Orissa has served as a wonderful place for Buddist Relics in Orissa for both Hindus and Buddhists since time immemorial. The Buddist heritage in Orissa is a remarkable place for architectural remains and is enriched with sculptural wealth. The light of Buddhism has spread to a number of South East Asian countries such as Japan.

The Rock Eddicts of Ashoka :

Orissa has nurtured a number of Buddist Centers of Learning and Art and establishments in several places which flourished up to 13th century A.D. These Buddist relics attracted famous Chinese travelers such as ‘Hieun T’sang.
 
Orissa is home to a number of Buddist centers of art and learning. Districts such as Cuttack have a host of such buddist learning centers to offer.

Lalitagiri :

The earliest buddist complex of the 1st century A.D, Lalitagiri is part of a golden triangle and is situated on the river banks of the River Birupa which is one of the most opulent buddist sites.

Among the fascinating Archeological findings of the place you will also find some colossal Buddha figures such as the Bodhisatva and other statues such as the Tara, aprajita, avlokiteswar sculpture of the Buddha heaven.

Chaitya Griha :

Excavation has brought into spotlight a unique prayer hall which was supposed to be the biggest prayer hall of the Vihar.

The discovery caskets contain a number of sacred relics which were probably tathagata himself.

One can also get acquainted with the ‘Prajna’ which was part of ancient Orissa and had come from Takshila to Orissa in ancient times to learn the art of yoga.

The relics have been heavily by the Mathura school of art.

Olasuni Hill :

The top of the hill is the place where the great saint ‘Arkshita Das’ sat and renounced the world.