With the increasing expansion of modern travel facilities around the world, the tourism sector has emerged as one of the most visible sources of economic activities. Heritage and historical monuments sites are great assets which can be used for economic activities for locals. The historical and natural advantages of different locations in Odisha can be developed, and used to attract different kinds of tourists, including heritage and religious tourists of different faiths.
Odisha, as the ancient land of Buddha, has such tremendous potential to promote Buddhist Heritage tourism which can attract lakhs of tourists from all over the world, especially from countries with Buddhist believers in south-east, and East Asia. Buddhism has historically played a role in promoting tourism among South –East Asia countries.
The tourism sector has emerged as one of the vital sources of employment as it is more labour intensive. Globally, countries such as France, Spain, USA, China, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, Germany, Thailand, UK and Japan were the most visited countries by international tourists. Coming home India’s states such as Tamil Nadu , Maharashtra, UP, Delhi ,WB ,Rajasthan ,Kerala ,Punjab ,Bihar and Goa were the top ten states in receiving a number of international tourists .Bihar’s Bodh Gaya and Nalanda are attractive destinations for international visitors. Bihar has 3.5 crore tourist of both domestic and foreigner in the year 2019. India receives less than two percent of the global tourists. However, India is among top ten countries having the largest Buddhist population and the others include China, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, and Malaysia. In spite of the potential, the Govt. of India and the state of Odisha have not yet fully used its vast treasure of tourist potential , especially its Buddhist heritage.
The plan of Govt. of India in collaboration with the World Bank and the Japanese Govt. for building a Buddhist circuit to promote places connected to Buddha and Buddhist heritage has not included Odisha in its plan. The government of Odisha has requested the centre to be part of this plan. Tourism as a subject must be placed in a concurrent list by which both the state and centre can jointly execute the plans.
These heritage assets will boost the travel and hospitality segment in a big way that is beneficial to the state as a whole and more to locals also. It also helps in revisiting and reviving our inspiring past memories of the region that was once well connected to other parts of the globe through maritime trade and Buddhism. The visits of Buddhist scholars, believers and many others in large number will have a wider impact on the progressively changing social-cultural life and the quality of living of the people. The multi-cultural values and international exposure will strengthen our age-old secular ethos and pave the way for access to the scope of education, trade and other economic linkage with the most advanced Buddhist countries.
The heritage tourism includes visiting the sites of remains of Buddha’s tombs, Puspagri University, Kalinga war field in Dhauli, and many more structures excavated. Historians and archaeologists have traced that Odisha has a written history of some 2300 years from the days of the Kalinga war in 261 BC. Kalinga was thickly populated and early forms of people’s democracy form of governance of the communities. There were Janapadas, the People’s Republic .Buddha’s Dhhama/teachings was the belief of the people of the Land. Though late but the archaeological survey of India’s excavation work has explored hundreds of Buddhist sites from different parts of the state. It is told that during the period 6th century BC to the 15th-16th century AD, various sects of Buddhism prevailed here, as evident from the archaeological and historical findings. In the past, Kalinga played a major role in the spread of Buddhism in South-East Asia.
It is found that from Balesore to Ganjam on the coast and central-west Odisha, including Dambarugada of Boudh, Sonepur, Ganiapali, Bargada, Parimalgiri, Bolangiri, and Sambalpur districts and in a number of other places the remains and structures are available. The places include – Khadipada ,Soro in Balesore ,Kupari in Bhadrak, Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri in Jajpur and Tarpur and Naraj in Cuttack district ,Kuruma near Konark of Puri and Banpur in Khurda district etc. The most interesting site at Ratnagiri was discovered in 1905 and later around 1960, the three places Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri’s excavation has revealed many new areas of information. These three sites form the diamond triangle. Rantagiri has a well built archaeological museum. The past heritage sites can also be connected to present modern Buddhist places of tourist interest, such as Dhauli peace Pagoda and Jirang Monastery in Mohana of Gajapti. These important places need connectivity through road, railway and air services and the most necessary is making available hospitality facilities to ensure amenities to take care of the comfort of visitors. These places must be ideally peaceful from the security point of view of the visitors. The law and order of the locality and public behavior must be conducive to visitors. The best of local quality foods, cultural events and art and draft should be made available to visitors to get an exposure. There is also a demand for a qualified well-manner multi-lingual guide having proficiency in English and other languages who can properly explain things and help the visitors. They can be attached to hotels and tour operators. It is also highly required to give much emphasis on the preservation, restoration, recreation and utmost care for maintenance of these heritage assets of our human civilization. The state’s universities must undertake research and documentation work to link with the heritage that will attract scholars from all over the world and make Odisha a knowledge centre. The state Govt. must invest in building infrastructure and inviting private and public investors, including FDI, to promote travel agencies, good hotels and restaurants in the locality, while building good roads, railway lines and international airport connectivity in priority. Odisha’s Buddhist sites must be linked to other states in north India having more number of heritage sites.
Manas Jena is an activist and columnist based in Bhubaneswar, Odisha,[email protected]
