Hyderabad: It will be a drive down the 'history lane' in the upcoming AP capital city of Amaravati. The AP government has decided to name roads, buildings, parks and traffic junctions in Amaravati after historical figures, ancient kingdoms, and important Buddhist sites. It has constituted a group of professionals, experts, and historians to explore the names depicting the rich cultural heritage of the region.

"Old Amaravati is a great heritage site. There are certain names which cannot be missed while naming the structures in the new capital, which is named after Amaravati village," said historian E Shivanagi Reddy.

The names will have the influence of Buddhism as it was the first organized religion in Andhra region. Buddhism was practised in the region during the lifetime of the Buddha. There were three important Buddhist preachers from the region. Some of the structures will get their names. The most important of them was Acharya Nagarjuna, the propagator of Mahayana tradition. He had enlarged the Mahastupa at Dhanyakataka. In countries where Mahayana is followed, Nagarjuna is considered the later day Buddha. Aryadeva, the Sri Lankan disciple of Acharya Nagarjuna, had accompanied his guru to study in Nagarjunakonda valley. The third Buddhist personality, who will get a pride of place in Amaravati, is Acharya Buddhaghosa. He hailed from Amaravati region (Konta Nemalipuri). He later propagated Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

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Sources said the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, will take care of the design part. The School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada, will also be the part of the exercise. "We are also studying various patterns and history of the region," said Dr Srikonda Ramesh, dean of architecture, SPA.