Ratnagiri Museum,

India / Orissa / Kendrapara /
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Ratnagiri is one of the most famous Buddhist sites of India. Ratnagiri literally means the Jewel hill and lies in the Birupa river valley of Orissa.Ratnagiri is located at a distance of 70 km from Cuttack and 100 km from Bhubaneswar, in Jajpur district of Orissa

Excavation work carried out here have exposed two big monasteries, one big stupa, Buddhists shrines, sculptures and votive stupas. The bigger of the two monastery has 60 columns and well decorated gates. The rich Buddhist treasures unearthed from here also include bronze and stone images of the Buddha as well as a number of idols of the Buddhist pantheons. Of special significance is a mammoth image of meditating Buddha, with eyes half open, at the top of the hill. A museum here safeguards and exhibits the relics unearthed from the site.

Excavation work connect the site to the Gupta period in the 6th century. The site was then a major centre of Buddhist learning and continued to thrive till 12th century. The Pushpagiri University mentioned by the Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang in his chronicles
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Coordinates:   20°38'37"N   86°20'16"E

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  • Ratnagiri is one of the most famous Buddhist sites of India. Ratnagiri literally means the Jewel hill and lies in the Birupa river valley of Orissa. Excavation work carried out here have exposed two big monasteries, one big stupa, Buddhists shrines, sculptures and votive stupas. The bigger of the two monastery has 60 columns and well decorated gates. The rich Buddhist treasures unearthed from here also include bronze and stone images of the Buddha as well as a number of idols of the Buddhist pantheons. Of special significance is a mammoth image of meditating Buddha, with eyes half open, at the top of the hill. A museum here safeguards and exhibits the relics unearthed from the site. Excavation work connect the site to the Gupta period in the 6th century. The site was then a major centre of Buddhist learning and continued to thrive till 12th century. The Pushpagiri University mentioned by the Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang in his chronicles Located By : Ramesh Chandra Ghadai, Malasahi near Ratnagiri, Jajpur. (rameshghadai@yahoo.com)
This article was last modified 12 years ago