Dhauli Hill, Peace Pagoda and Hirapur

Duration: 4 hours
All days of the week

What this tour is about: The Dhauli Hills are about 30 minutes drive from Bhubaneswar. This area is believed to be the site of the famous Kalinga War fought in 265 BC, in which thousands perished, and the river Daya turned red with blood. The war marked a major turning point in Indian history, with Emperor Ashoka converting to Buddhism. Ashoka's Rock Edicts are among Indias most treasured pieces of written history. At Dhauli, you can see one of the Edicts carved into the mountain face. There is a sculpted elephant above the Edict, which is currently the oldest known rock-cut architecture in India.

Dhauli also has a grand World Peace Pagoda built in 1972. The stupa contains beautiful sculptures and panels describing incidents from the Buddha's life. It offers panoramic views of the countryside as well.

On the way to Dhauli, we will also visit Hirapur, which is the site of a yogini temple. The yogini cult is said to have developed in the 6th or 7th century AD. The yogini temples are unique open-air circular structures, believed to be used for tantric practices. The goal of these practices was to obtain siddhi powers, supernatural abilities. There are only 9 yogini temples discovered in India so far, of which this is the best known.

Start point: Your hotel

End point: Your hotel

Cost and How to Book:
Cost varies depending on the number of people. Please write to deepa@magictoursofindia.com or magictours@live.com for details.