Dhulikatta (Pedda Bankur)

Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan court (c. 302–298 BCE), wrote that India had 30 walled cities of great prosperity. Scholars have identified Dhulikatta (Pedda Bankur) as one of them because of its massive mud fortification (the “Dhulikota” or mud fort) and the extensive urban remains found within. The fort wall, though now eroded, once enclosed a large area and provided protection to the city’s inhabitants, which included merchants, artisans, monks, and administrators.

Excavations yielded a large hoard of punch‑marked coins of the early Satavahanas, as well as coins of Roman emperors (including a silver denarius of Augustus and later issues). The presence of Roman coins – found in association with Satavahana coins – indicates that Dhulikatta was a node in the Indo‑Roman trade network. The city controlled the land routes connecting the Godavari valley to the east coast ports. A die‑mould for coin production was also discovered, suggesting that a mint operated within the fort, striking coins for the Satavahana kings.

The Mahastupa is a hemispherical brick structure, built on a raised platform. Its dome (anda) was encased with 47 sculpted limestone slabs, arranged in a single course to enhance the dome’s appearance. Each slab was carved with Buddhist symbols, including the Muchalidanaga (serpent) motif – a naga (cobra) protecting a seated Buddha or a stupa, a reference to the story of the serpent king Muchalinda sheltering the Buddha during a storm. Other slabs display the triratna (three jewels), the dharma chakra (wheel of law), and the Buddha’s footprints (buddhapada). The stupa also had a chatra (stone umbrella) at its apex, fragments of which were found. A pradakshinapatha (circumambulatory path) paved with lime concrete surrounded the drum.

To the north of the Mahastupa, the foundations of a vihara were uncovered – a square courtyard (approx. 18 m × 18 m) surrounded by 14 monastic cells (kutis). Each cell had a raised brick platform for sleeping and a small niche. A separate chaitya hall (prayer hall) was found east of the stupa: an apsidal structure measuring 14 m × 7 m, with a small brick stupa (2.5 m diameter) at the apsidal end. The chaitya had a wooden roof (now lost) and a lime‑plastered floor. These structures indicate a monastic community of 30–40 monks living and worshipping at Dhulikatta.

Like the Ramappa temple’s floating bricks (but much earlier), the Dhulikatta stupa and viharas were built using lightweight bricks of a special composition: clay mixed with rice husk, chaff, and organic binders, fired at low temperature. These bricks (typical size 30 cm × 20 cm × 6 cm) are significantly lighter than ordinary bricks, reducing the load on the foundation. This technology allowed the builders to construct a larger dome without excessive weight, a sophisticated engineering choice for the 2nd century BCE.

The fort wall, built of compacted earth (rammed earth technique), encloses an area of approximately 80 acres. The base of the wall is 4–5 metres wide, and it still stands to a height of 2–3 metres in some sections. A moat, now dry, once surrounded the wall on three sides, fed by a nearby rivulet. The wall had at least two gates: one to the east and one to the south, leading to the river. The name Dhulikotta (mud fort) given by locals is a direct memory of this ancient fortification.

Inside the fort, excavators found the remains of houses (brick and mud‑brick walls, lime‑plastered floors), wells (circular brick‑lined), and drainage channels. One area yielded evidence of iron‑smithing (slag, tuyères, hammer stones) and terracotta figurine manufacturing (moulds and kilns). This shows that Dhulikatta was not merely a religious centre but a full‑fledged urban settlement with specialised craft production and trade.

One of the most celebrated finds is a bronze statue of a mother holding her child in her left arm. The statue (approx. 12 cm tall) is finely cast using the lost‑wax method. The mother’s face is serene, and the child reaches out with one hand. While not explicitly Buddhist, the statue may represent a yakshi (nature spirit) or a lay devotee. It is a rare example of Deccan bronze art from the early centuries CE, comparable to the bronzes from Pompeii (the Indian ivory statuette) and the bronzes of the Roman period.

More than 200 coins have been recovered: punch‑marked coins of the Satavahanas (with symbols of the elephant, hill, and six‑armed symbol), die‑struck coins of later Satavahana kings (Pulamavi, Yajna Sri Satakarni), and Roman silver and copper coins. The Roman coins include a denarius of Emperor Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE) and a sestertius of Tiberius. These coins were found alongside Indian coins in the same contexts, proving direct or indirect trade between the Deccan and the Roman Empire. The presence of Roman coins also confirms that Dhulikatta was on a major trade route connecting the Godavari valley to the ports of the eastern coast (Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam).

Other significant finds include ivory combs (fragments, with fine teeth), gold earrings and silver ornaments, bangle pieces (glass and terracotta), and thousands of carnelian, agate, and glass beads. Terracotta figurines include mother goddesses, elephants, horses, and a rare seated Buddha (small moulded plaque). Seals made of terracotta and steatite, bearing Brahmi legends and animal motifs, were also found – possibly used by merchants or monastic officials. The variety and quality of these objects indicate a wealthy, stratified society with long‑distance connections.