The Ratnagiri Mahavihara, is situated on the Assia hill range and on the left bank of the river Kelua a tributary of river Brahmani. Buddhist remains atop the Ratnagiri or the “hill of jewels” were first noticed by M.M. Chakravarty in 1905 and subsequently excavated by Debala Mitra of the Archaeological Survey of India between 1958 and 1961 resulting in exposing a magnificent Buddhist establishment consisting of a mahastupa, monastic complexes consisting of two monasteries, cluster of shrines, votive stupas, sculptures, architectural fragments and other antiquities. On the basis of the sealings bearing the legend “Sri Ratnagiri Mahavihariya Arya Bhikshu Sanghasa” the place has been identified as Ratnagiri. The site was an important Buddhist establishment in Bharata-varsha under the royal patronage of the Bhaumakaras i.e. 9th -10th C.E. One of the monasteries in the complex was resided by Rani Karpurasri queen of Karnadeva Kesari as evident from the copperplate inscription recovered during excavation. The archaeological vestiges of the site can be dated from 5th century C.E to 13th – 14th century C.E. The sculptural remains, images, copper plates, seals and sealings recovered from the excavations from the site presently kept in the archaeological site museum, Rantagiri. The noteworthy images are of Vajrapani, Manjusri, Aparajia, Astamahabhaya Tara, Jambhala, Hariti etc of Mahayana and Vajrayana phase of Buddhist pantheon.