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State plans to excavate Buddhist sites

BERHAMPUR: The Orissa Government has decided to take up historical excavation projects at Jaugada, Potagada and Manikapatna in Ganjam district.

Excavation of Jaugada is expected to increase the tourism prospects of Ganjam district, as it is related to the Buddhist heritage of the Orissa State of Asokan era. Potagada and Manikapatna are related to the great maritime history of Orissa.

At a recent State-level conference on cultural heritage of Ganjam district, the citizens’ forum of Berhampur had requested the State Minister for Culture and Energy to increase infrastructure at Jaugada so that it could attract international tourists interested in Buddhist circuits. Their demands included construction of a two lane road from Purushottampur to the Jaugada to replace the existing narrow five feet wide road.

The meeting further decided that the excavation programme would also be extended to the Buddhist heritage sites of Tarapur, Deuli, Kayama, Bajragiri, Neulpur, Kantiagarh, Radhanagar and Panturi in Jajpur district.

Jaugada is said to be remnant of a ruined fortress at 35km north-west of Berhampur. It was fortified provincial capital of Mauryan King Asoka after he conquered Kalinga and got transformed by Buddhism.

The stone cut edicts of Asoka hinting at his transformation and people friendly administrative principles are preserved at the place.

But the fort at the place having four towers, eight entrances and large trench around it whose remnants were described by a nineteenth century historian, J.D. Beglar are yet to be excavated.

Manikapatna as port finds mention in the Ain-E-Akbari of Abul Fazal.

It was a port near a navigable channel that was connected to Chilka lake. But this port has a longer history as Kushan coins of 1st and 2nd AD were found near the site of the port in the past. But no major excavation has been taken up in the area yet.

Similarly Potagarh was a French port which was occupied by the East India Company in 1768.

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