Jiranga in south Orissa's Gajapati district which shot to fame on Tuesday with the opening of south Asia's biggest monastery by the Dalai Lama, had added another feather to its cap.
The Tibetan settlement has been declared as a tourist spot by Debi Prasad Mishra, the state tourism and culture minister.
“We have declared Jiranga along with Khasada, a nearby village where a natural waterfall is located, as the state’s 319th tourist spot. The notification in this regard has been handed over to the Dalai Lama”, said Mishra.
The state government would develop the infrastructure for the selected tourist spot through a road connectivity between Jiranga and Taptapani. Taptapani, located 50 km from here, is famous for its hot springs.
It may be noted that earlier the Tibetan refugees at Jiranga had requested the state government to declare the place as a tourist spot.
Historians feel the declaration of Jiranga as a tourism spot will pull tourists from the south Asian countries as the monastery will be the centre of attraction.
The monastery will certainly help to develop tourism in south Orissa, said Shishir Kumar Panda, president of Indian History Congress.
“Although it is a modern monastery, it will play a significant role in research on the origin of Buddhism. The monastery will have a good library on Buddhism and several scholars will visit the monastery to study on Buddhism and Budha”, said Amiya Kumar Patnaik, another noted historian.
The 70-foot high and five-stored Rigon Thupten Mindoling monastery at Jiranga is spread over 10 acres and has been built at a cost of Rs eight crore.
