‘Diamond Triangle’ of Buddhist sites in Odisha now on UNESCO tentative list

UNESCO has reportedly included three Buddhist heritage sites from Odisha- Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri, in India’s tentative list for potential recognition as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

These sites, collectively known as the ‘Diamond Triangle’, are believed to reflect the spread and evolution of all three major schools of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which prepared and submitted the nomination documentation to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre around eight months ago, confirmed that the submission met UNESCO’s operational guidelines for the tentative list, reported The Times of India.

Earlier this week, the World Heritage Centre reportedly informed India’s permanent representative to UNESCO that the serial nomination of these three Buddhist sites had been formally added to the list.

ASI’s superintending archaeologist (Puri circle), D B Garnayak, who worked on the nomination, noted that a site’s entry to the tentative list is a mandatory requirement for it to be nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List in the future. 

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“The tentative list identifies sites that are of outstanding universal value, either culturally or naturally, and suitable for potential inscription in the World Heritage List,” he said.

The three sites are rich in ancient stupas, monasteries, relics and sculptures. 

India now has 70 sites on its UNESCO tentative list, including other Odisha entries such as Ekamra Kshetra in Bhubaneswar and Chilika Lake in Ganjam district, along with Chausathi Yogini temples added last year.