Dhauligiri, a hillside with another name as Dhauli located on the River Daya banks, is 8 km far from the south of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa. You can find splendid Edicts of Ashoka embossed on a mass of rock in Dhauli, beside the way to the hill summit. It is believed that Dhauli hill was the battlefield of the Kalinga War. The marvelous Shanti Stupa or Peace Pagoda is also located here.
In the result of the bloodbath taken place in the Kalinga War, the water of the River Daya got red, making Ashoka understand the gloomiest side of a battle, turning him into the propagator of peace. Later, with his help, Dhauli became a major Buddhist centre, when he built several chaityas, stupas and pillars here.
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.
