*..LALITAGIRI..*

       Lalitagiri, the earliest Buddhist complex of 1st century A.D. and which forms a part of the mini golden triangle, is well conected to Bhubaneswar by a good road. The recent excavations has brought to light significant archeological material which uphods Lalitagiri as a centre of Buddhlist attraction.

       Lalitagiri lies majestically in the ruins singing the glory of a past heritage. The huge brick monastery, the remains of a chaitya hall, a number of votive stupas and a renovated stone Stupa at the apex of a small rugged sand stone hill dominates the rural greenery around. In addition the Museum displays a large number of Mayayana sculptures consisting of colossal Buddha figurs, huge Boddhisattva statues, Tara, Jambhala, etc. Interestinghly, most of these scluptures contain short inscriptions on them. The standing Buddha figures with the knee-length draperies over the shoulders reminds one the influence of the Gandhara and Mathura school of art. This also brings to mind the fact that Prajna, who had come from Taksasila to ancient Orissa to learn the yoga philosophy, later left for China with the autographed manuscript of Buddhist text Gandabvyuha from the then Orissan King Sivakara Deva to the Chinese Emperor Te-tsong in eighth century A.D.

       The discovery of caskets containing sacred rellics, probaly of the Tathagata himlself, from the stone stupa at the top of the hill further enhances the sacredness of the stupa and the place for the buddhist of the world. It aso brings to mind the description of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller of 7th century A.D. about the magnificent stupa on the top of a hill at Puspagiri Mahavihara which emitted brilliant light because of its sacredness. The search is on for the identification of Puspagiri with Lalitagiri. All the above make Lalitagiri the first priority for the tourists, particularly the special groups from the Far-EAst as well as Soruth-East Asian countries.