Dhauli Hill, located 8 km south of Bhubaneswar on the banks of the Daya River in Khurda district, Odisha, is where the Kalinga War (261 BCE) was fought. Emperor Ashoka's remorse here led to his conversion to Buddhism. The hilltop hosts a gleaming white Japanese-built Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) alongside Ashoka's own rock-cut Elephant Edict — the oldest surviving stone sculpture in Odisha.
Dhauli Shanti Stupa
Where Ashoka's Remorse Transformed a King — Kalinga's Bloodiest Battlefield Turned Peace Shrine
History of Dhauli
Kalinga War (261 BCE)
The Kalinga War — fought here on the banks of the Daya River — is recorded as one of the bloodiest in ancient history: 100,000 soldiers killed, 150,000 deported. The sight of the carnage caused Emperor Ashoka to renounce war and embrace the Dhamma (Buddhist ethical code).
Ashoka's Rock Edicts
Ashoka carved his Separate Rock Edicts (Kalinga Edicts) at Dhauli, urging compassion for all living beings. The Elephant Edict at the base of the hill — showing a carved elephant emerging from rock — is the oldest known stone sculpture in Odisha, carved around 260 BCE.
Shanti Stupa (1972)
The gleaming white domed Shanti Stupa atop Dhauli Hill was built in 1972 by the Japan Buddha Sangha and the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha. It enshrines relics of the Buddha and is decorated with four relief panels depicting scenes from the Buddha's life — a symbol of Indo-Japanese Buddhist friendship.
Significance
Dhauli is considered the birthplace of Buddhist non-violence as state policy. Ashoka's edicts here are among the earliest surviving official documents in the Indian subcontinent. The site is a designated UNESCO Tentative World Heritage Site candidate. The Daya River below was said to have run red with blood during the Kalinga War — giving the river its name (Daya = compassion).
Festivals
Kalinga Mahotsav — December
An annual dance and cultural festival held at the Dhauli amphitheatre each December. Odissi, Bharatanatyam, and Chhau dance performances are staged against the backdrop of the Shanti Stupa at dusk. Organized by Odisha Tourism, entry is free; 5,000+ visitors attend nightly.
Buddha Purnima — May
The Buddha's birth anniversary draws Buddhist pilgrims from Japan, Sri Lanka, and across India to Dhauli for prayers at the Shanti Stupa. Special prayers, incense offerings, and candlelight processions circumambulate the stupa on the full moon night.
Special Highlight
Did You Know? The Daya River below Dhauli Hill is the only river in India named after an emotion — "Daya" means compassion in Odia and Sanskrit. Ashoka renamed it after his transformation, symbolising the shift from war to peace. The Elephant Edict carving at the base of the hill is technically a half-elephant emerging from rock — it has no hind legs, as they were never carved.
Travel Guide to Dhauli
How to Reach
By Air: Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI), Bhubaneswar — 12 km, ~20 min drive.
By Train: Bhubaneswar Railway Station — 8 km; autos available via NH 316 (Puri Road).
By Road: NH 316 (Bhubaneswar–Puri Highway) — Dhauli is at the 8 km mark from Bhubaneswar city centre.
Best Time to Visit
October–March: cool and dry, ideal for climbing the hilltop. Sunrise and sunset visits give golden light on the white stupa. April–June is hot but manageable before 9 AM. Open year-round, sunrise to sunset, no entry fee.
Local Attractions
Lingaraj Temple: 8 km north — Bhubaneswar's tallest 11th-century Shiva temple.
Udayagiri & Khandagiri: 15 km — 1st-century BCE Jain caves and Hathigumpha inscription.
Nandankanan Zoo: 25 km — white tigers and pangolin conservation park.
Puri Beach: 55 km south via NH 316 — combine with a Puri day trip.
Travel Tips
No entry fee. Open sunrise to sunset. Shoes must be removed before entering the Shanti Stupa sanctum.
Photography permitted everywhere; the panoramic Daya River valley view from the hilltop is the best shot at golden hour.
A short 100-step climb reaches the stupa — easy for all ages. The Elephant Edict is at the base, accessible without climbing.
Combine with Puri–Konark day trip via NH 316 — Dhauli is on the Bhubaneswar–Puri highway.
Location Map
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