spent there.

Stay updated with all the Latest Vijayawada headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.