RATNAGIRI-LALITGIRI-UDAYAGIRI
Famous As : Buddhist Sites
Main Attraction :Relics of Buddha & Monastery Complex
RATNAGIRI
The
Diamond Hill of Enlightenment
Ratnagiri of the Birupa river valley in Cuttack
district is a famous Buddhist centre. The small hill near the village of
the same name has rich Buddhist antiquarian remains. A large-scale
excavation has unearthed two large monasteries, a big stupa, Buddhist
shrines, sculptures and a large number of votive stupas.
The excavation revealed the establishment of this Buddhist centre at
least from the time of the Gupta king 'Narasimha Gupta Baladitya' (first
half of the 6th century A.D.). Buddhism
had developed at this place unhindered up to the 12th century A.D. in the
beginning this was an important centre of Mahayana form of Buddhism.
During the 8th & 9th century A.D. this became a great centre of
Tantric-Buddhism or 'Vajrayana' art and philosophy.
'Pag- Sam-Jon-Zang', a Tibetan source, indicates that the institution at
Ratnagiri
played a significant role in the emergence of the 'Kalachakrantra' during
the 10th century A.D. this is quite evident from the numerous votive
stupas with reliefs of divinities of the Vajrayana pantheon. Separate
images of these divinities and inscribed stone slabs and moulded
terracotta plaques with 'dharanis' found in the excavation at Ratnagiri.
All these indicate the importance of Ratnagiri as one of the main
Buddhist centres of Orissa from
very early times. The 'Mahavihara' at Ratnagiri, as revealed from Orissan
inscriptions, was a great centre of learning in Buddhist philosophy.
Presently this university of Buddhist learning is found in ruins, which
attracts scores of visitors every year. For lovers of art and
architecture, lay tourists and special groups.
Ratnagiri offers in its magnificent ruins a large brick monastery with
beautiful doorways, cella, sanctum with a colossal Buddha figure and a
large number of Buddhist sculptures. There is a smaller monastery at the
place along with a stone temple, brick shrines and a large stupa with
numerous smaller stupas around.
UDAIGIRI
The
Rising Hill
Udaigiri,
the largest Buddhist Complex in Orissa, in district Jajpur
has assumed further importance after recent excavations, which revealed
the ancient name of the monastery as "Madhavapura Mahavihara".
The excavations also brought to light a sprawling complex of brick
monastery with a number of Buddhist sculptures. The entire area is found
located at the foothills of a large hill that acts as an imposing
backdrop.
Located in the basin of the u-shaped hill this Buddhist centre is still
not completely excavated and exposed. Along with the nearby Ratnagiri and
Lalitagiri this comprises the mini Golden Triangle of Orissa tourism.
The archaeological remains at Udayagiri consist of a brick stupa, two
brick monasteries (one excavated and the other unexcavated), a beautiful
stone stepped well with inscriptions on it and rock cut sculptures at the
top of the hill behind. Chronologically the Udayagiri Buddhist complex is
later than Ratnagiri and Lalitagiri and the monasteries were probably
flourishing well between 7th to 12th centuries A.D.
The large number of exposed sculptures from excavation as well as those
found half-buried and in 'situ' belong, obviously to the Buddhist pantheon
and consists of Buddhist pantheon and consists of 'Boddhisattva' figures
and 'Dhyani' Buddha figures. Interestingly, although located close to
Ratnagiri (about 5-kms), Udaigiri does not possess a number of 'Vajrayana'
sculptures.
Much remains to be known about this site. But at its present state it
provides a grand sight to the visitors with its newly excavated sprawling
monastery complex, which is to be reached through a long stairway. The
unexcavated area is inviting and challenging to the archaeologists as well
as art lovers for the hidden treasure that lie buried. The ascent to the
hilltop to see the rock cut sculptures is very adventurous and difficult.
The newly laid out hilly road, which has a serpentine passage along the
foot hills, on the other side of Udaigiri is an added attraction and
ensures all weather approach to the site.
These three hills and their environs
comprise a remarkable Buddhist complex. HiuenT' sang, the Chinese Pilgrim
found it to tbe the seat of a flourishing Buddhist University called
'Puspagiri'.
Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone portals and esoteric
Buddhist images testifying its ancient glory, have been unearthed.
Ratnagiri
is the gem of this complex. The two large monasteries here flourished from
6th to 12th centuries AD. The magnificently carved doorjamb of the Vihar
and the superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest
concentration of the post-Gupta period Buddhist sculptures.
HOW TO GET THERE
Air:
The nearest airport is situated at Bhubaneswar.
Rail:
Cuttack is 29-km from Bhubaneswar and
has direct trains from Bhubaneswar, Puri,
Calcutta,
Delhi,
Hyderabad and Chennai.
Road:
Drive down or catch a bus from Cuttack, which is 70-km away from
Ratnagiri, 60-km from Udayagiri and 55-km from Lalitgiri.One can also pick
up a rickshaw near the Lalitgiri turn-off.
WHERE TO STAY
OTDC's Panthasala, Patharajpur
Nearby Cities
Cuttack From Ratnagiri: 70-km
Cuttack From Udaygiri: 60-km
Cuttack From Lalitagiri: 55-km
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