Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s rich Buddhist heritage has received a major boost with UNESCO officially accepting the serial nomination of the State’s Golden Triangle – Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri – into India’s Tentative List for World Heritage status.
The development reinforces Odisha’s importance in the global Buddhist landscape, highlighting the historical and cultural value of the three sites, which together represent a significant chapter in the evolution of Buddhism.
With this recognition, the Department has outlined a forward-looking vision to develop the Buddhist Triangle as a holistic, world-class heritage and tourism destination. The approach is aligned with the principles of conservation and sustainable tourism, ensuring that the sites are preserved while being made accessible to visitors from across the world.
The achievement is the result of sustained efforts and scholarly inputs by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The role of the ASI has been pivotal in research, documentation, and heritage conservation, which formed the foundation of the successful nomination.
The inclusion of Odisha’s Golden Triangle in India’s Tentative List marks an important step towards global recognition of the State’s Buddhist legacy and its enduring cultural significance, according to a post on X by the Odisha Tourism department.
