Ratnagiri

Introduction
This famous Buddhist centre is another part of Lalitgiri, Ratnnagiri and Udaygiri diamond-triangle of Orissa's Buddhist pilgrimages. A hillock near the village of the same name houses some rich historical Buddhist remains. In a excavation recently, two big monastries, a huge stupa, some shrines, sculptures and stupas have also been found. The findings have proved that this Buddhist centre was existing at least during the time of Gupta king Narsingh Gupta Baladitya ( circa 550 AD). The place kept on thriving upto 12th century AD. Basically an important centre of Mahayana-Buddhism, Lalitgiri, converted into a great centre of Vajrayana-Buddhism in 8th-9th century AD. Some Buddhist sources indicate that the place played an important role in the emergence of Kalachakra Tantra during 10th century AD. Archeological findings also validate the fact.

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Location & Climate
This city, in Jajpur district of Orissa is in the Birupa river valley and 65 kms from Cuttack. It is just 5 kms from Khandagiri & Udayagiri and 100 kms from Bhuvaneshwar, the capital city of the state. Mahanadi, Brahamani, Kimiria and Birupa rivers encircle Ratnagiri. The temperature here rises upto 45*C in the summer and dips down to 10*C in the winter with the rainfall of 144.39 cms. during rainy season. So, the best time to come here is mid-January to mid-March.


Sightseeing
This ancient Buddhist seat of learning in ruins now, attracts variety of tourists. The most important monument here is an apsidal temple surrounded by monasteries and stupas. Some other temples of the same type were also built around second century BC. at Mathura and Taxila also. You can find here a large brick monastery with beautifull doorways, basement, den with a huge Buddha idol & numerous Buddhist sculptures. Curling lips, dangling ears, elliptical faces and mounting foreheads are some of the main features of the idols. A small monastery at the place with a stone-temple, brick shrines and a big stupa with many smaller stupas also exist here.

» Monastery : It houses 24 cells, a huge courtyard, a shrine and a lobby. Its enterance has been decorated by baroque art & chlorite stones. Some male figures & a border of flowers' row have been brilliantly carved-out.

» Stupas : Numerous small stupas, encircling a larger one, make Ratnagiri perhaps the only Indian site having monolithic stupas so densely placed.

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» Motifs : Named as Kunjalata and Patralata, these are the examples of Buddhist influence on art.


Accommodation Options
The best option is to stay at Cuttack. Many well-eqipped hotels are there to provide the world-class accommodation services to you. Some of them are Hotel Akbari Continental, Hotel Blue Lagoon, Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Bombai Inn, Hotel Dwarika and Hotel Monalisa.

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Accessibility
You can air travel upto Bhuvaneshwar, its nearest airport. Its nearest railway station is at Cuttack. You can also hire a taxi or ride a bus from Cuttack.

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