Archaeological Survey of India Discovers 1300-year-old Buddhist Stupa in Odisha

• The ASI made the remarkable discovery at a mining site in Parabhadi in February 2023.
• Interestingly, the Parabhadi site, known for its rich reserves of Khondalite stones , was a major source of stones for the beautification project of the historic 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
• The unearthed stupa stands at an impressive height of 4.5 meters and is speculated to originate from the 7th or 8th century.
• The Parabhadi site is in close proximity to Lalitagiri, a significant Buddhist complex housing numerous stupas and monasteries, further enhancing its archaeological significance.

Recent Developments:

• The Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) had earmarked six Khondalite stone blocks for mining, with Sukhuapada being the most substantial.
• The ASI's acquisition of the Sukhuapada site could pose challenges for the OMC in supplying Khondalite stones for the State government’s ambitious temple development initiatives.
• Earlier, the violation of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) guidelines had sparked a major controversy during the redevelopment project in Puri. The recent discovery might escalate tensions between the central and the state government.

A Brief Note on Khondalite Stones

Khondalite stones, widely used in ancient temple architectures , were proposed by the Odisha State government for extensive use in the Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme .

• The government had set aside a whopping ₹3,208 crore for this project in Puri with the vision of transforming it into a world heritage city.
• Several projects under the ABADHA scheme, including the heritage security zone, the Jagannath Ballav pilgrim centre, the Puri lake development project, the Atharnala heritage project, and the Matha Development Initiative , were slated to utilize Khondalite stones to uphold the aesthetic appeal.