By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR:Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Sasmit Patra today met Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, and submitted a detailed representation seeking formal inclusion of Odisha’s globally significant Buddhist heritage sites under the Government of India’s Buddhist Circuit and related tourism initiatives.
During the meeting, Dr. Patra highlighted Odisha’s immense contribution to India’s Buddhist civilizational heritage and emphasized the need for deeper integration of the state’s Buddhist sites within the national Buddhist tourism framework.
He underlined the historical and global significance of Odisha’s renowned Buddhist “Diamond Triangle” comprising Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri, which together represent one of eastern India’s most important Buddhist monastic and scholastic landscapes. He noted that these sites reflect the evolution of Buddhist traditions from early Buddhism to Mahayana and Vajrayana influences, while also showcasing ancient Kalinga’s maritime and cultural linkages with Southeast Asia.
Dr. Patra also highlighted that the “Buddhist Triangle Sites of Odisha” have recently been included in India’s UNESCO Tentative List, creating a significant opportunity for heritage conservation, tourism infrastructure development, and international Buddhist tourism promotion.
The representation further drew attention to the importance of Dhauli, associated with Emperor Ashoka’s transformation after the Kalinga War, as well as Langudi, which is linked by scholars to the ancient Pushpagiri Mahavihara traditions referenced by Chinese traveller Xuanzang.
Dr. Patra requested the Union Ministry to consider formal inclusion of Odisha’s Buddhist heritage sites under the Government of India’s Buddhist Circuit and related tourism initiatives, along with support for integrated tourism infrastructure, international promotion, and UNESCO World Heritage nomination efforts.
Dr. Patra stated that inclusion of Odisha within the national Buddhist tourism framework would strengthen India’s cultural diplomacy, complement the Act East Policy, and promote balanced heritage tourism development across the country.
The Hon’ble Union Minister assured Dr. Patra that the matter would be examined and appropriately looked into.
