Pondugula
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pondugula
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| nickname =
| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=14}}
| map_alt = Dynamic map
| map_caption = Dynamic map
| pushpin_map = India Andhra Pradesh
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|16.7706|N|80.6182|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_type3 = Mandal
| subdivision_name1 = Andhra Pradesh
| subdivision_name2 = NTR
| subdivision_name3 = Mylavaram
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
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| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 21.88
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 4362
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_rank =
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 521230
| registration_plate = AP
| website =
| footnotes =
| demographics1_info1 = Telugu
}}
Pondugula is a village in NTR district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Mylavaram mandal of Vijayawada revenue division.{{cite web|title=District Level Mandal wise List of Villages in Andhra Pradesh |url=http://apland.ap.nic.in/cclaweb/Districts_Alphabetical/krishna.pdf|website=Chief Commissioner of Land Administration|publisher=National Informatics Centre|accessdate=19 September 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010053343/http://apland.ap.nic.in/cclaweb/Districts_Alphabetical/krishna.pdf|archivedate=10 October 2014|page=10|format=PDF}} It is the second largest village in Mylavaram mandal.
History
A Buddhist site potentially from the Satavahana or Ikshvaku dynasties has been uncovered near the village. The site features marble pillars with lotus medallion engravings, resembling those of the Amaravati School of Art. Artifacts include large Satavahana bricks, suggesting the site may have been used for constructing a stupa, vihara, or chaitya. A large water tank filled with lotus flowers near the site indicates it may date back to the 1st to 3rd centuries A.D. The discovery also includes a brick mound with rock-cut cisterns, potentially indicating another stupa. Recommendations have been made for the Archaeological Survey of India to protect the site and relocate the marble pillars for preservation.{{Cite news |date=2013-03-14 |title=Buddhist site unearthed near Mylavaram |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/buddhist-site-unearthed-near-mylavaram/article4508097.ece |access-date=2024-08-18 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}