Bari: At a time when the state government is taking steps to encourage tourists from South Asia and Southeast Asian countries to visit the Buddhist triangle, popularly known as diamond triangle of Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udayagiri, the ground reality tells an altogether different tale.
Ratnagiri hill under Bari block’s Ratnagiri panchayat in Jajpur district can be taken as a case in point.
Both tourists and locals alleged that the funds which are sanctioned for the development and security purpose of this tourist spot goes to the pockets of some unscrupulous government officers.
Crores of funds have been misappropriated by the authorities since 10 years in the name of development purpose.
Ratnagiri monastery in Jajpur district of state, crowning flat hilltop with a panoramic view of the surrounding, is best for seclusion, serene and calm atmosphere necessary for monastic life and meditation studies.
A large-scale excavation was conducted by Archaeological Survey of India at the site between 1958 and 1961. Clay seals were found bearing the legend Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihariya Aryabikshu Sanghasya. The walls of Ratnagiri testify to Hieun Tsang’s visit here.
Excavation conducted during 1960s yielded the remains of an impressive Stupa (Stupa 1) surrounded by a large number of votive Stupas of varying dimensions, two quadrangular monasteries (Monasteries 1 and 2), a single-winged huge monastery with beautiful carved doorjamb and lintel, spacious open courtyard, cells and verandah facing the courtyard with spacious sanctum enshrining colossal Buddha. The existence of temple with curvilinear tower is only one-of-its-kind discovered in Odisha.
Large number of stone sculptures, few bronze and brass image of Buddha and Buddhist pantheon recovered during excavations tend to prove that Ratnagiri was a great Tantric center of Buddhism comparable to that of Nalanda in Bihar.
A re-excavation was done by the department in between 1997 and 1999. The ancient items recovered at that time are preserved in a museum situated on the top of the hill.
It may baffle many that there is no parking space and restroom (Yatri Niwas) for tourists at Ratnagiri.
“We had heard a lot about the Buddhist site. We thought the government would have developed the site as it has been projected globally. After reaching the site, we found the tall claims of the state government falling flat,” said a visitor.
Apart from the parking space problem, the site is also not well protected with the boundary wall crumbling. The gaps on the wall allow stray cattle a field day inside the heritage site.
The plants and shrubs, meant for beautification of the site, are withered due to lack of watering.
With no Yatri Niwas in the vicinity, outstation visitors cannot stay for days together, sources said.
Growing incidents of harassment of foreign visitors by anti-socials is another reason why they do not pay a second visit to the site.
Buddhist sculptures, museum, Mahakal temple and the sylvan surroundings attract tourists from outside state and country. But safety of the visitors and the sculptures is the need of the hour, locals observed.
Local said the state government had sanctioned Rs 8 crore for the development and safety of the sculptures.
We tried reaching out to ASI officials but it yielded no result.
How to reach from Bhub
Take Nandankanan road and Acharya Vihar – Jaydev Vihar road to NH16 in Income Tax Colony
3.2 km
Take Badsahi road to Anakhia – Nanapur road/Ratnagiri Road/Udayagiri – Ratnagiri road in Padmalavapur
71.6 km
Continue on Ratnagiri road/Udayagiri – Ratnagiri road to your destination
21.5 km
You have reached Ratnagiri
PNN