Ratnagiri, known as “Hill of Jewels”, has the most extensive Buddhist ruins in Odisha and is of great importance as a Buddhist site — both for its magnificent sculptures and as a center for Buddhist teachings. It is believed to be one of the largest buddisht research place which is located at Ratnagiri.
The Buddhist site at Ratnagiri dates back to the 6th century AD. During the 8th and 9th centuries AD, it became a significant center for Tantic Buddhism. Subsequently, it played notable role in the emergence of Kalachakra Tantra It appears that Buddhism flourished unhindered there until 12th century AD. In the beginning, it was a center for Mahayana Buddhist
The massive stone sculptures of Lord Buddha’s head at Ratnagiri are particularly awe-inspiring. More than two dozen heads of various sizes, magnificently depicting the serene meditative expression of Buddha, were found during the excavations. They’re considered to be fine works of art.
Ratnagiri was established no later than the reign of the Gupta king Narasimha Baladitya in the first half of the sixth century CE, and flourished until the twelfth century CE. A Tibetan history, the Pag Sam Jon Zang, identifies Ratnagiri as an important center in the development of the Kalachakratantra in the 10th century CE, an assertion supported by the discovery of a number of votive stupas, plaques, and other artifacts featuring Kalachakra imagery.
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