town, east-central Andhra Pradesh state, southern India. Situated on the Krishna River, it was an ancient Buddhist centre in the region. Its monasteries and university attracted students from throughout India and East and Southeast Asia. The Buddhist stupa at Amaravati was one of the largest in India, though only traces of it now remain. Amaravati is known for the relief sculptures that were a part of its great Buddhist shrine, although most of these are now in museums, including a museum in Amaravati. The town also is home to the Amareswara temple, one of the five Pancharama temples dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in Andhra Pradesh.