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Lalitgiri: Odisha’s Buddhist complex
Arguably, India’s greatest contribution to the world is the Buddha. India is the country of origin for Buddhism. Today, the Buddhist shrines are not only concentrated mainly in the Indian states of UP & Bihar but also in the eastern state of Odisha.
One famous Buddhist destination in Odisha is Lalitgiri. This archaeological site is the treasure trove of extensive Buddhist remains dating from the 3rd century BC to 15th century AD. A visit to this Buddhist site will take us to exquisite temples, stupas, and monuments set in an ambience of serenity of the Mahanadi basin.
Large brick monasteries, statues of Buddhists deities including Avalokitesvara and Maitreya, colossal image of Buddha, the remnants of a chaitya hall and votive stupas are some of the finds at Lalitgiri which, needless to say, occupies a place of prominence in the history of Buddhism in Odisha. Bodhisattva images produced at Lalitgiri rival the best in India.
How to Reach Lalitgiri
Air: Nearest airport to Lalitgiri is at Bhubaneswar, 100 km from this place.
Rail: Nearest railway station to Lalitgiri is Cuttack 70 km from this place. Cuttack is connected with all major cities and places of India.
Road: Lalitgiri is located on the NH 5A. Patharajpur is the nearest bus stop. Several buses ply between Cuttack and Paradeep via Pathrajpur. You can find autos at Patharajpur to reach Lalitgiri which is 158kms and 165kms from Puri and Konark respectively.
Best Time to visit Lalitgiri
With extreme temperatures in summers and winters, Lalitgiri should be visited between October to March when you can find daytime temperatures pleasant.
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