RATNAGIRI-LALITGIRI-UDAYAGIRI
These three hills and their environs comprise a remarkable Buddhist
complex. Hiuen T’sang. The Chinese Pilgrim found it to be the seat of a flourishing
Buddhist University called Puspagiri. Extensive ruins of brick pagodas, sculptured stone
portals and esoteric Buddhist images testifying is ancient glory, have been unearthed.
Ratnagiri is the gem of this complex. The magnificently carved door jamb of the Vihar and
the superbly finished Buddha images form perhaps the greatest concentration o the
post-Gupta period Buddhist sculptures.
How to get there : Drive down or catch a bus from
Cuttack, which is 70 km away from Ratnagiri, 60 km from Udayagiri and 55 km from
Lalitgiri.
Where to stay : Panthasala of Orissa Tourism at
Patharajpur. Contact Tourist office, Cuttack, Tel : 612225 for booking and assistance. |
