Ranchi, Feb. 15: Eminent archaeologist Harendra Prasad Sinha, also the retired deputy director of the state art and culture department, is planning to utilise the maiden Itkhori Mahotsav, starting February 19, as a platform to highlight the archaeological importance of Chatra district.

Sinha plans to ask permission for excavation at Itkhori in his presentation before chief minister Raghubar Das, who will inaugurate the three-day Mahotsav that aims to put Itkhori - a confluence of Hindu, Jain and Budhist faiths - on the global tourist map.

'I have been invited by BJP MP Sunil Kumar Singh from Chatra to give a detailed presentation on the archaeological importance of the district before the chief minister on February 19,' he said.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sinha said: 'Hundreds of Buddhist relics, apart from Hindu and Jain antiquities, have been found at Itkhori, around 60km from Ranchi, and in neighbouring Palamau district. During my presentation, I will seek permission to undertake large-scale excavations in the region. The findings will bolster the state government's efforts to turn Itkhori into a tourist hotspot.'

Sinha retired as the deputy director, with additional charge of archaeology, of the state art and culture department in 2011. After retirement, he worked for the Jharkhand government on contract till May 2013.

During his tenure as the deputy director, Sinha was involved in unearthing remains of Nagvanshi rulers at Bero, Ranchi, and archaeological relics dating back to the 12th century AD at Pithoria on Ranchi-Kanke-Patratu Road, among others.

'The discovery of hundreds of Buddhist relics in Chatra, Palamau and parts of Hazaribagh district, dating back to 7-10th century AD, is proof enough of the Buddhist influence that spread from Bodh Gaya, in Bihar, to parts of present-day Jharkhand.

'More excavations will throw a lot of light on the history of Jharkhand, including the reign of the Pala Kings, whose kingdom stretched from present day Bangladesh to Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand and whose trade networks spanned across the Himalayas and South East Asia,' he stressed.

According to him, archaeologists have discovered numerous Buddha statues in various mudras, black stone statue of Ma Tara, a Buddhist deity, coins, terracotta artefacts, pottery, inscriptions on stone and other artefacts in Itkhori.

'Even a structure at Ma Bhadrakali Temple at Itkhori, which devotees worship as Shivalingam, has around 1,008 figurines of Buddha carved on it,' Sinha said.