Location: Jajpur District
Highlights: Buddhist monastery, sculptures, stupas, etc
Udaigiri, along with Ratnagiri and Lalitagiri, forms the Buddhist
Triangle in India. The city is situated in the state of Orissa and holds
the distinction of being its largest Buddhist complex. Excavations are
being carried out at the site by the Archaeological Survey of India,
since quite a long time. The most recent ones led to the unearthing of a
monastery, by the name Madhavapura Mahavihara. This monastery is adorned
with a large number of Buddhist sculptures, which are definitely worth
having a look at.
As per the historians who have witnessed the excavations, the
monasteries situated here date back to somewhere 7th and 12th century.
Today, Udaigiri is one of the most popular Buddhist destinations in
India and has led to a boost in tourism in this part of the country. Art
lovers, history buffs, tourists and researchers travel from various part
of India as well as the world, to have a look at the monastery, which
serves as a storehouse of information on the history of Buddhism in
India.
The famous Chinese traveler 'Hieun Tsang' has made a
reference of Udaigiri in his travel accounts. He also mentioned the
existence of a number of Buddhist monasteries in the region. Udaigiri
boasts a number of brick stupas, carved sculptures and ancient
inscriptions. Though they stand mostly in ruins now, their glory has not
been lost completely. The entire city is located at the foothills of a
large hill, which proves to be an impressive background and further adds
to its appeal.
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