Buddhist relics and ruins can be found at these three hill top complexes. It is on the northeast of Cuttack about 100 km from Bhubaneshwar. Excavations are continuing, on this site by the archaeological department of India.

A gold casket, thought to contain relics of the Buddha was discovered at Lalitgiri. This casket contains silver and gold artifacts. A small museum displays some of the artifacts. Excavations at this site have revealed architectural remains including a 20m high apsidal temple. The inscriptions on a stone platform suggest that it belong to the 2nd century. At the base of the hill one comes across the stone-carvers village called PATHARAJPUR. This village traces its connections back to the ancient times and produces excellent piece of sculpture. These sculptures are can buy as souvenirs.

Place Chart
It is on the northeast of Cuttack, about 100km from Bhubaneshwar. From Cuttack, one can take a direct bus to Ratnagiri or a taxi, which costs more. The other buses from Cuttack stop at Chandikhal where one can hire a rickshaw for a return journey, or take another bus towards Patharajpur. The roads are in good condition and the journey is enjoyable and scenic.

Accommodation
The "Panthasala" Tourist Bungalow in Pantharajpur village below the Lalitgiri hill, is the nearest accommodation available. Rooms are available at around Rs. 100. The rooms can be booked through the tourist office in Cuttack. (Tel. 0671-612225. If advance notice is given the caretaker may provide meals.

A "Tourist Complex" planned by the OTDC is on the anvil.

Buddhist relics of the Vajrayana sect are found on these three hill top complexes, one of which is Ratnagiri. It is 70 km from Cuttack and about 90 km from Bhubaneshwar. The Ratnagiri site is 5 km beyond Udaigiri. It is the most interesting and extensive ruins to have been excavated here and is thus aptly called the "Jewel Hill". It is the best find discovered out of the three hilltops. It is because of this that this site is worth visiting.

The find here includes three monasteries, eight temples and several stupas believed to belong to the 7th-8th century. The two large monasteries here flourished from the 6th to the 12th century.

The remains unearthed here show excellent quality of the sculpture combined with different hues and size of stones engraved in it. The stone includes blue-green chlorite, to the purple-red garnets encrusted in brownish silver Khandalite.

No.1 is the largest monastery. It covers on area of 55 sq. meters and the verandah surrounding it has sixty pillars supporting it. This verandah is built around a courtyard, which one enters through a carved gateway. At one end is a shrine, which has a Khondalite image of Buddha. There are about twenty-four cells in which the monks used to stay. The door way of the back porch wall has elaborate and intricately carved, dancer typing per feet, a woman in a meditating posture and a princess with flowing robes.

The university of "Pushpagiri" flourished here and Itiuen-Isang the famous Chinese traveler visited in 639 A.D. and described it is as one of Orissas Buddhist seat of learning in the 13th century. The extensive excavation works carried by the archaeological survey has revealed numerous Buddhist style architecture monasteries, stupas, as well as numerous images of Buddha in different pastures. According to a few scholars, the style of the carvings suggests that the monastery date back to the period of Vailal Deul in Bhubaneshwar (late 8th century).

Place Chart
Ratnagiri is 70 km from Cuttack and 90 km from Bhubaneshwar. The surface of the roads leading to this excavated site is good and one can take a day’s excursion from Cuttack by car. This way one can avail of a good accommodation at Cuttack, being a city centre. One can take the national highway 5M to Chandikhal, which is 43 km away, then turn right on national highway 5A towards Paradwip and then take a first turn to the left, which takes one to Ratnagiri.

Accommodation
The closest accommodation can be availed at "Panthasala" at Path Arajpur; rooms here can be booked through the tourist office in Cuttack Tel. 0671-612225.

At Cuttack one can stay at Hotel Ashoka Situated at college square. Tel. 613508 Air-conditioned single & double rooms are available here.

Hotel Akbari continental. Haripur road, Tel. No. 622342. Has air-conditioned rooms and also a restaurant.

The Panth Anivas tourist Bungalow in Buxi Bazaar. Tel. 621867. This Bungalow also has air conditioned rooms.

The name means "HOT WATER". Taptapani is situated in the hills west of Gopalpur. This is a small peaceful place with small hot springs. Apart from it there is not much to see at Taptapani."

However, if one wants to house the pleasure of having a bath with direct hot water from the springs in a bathtub in the comfort and privacy of ones bathroom then one can stay at Panthanivas Tourist Bungalow (Tel: 47531). Here the Roman style bathrooms with huge tubs has not spring water directly channeled from the hot springs outside.If one is interested in seeing Hot Springs and dipping ones body in the hot water of the springs, then a visit to "Taptapani" is worthwhile.

Places of Interest
36 km away from Taptapani there is a Tibetan refugee’s colony near Chandragiri. Here one can buy woven carts and wall panels and buy "Lohsa Apso" dogs which the Tibetans bread here for selling. Accommodation: Panthanivas Tourist Bungalow, Tel. No. 47531.

Place Chart
To reach Taptapani one can reach Berhampur by rail or by bus from Gopalpur. From here one can take a bus to Taptapani which is a 2-hrs journey.