Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, and Udayagiri form a triangle of Buddhist archaeological sites in Odisha (formerly Orissa), about 60 to 70 km northeast of Cuttack. Together they represent one of the most significant concentrations of early Buddhist monasticism in eastern India, with remains dating from the 7th to 12th centuries.
Ratnagiri is the largest and most extensively excavated of the three. Its hilltop setting reveals the outlines of two large monasteries, numerous stupas, and a wealth of sculptural detail — carved toranas, Buddha images, and decorative panels — that give a sense of the site's former grandeur. Lalitgiri is the oldest, with a large stupa and a monastic complex going back further than its neighbours. Udayagiri, the most recently excavated, has yielded important finds including an enormous reclining Buddha image.
All three sites are reachable by road from Cuttack, with regular bus services running in the area. The roads to each site branch off the same main route, making it feasible to visit all three in a day with your own transport.