Jajpur / Bhubaneswar:(Sandhannews.com) Internationally renowned scholars Prof. Andrea Acri and Prof. Alkshndra Wenta recently visited major Buddhist heritage sites of Odisha, where they closely examined the region’s vast legacy of Buddhism, with special emphasis on Tantric Buddhist traditions. During their visit, the scholars explored the important Buddhist complexes of Lalitgiri, Udayagiri, Ratnagiri, and Langudi. They also visited the Tarapur Museum, which preserves a rich collection of Buddhist sculptures, images of deities, and archaeological remains.
On the same day, the visiting scholars were accompanied by Prof. Dr. Umakanta Misra of Ravenshaw University, Sunil Kumar Biswal, President of Kalinga History, and Buddhist researcher Manas Kumar Rout, who acted as guide and provided detailed historical, cultural, and archaeological information about the sites. The scholars expressed deep appreciation for the large number of Buddhist deities found in Odisha, particularly those associated with Tantric Buddhism. Prof. Andrea Acri remarked that Odisha is one of the most important Buddhist regions in South Asia and played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism across Asia more than a thousand years ago.
However, both scholars expressed concern over the lack of international awareness about Odisha’s Buddhist heritage. They observed that infrastructure around the sites remains underdeveloped, with poor communication facilities, a shortage of quality hotels near the monuments, and limited hospitality services for foreign researchers and international visitors. Due to these shortcomings, many potential visitors hesitate to include Odisha’s Buddhist sites in their academic and travel plans. On the occasion, the research-based book Culture, Cultural Heritage, Social Change and Modernity was formally gifted to Prof. Andrea Acri and Prof. Alkshndra Wenta. The scholars appreciated the publication and noted that such research-based works are essential for promoting Odisha’s cultural and Buddhist heritage at the national and international levels. Emphasizing that Buddhism spread from this land to many parts of the world over a millennium ago, the scholars urged the authorities to improve infrastructure, accommodation, transport connectivity, and global promotion so that Odisha’s rich Buddhist heritage can gain its rightful recognition on the international stage.
