GUNTUR: As Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is slated to visit Anupu to inaugurate Infosys Foundation-organised Anupu Festival 2016 on Friday, the public here are planning to ask him to develop the place into an international tourism centre, making good use of Nagarjunakonda island. According to history, Anupu was the capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty and a holy school for Buddh-ism. Acharya Nagarjuna founded Mahayana Budd-hism here, which then spread to Sri Lanka, China and other countries.

During 1927-54, English archeologists found 100 Buddhist relics, stupas and chaityas. Later, a museum was constructed in 1966 and the Buddhist holy place was reconstructed in 80 hectares, including a stadium. Buddhists, who visit Amaravati, also tour Anupu-Nagarjunakonda without fail, but poor campaign was restraining the public from visiting this beautiful island on Krishna river.

Visitor K. Sivalingam said he and his group had come to see Nagarjuna-sagar dam where they got to know about Anupu. They said widespread campaigning of Anupu was needed to attract tourists. Students N. Suresh and others, who came from Guntur, said the amphitheatre and stadium showed the ancient engineering marvel of the country and sought development of the international Buddhist tourist centre. Amaravati Develo-pment Authority chairman J. Veeranjaneyulu, too, echoed similar sentiments. He appealed to CM Naidu to draw an action plan for the development of Anupu-Nagarju-nakonda during his scheduled visit. He said a representation was submitted to director of Archeology (Museum) Dr. Lourdu Sami and in the PMO seeking development of the international tourism centre.