Ratnagiri: Top Buddhist destination of India

Main stupa, Ratnagiri / Image Credit

Along with Lalitgiri and Udayagiri, Ratnagiri is one of the three points of the Buddhist Triangle popularly known as the Diamond Triangle of Odisha. After going through the accounts of the seventh century Chinese traveller we can safely say that Ratnagiri was not only an important entre of Buddhism but also rivalled Nalanda at that time.

Beautiful Stone Murti at Ratnagiri / Image Credit

In the eighth century AD, Buddhist art and architecture reached its zenith in Ratnagiri then under the rule of Bhaumakaras who were devout Buddhists.

Statue of Buddha and other statues recovered from excavation in Ratnagiri, Odisha by ASI / image credit

In the sixth century AD Ratnagiri was a centre of Mahayana Buddhism. Later Vajrayana form of Buddhism began to be practised here.

Votive stupas Ratnagiri / Image credit

The remains of two huge monasteries, a large Stupa, a good number of votive stupas and Buddhist sculptures have been excavated at Ratnagiri.

The Ratnagiri museum is an invaluable introduction to the history of Buddhism in the area and has some fascinating finds including sculptures unearthed from the area.

How to Reach Ratnagiri

Air: Nearest airport to Ratnagiri is at Bhubaneswar, 100 km from this place.

Rail: Nearest railway station to Ratnagiri is Cuttack which is 70 km from this place. Cuttack is connected with all major cities and places of India.

Road: Good motorable road connect Ratnagiri with major places in Odisha. Krushnadaspur is the next bus stop to Ratnagiri. Several buses run between Paradeep and Cuttack via Krushnadaspur. You can also find autos from Chandikhol from where you can travel to Ratnagiri. Ratnagiri is 18 kms and 30 kms from Krushnadaspur and Chandikhol respectively.

Best Time to visit Ratnagiri

The best time to visit Ratnagiri is between the months of October and March. Temperature is extreme in summers and winters.

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त्योहार

मैसूर दशहरा विश्व प्रसिद्ध मैसूर दशहरा की उत्पत्ति 15 सदी में विजयनगर साम्राज्य के समय हुई थी. विजयनगर के पतन के बाद मैसूर के राजा वाडियार ने 1610 में इस रंगीन और धार्मिक उत्सव को मानाने की प्रथा की शुरुआत की और बाद में वाडियार राजाओं के तत्वावधान में यह त्यौहार पूरे धूमधाम से मनाया जाने लगा. दस दिनों तक चलने वाला मैसूर दशहरा विजयदशमी के दिन समाप्त होता है. मैसूर दशहरा को नाद हब्बा' या राज्य के त्योहार के रूप में घोषित किया गया है किंवदंती है कि मैसूर का राक्षस ' महिषासुर' का वध वादियारों की कुल देवी चा मुंडेश्वरी के द्वारा किया गया था. इसे असत्य पर सत्य की विजय के रूप में मनाया जाता है। इसीलिये इसे विजयादशमी के नाम से जाना जाता है। दशहरा के समय रौशनी से सुजज्जित मैसूर महल और पूरे शहर का दृश्य देखने लायक ही बनता है. सितम्बर १८०५ में वाडियार राजाओं ने मुग़ल शाशकों के तर्ज पर शाही परिवार के सदस्यों, यूरोपीय, महल के अधिकारियों, शाही याजकों और प्रभुध नागरिकों के लिए एक विशेष दरबार लगाने की शुरुआत की . धीरे धीरे यह त्यो

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