Dhauli Hill, Bhubaneswar, Orissa India

Dhauli Hill (Dhaulagiri) is situated near Daya River, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar in Odisha India. Dhauli hill holds the distinction of being the place where Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor renounced war and embraced Buddhism. The peace pagoda (Shanti Stupa) remains at the top of the tourist choices for the delicate structure of the stupa and the monastery near it. The Saddharma Vihar monastery and the Shanti Stupa make the Buddhist pilgrim a special attraction, and a place to feel eternal peace of mind. The main of the artifacts, ancient and archaeologically invaluable is the Ashokan edicts. These are specific due to the inscriptions, written on rock, some of them by Ashoka himself, and are rare pieces of art. The Dhauli edicts are written in the Prakrit language using the Brahmi script. The other major attractions of Dhauli Hill include Saddharma Vihar monastery, the ancient sculptures and the some very extraordinary art forms. The nearest airport and railway station is that of Bhubaneshwar. Dhauli can be reached by Bus, or rented Taxi.

8 km south of the present Bhubaneswar, across the Daya river, Dhauli has major edicts of Ashoka engraved on a mass of rock. It is presumed to be the area of the bloody battle of Kalinga, won by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka in 265 BC. Though he conquered, but the horrors of having slain over 150,000 people and the misery it inflicted on the people filled Ashoka with remorse and brought about a sudden change of heart. He gave up his ambition of dig-vijaya (military conquest) in favour of dharma-vijay (spiritual conquest).

The great Mauryan king renounced the path of violence to embrace Buddhism and publicized his new maxims in rock edicts, installed in different parts around the empire. One of these is here at the base of Dhauli hills, in which he proclaims, 'All men are my children', and expresses his concern to ensure impartially, non-violence, justice and compassion, an inscription in ancient brahmi script. The top of the rock is sculpted into an imposing elephant's head, which is related to the dream the Buddha's mother saw of the Buddha descending to her womb in the form of an elephant. At Dhauli he built several chaityas, stupas and pillars. This is said to be the earliest rock cut structure in India. However, today the more visited site is, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Peace Pagoda, at the top of Dhauli Hill, built by Indo Japanese collaboration in 1972, standing in the form of a massive dome with lotus petals as its crown. The five chhatris (umbrellas) placed on its flattened top represent five important aspects of Buddhism. This gleaming white double storey structure stands on a platform with two entrances with flights of steps. The stupa, from its origin emerges as the central focus of worship.

Dhauligiri Hills is a place marked with the serenity of Daya River and lies at a distance of 8 Km from Bhubaneswar. The famous rock edicts of Ashoka are worth witnessing. Moreover, it is in Dhauli Hills that adopted the path of dharma which lets only peace and love enter your lives. The concept of dharma- vijay became his ultimate goal as he took Buddhist teachings deep into his heart. The end of the bloody battles was only to serve and favor mankind. With this, the religious and spiritual beliefs of Buddhism spread to different parts of the world. Dhauli Hills in Bhubaneswar takes you to the site of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa. The dome structure of the Shanti Stupa possesses five umbrellas and they symbolize the five essential parts of Buddhism.