Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guru Padmasambhava Baudh Mahavihara, Jirang, to strengthen the preservation and promotion of the state’s Buddhist heritage and position Odisha as a global destination for spiritual and cultural tourism.
The agreement was signed by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature and Culture at Lok Seva Bhawan in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Chief Secretary Anu Garg and His Eminence Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, president of Guru Padmasambhava Baudh Mahavihara.
Under the MoU, the government and the Mahavihara will collaborate to develop authentic spiritual and experiential tourism programmes, including meditation retreats, spiritual learning initiatives, monastic immersion experiences and pilgrimage activities.
The partnership also seeks to promote Buddhist scholarship through international conferences, research, academic collaborations and knowledge exchange. A major focus will be the integrated development of the Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri-Jirang Buddhist Circuit as a world-class heritage, pilgrimage and cultural destination, with emphasis on conservation, visitor experience and sustainable tourism.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy CM Parida said Odisha’s Buddhist heritage was one of the state’s greatest cultural assets and an important pillar of its tourism potential. She said the collaboration reflected the government’s commitment to preserving this legacy while creating authentic spiritual experiences for visitors from across the world.
She expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen Odisha’s position as a leading international destination for Buddhist pilgrimage and cultural tourism.
Suryabanshi Suraj, who holds the portfolios of Odia Language, Literature and Culture, Sports and Youth Services, and Higher Education, described the agreement as a milestone for cultural preservation. He said Odisha’s Buddhist traditions represented a unique convergence of history, philosophy and living culture.
According to the minister, the partnership would not only help conserve the state’s invaluable Buddhist heritage but also encourage research, cultural exchange and greater public engagement with the legacy for future generations.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the institutional collaboration reflected the state government’s integrated approach to heritage conservation, cultural preservation and sustainable tourism. She congratulated the Tourism and Odia Language, Literature and Culture departments for undertaking the initiative.
Odisha is home to several significant Buddhist heritage sites, with Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri forming the famed Diamond Triangle, while Jirang in Gajapati district is home to the Guru Padmasambhava Mahavihara. Through the new partnership, the state government aims to bring these destinations together within a stronger tourism and cultural framework while expanding opportunities for spiritual learning, scholarship and international engagement.
