Ratnagiri, meaning "Hills of jewels" in Odia, is an 18-acre Buddhist heritage site located on a hillock in the Assia hill range in the Jajpur district of Odisha, India. It is situated approximately 100 km from Bhubaneswar and is part of the Diamond Triangle, a cluster of three significant Buddhist sites, including Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, within a 10-km radius.
Recent excavations, particularly the discovery of a 1.4-metre-tall Buddha head in December 2024, have brought Ratnagiri into the spotlight. This find, along with other relics like tablets and stupas dating back over 1,500 years, has attracted scholars from across the globe, including Egypt.
This remarkable artifact is the largest Buddha head ever discovered in Odisha. It highlights the advanced craftsmanship of the artisans who lived centuries ago and suggests that a massive Buddha sculpture once graced the site, prompting experts to consider it as potentially the largest Buddha head ever found in all of India.
The site's significance was first reported in 1906 by Manmohan Chakravarti, the then Sub-Divisional Officer of Jajpur. Subsequent explorations and surveys were conducted in the 1920s, leading to systematic excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from 1958 to 1961.
The discovery of seals bearing the legend "Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihara Arya Bhikshu Sangha" and a copper plate charter from Somavamsi King Karna confirms its status as a Vajrayana (Tantric Buddhism) center. The abundance of votive stupas and idols used in Tantric practices further supports this claim.
Based on sculptural and epigraphic remains, the earliest Buddhist settlement at Ratnagiri has been dated to the 5th century AD. The site flourished until the 13th century, with Buddhist activities continuing until the 16th century.
A "chaitya griha" is a Buddhist shrine complex. Archaeologists are searching for it to connect Ratnagiri with other major Buddhist sites in Odisha, such as Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, where such structures have been found. While a traditional chaitya griha has not been discovered, a different type of shrine complex has been identified.
Archaeologists encounter several challenges during excavations, including:
Site catchment analysis involves examining the areas surrounding a site to understand how its inhabitants obtained necessary resources. It is crucial for understanding how a large Buddhist center like Ratnagiri, which housed hundreds of followers, was sustained.
Local villagers have been employed as laborers during the excavations. The discoveries have attracted attention to the village, potentially boosting tourism. However, some villagers have repurposed Buddhist artifacts in their daily lives, posing challenges for preservation. Additionally, land disputes arise as some villagers reside on excavation sites.
Future plans involve further analysis of the discovered artifacts, including pottery and building materials, interpretation of scriptures with expert assistance, and continued excavation to uncover more of the site's history. There are also plans for potential development for tourism and educational purposes, along with studies of soil, building techniques, and iconography. The ASI will conduct additional studies to determine the temperature and provenance of potteries discovered at the excavation site.
The "Diamond Triangle" refers to the cluster of three significant Buddhist sites—Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri—located within a 10-km radius in Jajpur district, Odisha. These sites collectively represent a major center of Buddhism in ancient India, showcasing the region's rich cultural and religious heritage.
The next steps will involve detailed analysis
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