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Odisha’s Buddhist Diamond Triangle Joins World Heritage Tentative List

30 January 20261 min read
NATIONAL AFFAIRSOdisha’s BuddhistDiamond TriangleJoins World HeritageTentative List30 January 2026safalsetu.com

Why in the news

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre placed Odisha’s Buddhist Diamond Triangle on India’s Tentative List.

Key facts

  • A serial cultural nomination of three connected Buddhist monastic complexes in Jajpur and Cuttack districts.
  • Records 1,500 years of unbroken Buddhist history.

The three sites

SiteHighlights
LalitgiriCuttack district; oldest site (2nd-3rd century BCE); stupa with gold, silver and stone relic caskets thought to hold Buddha’s relics; east-facing apsidal chaityagriha, the first in Odisha
UdayagiriLargest complex; 1st-13th century CE; unusual double-storeyed monastery; Madhavapura Mahavihara; huge Avalokiteswara images and Pancha Dhyani Buddhas; Mahayana artistic peak
RatnagiriEpicentre of Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism, compared to Nalanda; Tara, Vajrapani and Jambhala sculptures; female patronage including Queen Karpurashri

Exam angle

  • Largest complex: Udayagiri; oldest: Lalitgiri.

Test yourself

1. Which of these sites forms part of Odisha's Buddhist Diamond Triangle?

The triangle comprises Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Ratnagiri.

2. Which site in the Buddhist Diamond Triangle is described as the largest complex?

Udayagiri is the largest complex in the triangle.

3. Which Buddhist tradition is Ratnagiri described as the epicentre of?

Ratnagiri is a major centre of Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism.

This topic is part of Daily Current Affairs 27 & 28 January 2026 (15 topics).

All topics of the dayDay quizJanuary 2026

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