A Spritual Tour to "Diamond Triangle"

The “state of Orissa” has much to offer, than known….

Although I have stayed only for last 2 years in Orissa, but I have explored some places & realized how distinct Orissa is & its culture, architecture & food.

My trip to Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitagiri (referred to as the “Diamond Triangle”) was only of 8 hours but nonetheless it was an enriching experience; mentally and spiritually.

Ratnagiri, "Hill of Jewels", has the most extensive Buddhist ruins in Orissa and is of great importance as a Buddhist site - both for its magnificent sculptures and as a center for Buddhist teachings. One of the first Buddhist universities in the world, rivaling the renowned one at Nalanda (in Bihar state), is believed to have been located at Ratnagiri. The Buddhist site at Ratnagiri dates back to the 6th century AD. It appears that Buddhism flourished unhindered there until 12th century AD.

The Ratnagiri site was discovered in 1905. Excavations carried out between 1958 to 1961 revealed a massive stupa, two monasteries, shrines, numerous votive stupas (the excavations turned up as many as seven hundred of them!), a large number of terracotta and stone sculptures, architectural fragments, and plentiful Buddhist antiquities including bronze, copper and brass objects (some with images of Buddha). The monastery known as Monastery 1, constructed in 8th-9th centuries AD, is the largest excavated monastery in Orissa.

The massive stone sculptures of Lord Buddha's head at Ratnagiri are particularly awe-inspiring. More than two dozen heads of various sizes, magnificently depicting the serene meditative expression of Buddha, were found during the excavations. They're considered to be fine works of art. Numerous stone sculptures have also been removed from the site and are now displayed in the four galleries at the Archeological Museum in Ratnagiri. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Friday.

Even though, Lord Buddha never visited Orissa during his lifetime, still this eastern state of India is dotted with several famous Buddhist Sites. These places are perfect testimony of Orissa's close link with Buddhism religion. Most of the stupas and monasteries in the state were created by Ashoka the Great, who ruled over Kalinga, which is the present day Orissa.

You could be forgiven for not knowing about the sacred Buddhist sites in Orissa (Odisha). After all, they've only been excavated relatively recently and are largely unexplored. Yet, more than 200 Buddhist sites, scattered across the length and breadth of the state, were revealed by these archeological excavations. They show the prominence of Buddhism in Orissa from the 6th century BC to at least the 15th-16th centuries AD, with the 8th-10th centuries being the period when it really prospered. Buddhist teachings from all sects are believed to have been conducted in Orissa, giving the state a rich Buddhist heritage.

The time constraint was playing on my mind as I had to reach my home back before night. There were places that I wanted to see but could not. For you, my fellow travelers, my suggestion would be to dedicate at least a couple of days to explore, understand, and feel the spirituality and the innate peace that “Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitagiri” brings to the soul….!!