The Kalachakra Museum and Interpretation Centre, formerly known as the Amaravati Archaeological Museum is located near the Krishna river where the Maha Chaitya (Great Stupa) once stood. Built by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, it was inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama in 2006. The excavated pieces on display are a testimony to the Buddhist art traditions that flourished over the centuries (starting from the 3rd Century BCE) in Amaravati. Various episodes from the life of Buddha and the Jataka Tales are depicted on panels of marble and stone. These panels that relay narratives like Gautama Siddhartha’s departure from his palace and the story of Nalagiri are showcased in the outdoor gallery in the courtyard of the museum.
Apart from the outdoor gallery, there are three indoor galleries. The first one houses pieces that exemplify the artistic heritage of Amaravati. Some of the popular motifs used include purnakumbha, lotus and svastika (representative of Buddha himself). The second gallery contains numismatic artefacts along with other art pieces, while the third gallery is a collection of sculptures from 100 BC, that include Yakshi and Dharma Chakra. Other objects of interest are a sculpture of Buddha with the marks of a great man (also known as Maha Purusha Lakshana) and the Nandishwara.
