This is the first of the albums from 2024’s trip to the southern Deccan area of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. We arrived in Hyderabad and stayed at the Mahābodhi Vihāra in Secunderabad, now part of Hyderabad. The monastery was opened in 2003 by the Dalai Lama, and was taken over by the Mahābodhi Society of Bangalore some years later.
It is now a flourishing centre with four bhikkhus, and 40+ novices undergoing training. We stayed here three times during the trip: on arrival, after a failed trip to Karanataka, and before departure. I was very kindly received by the head monk Ven Buddhapāla, and also by Ven Kalyāṇasiri and an old online friend Ven Jinavaṁsa. On the first day I was kindly shown round the temple by Ven Sanghapāla, and the following day I managed to go round and take the photographs.
The complex is quite big, and has many sections to it. One of the most recent additions has been the Buddha Dhātu Stūpa, which has some fine reliefs around the drum of the stūpa, illustrating the life of the Buddha. There is also a well-thought out Bodhi Tree amphitheatre, which is very peaceful. And a Main Shrine Hall, with interesting architectural features and stained glass windows illustrating Jātaka stories.
