About

The Dhauli Shanti Stupa or the Peace Pagoda as it is known was built by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha in 1972. It is built upon the site where the battle between Ashoka and the Kalinga Empire is said to have been fought, in 261 BCE. br>
The stupa stands on top of the Dhauli hill. The stupa is built on a circular platform, with a railing all around, and steps to access it on the east and the west. The lower reaches of the stupa are in the form of a cylinder. The cylinder is marked with four niches (in each of the cardinal directions) bearing images of the Buddha in preaching (west), sleeping (north), standing (east) and meditating (south) poses. Each of the niches have a broad panel in gold forming the lintel of the niche, with five square-profiled columns rising above the lintel.

The surface of the cylinder between these niches is split into three horizontal friezes, the lowest one with relief work in white, the middle one with relief carvings in ochre coloured stone, and the top one in white, again. Each of the quadrants between the two niches is divided into three vertical panels, giving thirty-six panels in all.
These panels depict scenes from the life of Buddha, as well as tales from the life of Ashoka.

Above these panels is a second, circular railing, which forms the base for the hemispherical dome above. The base of the dome is decorated with gold-gilded images of Buddha in various poses of meditation and preaching. The dome is topped with five umbrellas, the central, larger one rishing vertically, while the other four tilt away from central axis.

Dhaulagiri Stupa stands on a hill next to the meandering Daya River, on the way to Puri.

Constructed in:

20th century CE

History

Emperor Ashoka of Magadha invaded the kingdom of Kalinga 8 years after his ascension to the throne, as per the edict of Ashoka found in the vicinity of the stupa.

100,000 people died, and another 150,000 were taken captive by Ashoka at the end of the war.

Ashoka was so horrified with what he witnessed in that war that he swore never to launch another campaign of war, but to only rule for the purpose of establishing the law of peace and righteousness, and proceeded to do so for the next forty years.

Ashoka became a disciple of the Buddha after this campaign.

Ashoka sent amabassadors to many countries far and wide, including his own son to Ceylon or Sri Lanka where a large number of citizens are Buddhists.

Legends

According to popular legend the Daya River which meanders along the Dhauli hill turned red due to blood spilled on it from the battlefield.

Ticketing

All Visitors	Free
Time required	2 hours

Nearby

Lingaraj Temple

(5.16 kms)

4.5

Rajarani Temple

(5.7 kms)

4.5

Sun Temple, Konark

(43.13 kms)

4.5

Getting There

Bhubaneshwar Airport (14 kms, 35 mins):Biju Patnaik airport services Bhubaneshwar city and connects the city to many major cities in India and overseas

Bhubaneshwar Railway Station (12 kms, 25 mins):Bhubaneswar Railway station connects the city to many major cities across India - including Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai

Master Canteen (14 kms, 30 mins):A number of buses and private taxis run from the central bus station to the Tourist vehicle parking lot at the foot of the hill from which OTDC buses ferry visitors to the top of the hill.

Shanti Stupa, Dhaulagiri