Dhauli or the Dhauligiri Hills are located about 8 km from Bhubaneswar on the banks of river Daya. It may be recalled that the infamous and gruesome battle of Kalinga was fought here around 261 BCE, reportedly turning the river Daya red with blood. Ashok’s edicts are nearby.
Several centuries earlier, Mahabhikshu Nichiren of Japan had predicted that 2500 years after the death of Gautam Budhha, Budhhism would return to the land of its origin.
In keeping with this belief, the Shanti Stupa or white peace pagoda was built by Fuji Guruji to promote world peace and prosperity and to commemorate 2500 years of Buddhism.
It was constructed by the Japan Buddha Sangh as a collaborative project between Kalinga Nippon Sangha and the Odisha Government in 1972.
Apparently there are 7 Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupas in India including the Global Vipassana Pagoda Mumbai, Deekshabhoomi Stupa Nagpur and Buddha Smriti Park Stupa Patna.
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