Dhauli hill alias Dhauligiri Hill, located 8 km from Bhubaneswar, on the banks of river Daya, is one of the famous Buddhist destinations in India. Also known as the Surabha Hill, Dhauli Hill has a series of small hills enclosing many rock-cut monuments. Dhauli is the place where Mauryan Emperor Ashoka renounced the path of violence and embraced Buddhism, after witnessing the devastation of Kalinga war. One can see the proof of his renunciation on a rock on the foot of the hill called Ashokan Rock Edicts. In his edicts, Ashoka has asked his administrators to govern with equality and empathy. On the top of the rock edicts, there is a sculpture of an elephant chiseled out of a huge rock, which is the universal symbol of Lord Buddha.

On the top of Dhauligiri Hill, there is an alluring white structure called the Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupa which is the major attraction of the place. This Buddhist structure was built in 1972 jointly by the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangh and the Japan Buddha Sangh, under the guidance of Guruji Fujii who is the founder President of Nipponzan Myohoji of Japan. Said to be the earliest rock-cut sculpture in India, Peace Pagoda is a magnificent spherical shaped white domed building, topped with five mushroom like protrusions that represents five important aspects of Buddhism. The Shanti Stupa is adorned with several stone panels including the reclining Buddha, an elephant procession, a sleeping beauty, procession on horse back, the bodhi tree, footprints of Buddha bearing the chakra (wheel) and Emperor Ashoka renouncing war by offering his sword to Lord Buddha. At the foot of Shanti Stupa, there is a Japanese Buddhist Temple which is the venue of the famous Kalinga Mahotsav of Bhubaneswar. 

Other added attractions of Dhauligiri hills includes an  old temple of Lord Dhavaleswar at the top of the hill above the Shanti Stupa built during 1972 ;  a 3rd century BC monastery built by the Buddhists of Kalinga names as Saddharma Vihar Monastery; rock cut caves and a number of Hindu temples, dating to the medieval age; ancient sculptures etc.