Jajpur district has the potential to emerge as a full-fledged tourist destination. The Orissa Institute of Maritime and South-East Asian Studies recently unearthed ancient Buddhist sites at different places in the district. Buddhist caves and images found at Neulipur, Deuli, Tarapur, Kaima and other areas of the district and can turn these hillocks into tourist hotspots.

The newly-excavated Buddhist sites at Dharmasala area of Jajpur offer conclusive proof of the existence of Buddhist culture in the district for centuries as per a report in TOI. The state government will develop all these Buddhist sites by constructing roads and other facilities essential to promote tourism in the area, said Ashok Tripathy, the principal secretary of the tourism and culture department. Tripathy, along with other officials, visited the sites on Saturday.

"Visitors can travel through this Buddhist circuit in a very economic tour package and savour the splendid beauty and great appeal of Buddhism," said Tripathy. The state is preparing an ambitious master plan to develop the Buddhist sites in Jajpur district as a tourist hub and attract more foreign and domestic travellers. "The state government will spend Rs 14 crore within four years to develop these Buddhist sites in Jajpur district," said Kalpataru Das, MLA of Dharmasala. Das also suggested a 150 feet-high stone image of Buddha be built at Neuli hillock to attract tourists.