BHUBANESWAR: Projecting “huge potential” of Buddhist tourism in Odisha that has identified more than 200 sites, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged the Centre to include the Buddhist circuit of the state in the list announced by Union Tourism Ministry under “Swadesh Darshan” scheme.
“I would like to draw your attention to the huge potential of Buddhist tourism of Odisha. Archaeological exploration and excavations have established more than 200 Buddhist sites across the state,” Patnaik said in a letter to Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma.
The Buddhist Triangle – popularly known as the Diamond Triangle of Odisha comprising Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri, which is about 100 km from the state capital – is now a major tourist attraction, he said, adding Buddhism flourished in these places from 3rd Century BC to 15th Century AD.
“The Buddhist remains in the form of Chaityas, Stupas, Monasteries and the tooth relic in Golden Casket found here aptly establish this Circuit on par with other major sites in India,” Patnaik said.
Noting that socio-cultural life of early medieval Odisha is reflected in the cultural act of these Buddhist monuments, Patnaik said, “It is a well established fact that Buddhism spread to the rest of the world after the Great Kalinga War from these places of present day Odisha by Emperor Ashoka.”
Thus, Dhauli-Ratnagiri-Lalitgiri-Udayagiri-Langudi circuit in Odisha deserves to be included in the list of Buddhist Circuits under the ‘Swadesh Darshan’ Scheme so that these destinations are improved with adequate tourism infrastructure and facilities, the chief minister said.
“In view of above, I would request you to include the Buddhist Circuit of Odisha in the list of Buddhist Circuits announced by the Ministry of Tourism under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme,” Patnaik reasoned.–PTI
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