Bhubaneswar: The Buddhist sites of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri in Odisha’s Jajpur district have been included in UNESCO’s tentative India list for consideration of ‘World Heritage Site’ status.
In a letter to Vishal V Sharma, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of India to UNESCO, Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, confirmed that India submitted the documentation on December 22, 2025. Since the proposal met the Operational Guidelines, UNESCO updated the Tentative List of India to include these culturally significant sites.
The ‘Diamond Triangle’ of these sites are believed to have witnessed propagation of all three schools of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.
As per information, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the nodal agency for the World Heritage Convention on behalf of India, compiled the related documents and submitted the nomination to the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO through Vishal V Sharma. The centre recently informed Sharma about the addition of the ‘serial nomination’ of the ‘Diamond Triangle’ sites of Odisha to India’s tentative list.
A senior archaeologist of the ASI said a site’s entry to the tentative list is a mandatory requirement for it to be nominated for inscription into the ‘World Heritage List’ in the future.
This decision was welcomed by Sj. Maheswar Bal, Convenor-Secretary of the Udayagiri Buddha Mahotsav Samity, and Badachana MLA Amar Nayak.
The Buddhist Triangle of Odisha represents one of India’s most important archaeological and spiritual landscapes. Moreover, the sites showcase the rich legacy of Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. They feature monasteries, stupas, sculptures, and inscriptions that emphasise Odisha’s pivotal role in spreading Buddhism across Asia.
This recognition marks a significant step toward securing full World Heritage status for the Buddhist Triangle. Furthermore, it underscores India’s commitment to preserving and promoting its cultural heritage while strengthening global awareness of Odisha’s historical importance.
The inclusion of Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, and Lalitgiri in the Tentative List will also boost heritage tourism, research, and conservation efforts in the region. In addition, it aligns with India’s broader strategy to highlight diverse cultural landscapes under the World Heritage Convention.
