Aragarh will through new lights on Odisha Buddhist heritage as excavation will be carried out there very soon, said Sri Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister, Tourism & Culture today. Sri Panda said that about 20 lakh will be spent for the purpose to authenticate more on the site.
The site situated in Godiput-Matiapada Panchayat of Delanga Block of Puri district is said to have many Buddhist relics. The place is 29 Kms north from Puri district headquarters above 256 feet on the sea level that carries significant Buddhist Chaitya (Temple).
Discovery of broken Buddhist icons made of igneous rock and carving of ‘Naga Kanyas’ and ‘Gaja Sinhas’ in the four pillars of the temple stand ample testimony of Buddhist memorial. The site is said to be flourished between 1st-2nd BC and 10th-11th AD.
Odisha State Institute of Maritime and South-East Asian Studies will take over the task of excavation by ASI, said Dr. Sunil Pattnaik, the Secretary of the Institute.
