Bhubaneswar, April 18: Light-and-sound shows will bring alive stories from Odisha’s past at the Udayagiri caves, Dhauli International Peace Pagoda, Langudi in Jajpur and Konark Sun Temple.

These shows, apart from giving the sites an image makeover, will tell visitors about the historical importance of the monuments.

The Union ministry of tourism will sponsor all four projects and Rs 6 crore each will be spent on their development. The project was announced on World Heritage Day.

A couple of years ago, when work on the project had begun, archaeologists had complained about the digging on the Udaygiri premises and laying of wires that could harm the site.

The earlier light-and-sound show equipment at Udayagiri caves were thus removed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

This time, the multimedia light and sound show will have no wires or fixtures. The technology of the light-and-sound show will be such that it will have no adverse impact on the monument.

“The new multimedia show will use state-of-the art non-invasive technology. Wireless projectors and other equipment will be fixed on the monuments.

“This will be similar to a PowerPoint presentation. It will be just like the one developed at Purana Quila, a historic site in New Delhi. This will ensure that the monument stays safe,” said principal secretary of the department of tourism and culture Ashok Kumar Tripathy.

He said the Union tourism ministry had given the go-ahead to the project and it had also received a green light from the ASI.

Tripathy added the project would be executed within three months and the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) would implement it.

The show will be projected on the walls of the monuments, but the uneven surface will not hinder the view, he explained. “At Purana Quila, ITDC has adopted a simulation technique so that even on an uneven surface, the projection gives a sharp view. Here, at Udayagiri and Dhauli we are going to adopt the same technique,” said Tripathy.

The Udayagiri caves (meaning “sunrise hill”) date back to the 2nd Century BC and were built by Kharavela, ruler of the ancient Kalinga empire.

The Dhauli international peace pagoda was built as a collaborative project between Kalinga Nippon Sangha and the state government in 1972.

The Kalinga war was fought between Maurya and Kalinga rulers at the foothills of Dhauli near the Daya river valley.

Emperor Asoka, the Maurya ruler, however, converted to Buddhism and dedicated his life to spreading the religion all over the world after the battle.

The tourism secretary said similar multimedia light-and-sound shows of Rs 6 crore investment each were planned for Konark Sun Temple and Langudi, part of the famous Buddhist mega circuit in Jajpur district.

“ITDC will start work on all the projects this year,” he said.

Residents were happy to hear about the plans.

Partha Sarathi Das, a resident of Satya Sai Enclave near Khandagiri, said: “Tourists coming to Bhubaneswar make it a point to visit the Jain monuments. The light-and-sound show will make the site more popular.”

Sushanta Kumar Subuddhi, a trader near Dhauli, said: “We usually help tourists in the evening by providing light as there are no lights near the pagoda. The show will improve Dhauli’s image,” he said.