Odisha partners with Guru Padmasambhava Mahavihara to boost Buddhist tourism

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government on Tuesday entered into a strategic partnership with Guru Padmasambhava Baudh Mahavihara, Jirang, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the state’s Buddhist heritage through conservation, research and sustainable tourism initiatives.

The MoU, signed at Lok Seva Bhawan, brings together the Department of Tourism and the Department of Odia Language, Literature & Culture with the Buddhist monastery to develop Odisha as a globally recognised destination for Buddhist pilgrimage, spirituality and cultural tourism.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, Minister for Odia Language, Literature & Culture Suryabanshi Suraj, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and His Eminence Gyetrul Jigme Rinpoche, President of Guru Padmasambhava Baudh Mahavihara, Jirang.

Addressing the gathering, Pravati Parida said Odisha’s Buddhist sites represent an important part of the state’s cultural identity and offer immense potential for spiritual tourism. She said the collaboration would help preserve this heritage while creating meaningful experiences for pilgrims, researchers and visitors from across the world.

Suryabanshi Suraj said the partnership would strengthen efforts to conserve Odisha’s Buddhist legacy and encourage academic research, cultural exchange and public awareness about the state’s historical and spiritual traditions.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the initiative reflects the government’s integrated approach towards heritage conservation and sustainable tourism. She noted that institutional collaborations of this nature would help preserve cultural assets while enhancing Odisha’s visibility on the global tourism map.

Under the MoU, the partners will jointly develop a range of initiatives, including meditation retreats, monastic immersion programmes, spiritual learning experiences and pilgrimage activities. The collaboration also envisages organising international conferences, promoting Buddhist scholarship and facilitating research and academic exchanges.

The agreement further aims to support the integrated development of the Ratnagiri-Udayagiri-Lalitgiri-Jirang Buddhist Circuit into a world-class heritage and pilgrimage destination, with emphasis on conservation, improved visitor experience and sustainable tourism development.