Entrance to a monastery in nearby Lalitgiri
In India, drainage ditch diggers have accidentally unearthed a Buddha statue believed to be of the post-Gupta period (500 – 750 AD), as well as a 30 x 30 meter vihara (Buddhist monastery) thought to be from the 8th century. The discoveries, sure to be of interest to archaeologists, were made three days ago in the Kesharaipur-Hatikhol village.
Local historian and Buddhist.researcher Harischandra Prusty said the four-room monastery is about 30 meters on each side, and it was made from large stones. “The Buddhist monastery has been probably built in the eighth century under the patronage and propagation of a king of the Bhaumakara dynasty that flourished between the eighth and the 11th century in the state,” Prusty said.
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