Buddhism began to spread across Odisha after the invasion of emperor Ashoka and the legendary Kalinga war, after which the emperor followed Buddhism, a peaceful religion. Several monasteries and important Buddhist settlements were built in the state of Odisha. One of the most prominent things about this was that these were built on hills. Today all these settlements and monasteries are prominent Buddhist heritage sites.
In Buddhism, Nirvana is a state that refers to the condition of detachment, and you can experience a blissful aura that liberates the soul from the rebirth cycle. Suppose you are looking forward to visiting Odisha. In that case, consider visiting the Buddhist sites mentioned here, as your trip is incomplete without getting some rejuvenation vibes from these great sites.
Listed below are the top 6 Buddhist sites in Odisha:
1. Diamond Triangle of Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri
One of Odisha’s most prominent Buddhist circuits is also known as the diamond triangle. Lalithagiri is one of the oldest Buddhist sites, with ruins of a monastery built in the first century. The monastery was a centre for the Mahayana and Hinayana sects of Buddhism. The ruins comprise the main stupa or Maha stupa and prayer hall.
Udayagiri is another Buddhist heritage site that is nestled near Lalithagiri. You can find ruins of two monasteries at this place. there are some amazing sculptures that you can come across, and a great lion statue nestled at the base of Udayagiri hill. One of the best excavated Buddhist sites in Odisha is Ratnagiri, a time ago rivalled Nalanda. The monastery here is special, with a Maha stupa and different statues of Buddha.
How to Reach: Located just one hundred kilometres from Bhubaneswar, the state capital, these sites are accessible by road.
2. Dhauli and Dhauligiri
It is one of the best heritage sites in Odisha. The Buddhist destination keeps a prominent place in the history of Odisha. It is believed that the Kalinga war took place. You can find some amazing rock edicts of Ashoka king in this place.
It is considered that the rock-cut elephant here above the educate is the earliest Buddhist sculpture of Odisha. There are also ancient Buddhist monuments inside the caves, which were built by the Japanese Buddhist sangha in the 1970s.
How to reach: the place is just eight kilometres away from Bhubaneshwar. So, if you are in Odisha or the capital city of Odisha, you can take this day trip to witness the beautiful Buddhist site.
3. Jirang
Jiranaga is also prominently known as Tibet of Odisha. In 1959 after the Chinese invasion, a group settled here when the Tibetans had left the nation and came to India.
In 2010 Padmasambhava monastery was inaugurated. Even though there is no Buddhist culture alive year, you would be just amazed by the beauty of this beautiful sight.
How to Reach: The Buddhist site is nestled near Brahmapur city, which is 100 kilometres. This place is your best bet if you are in Brahmapur and look forward to exploring other things. You can also visit the famous Gopalpur sea beach near the Buddhist site and make the most of your day trip.
4. Kuruma
Kuruma is a quiet village near Konark, where you can see the Buddhist monastery’s ruins that go back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Today you can just come across the shrines and the remains of the blocks. The Buddhist heritage site in Odisha is close to the coast.
How to Reach: the place is nestled seven kilometres from Konark town, home to the prominent sun temple.
5. Balasore and Bhadrak District
Balasore is one of the best places for tourists, and there are amazing tourist attractions, including ancient palaces and Chandpur beach. These places make it one of the most visited places in Odisha for tourists. But least known about this place is the connection with Buddhism and the Buddhist sites.
When you visit this place, you can see the ruins of a Buddhist monastery and temple in Kupari. Several statues and Buddhist ruins can also be seen across the Bhadrak district. Here you can find the ruins of ancient Buddhist monasteries and temples.
How to Reach: Balasore district is around 194 kilometres away from Bhuvneshwar and 150 kilometres away from Kolkata. Bhadrak district is just sixty-five kilometres from Balasore.
6. Langudi Hill
Odisha is home to several Buddhist heritage sites. One of those is Langudi Hill. It is nestled in Jajpur. Several monuments and ruins are found on the top of a hill in Langudi. The ruins were earlier identified as Pushpa Giri. Some of the ruins include the remains of rock-cut stupas and rock-cut caves.
How to Reach: the amazing Buddhist heritage site is just located close to Lalithagiri and Udayagiri, which are around 20 kilometres from these sites. So, if you are looking forward to going on a diamond triangle tour, you should not forget to visit this site.
Odisha has a lot to offer, and if you are enthusiastic about Buddhism, then you should not think twice before visiting this place. You need to pack your bags and book a flight, and you can experience Buddhism like never before.
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