The State Government would highlight all Buddhist sites of Jajpur district like lalitagiri, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri, langudi, Kaima, Radhanagar, Brajagiri and Neulapur at the second International Buddhist conference in order to attract more tourists in coming days, said School and Mass Education and Industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra at the 4th Kalinga International Buddhist Conference held at Udayagiri on Monday.
The famous Buddhist sites at lalitagiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri are fit to get the status of World Heritage sites like the Sun Temple of Konark, the minister said.
He said the Government has already prepared an ambitious master plan to develop Buddhist sites in Jajpur district as a tourist hub, he added.
The ancient Buddhist sites of Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh, where lord Buddha preached his first sermon, Buddhist monastery in Sanchi of Madhya Pradesh , Buddhagaya In Bihar ,Buddhist caves in Ajanta and Ellora find places on UNESCO ‘s World Heritage list.
To pave the way to declare these sites as World Heritage sites, the district administration has stopped illegal quarrying at these sites, added Mishra. Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies (OIMSEAS) Secretary Dr Sunil Patnaik termed these areas as treasure houses awaiting large numbers of tourists.
At least 230 noted Buddhist scholars, including 65 from ten countries, attended the conclave being organised by the State Culture and Tourism Department to attract more tourists and researchers to the Buddhist sites of the State.
The delegates would visit all Buddhist sites during their three-day long stay at Udayagiri. Among others, the conference was addressed by collector Ranjan Das and Tourism Secretary Arati Ahuja spoke.