Ratnagiri Buddhist Site : Discovered Buddhist Remains
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered significant Buddhist remains during renewed excavations at the historic Ratnagiri site in Jajpur district adding another chapter to its 1,200-year-old legacy.
- Ratnagiri Site is located 100 km northeast of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- The site stands on a hill between Birupa and Brahmani rivers and is Odisha’s most famous and most excavated Buddhist site.
- It is part of the famous Diamond Triangle of Odisha along with Udaygiri and Lalitgiri, translated as the ‘Hills of Jewels’
- Experts date Ratnagiri to the 5th and 13th Century, although the peak period of construction is dated between the 7th and 10th centuries.
- It was a center for Mahayana and Tantrayana (also known as Vajrayana) Buddhism.
- There are some studies that suggest that the renowned Chinese Buddhist monk and traveller, Hiuen Tsang visited here during 638-639 AD.
- So far ASI have unearthed a colossal Buddha head, a massive palm, an ancient wall and inscribed Buddhist relics, all of which are estimated to date back 8th and 9th Century AD.
