Udaygiri & Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Bhubaneshwar have got their names from the two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri indeed. The literal meaning of Udayagiri is Hill of Sunrise. It is undoubtedly one of the rarest monuments in India. The two caves reside facing each other across the road. The caves are also mentioned as Kumari & Kumara Parvatas in the inscription of Hathi Gumpha. One can follow through various Bhubaneswar Tour Packages and get to know the different places to visit in Bhubaneswar.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves History

As Bhubaneswar identifies itself for its architectural beauty and detail, the two hills also reflect the style of rock-cut architecture of Jaina from the eastern part of India. The rock-cut style of architecture follows the essence of art and religion in its carvings indeed. The caves were mostly dug out during the 1st century BC under the reign of Kharavela, especially for creating an abode for the Jain monks.

The two caves, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, are located near the capital city of Odisha, about 7 km away. Earlier, People used to call these caves Kattaka or Cuttack caves. There are 18 caves in Udayagiri and about 15 caves in Khandagiri. As per Myth, King Karavela of the Meghavahana dynasty in the 2nd century built the caves to use as restrooms for the Jain monks of the Meghavahana dynasty. Udayagiri has 18 caves, and Khandagiri has 15 caves.

Architecture of The Caves

The intrinsic style of architecture and the detailed carvings in the caves have their own touch of unexplainable beauty. In the case of carvings, people used basic tools for sculpting, making them extraordinary. As a result the designs are a portrayal of ancient history and mythology. Among the various carvings on the monument, one of the most notable is the execution of the Kalinga War. According to people's belief, There are two purposes of building the double-storeyed caves, the upper ones for meditation purposes and the lower chambers for restrooms. 

The Ananta Gumpha cave, among the 15 caves in Khandagiri, reflects to be the most famous one. The name Ananta Gumpha comes up from the carving of the two serpents at the entrance of the cave. Overall, the beauty of these caves can only be experienced if one visits and studies them closely from the beautiful city of Bhubaneswar. Indeed, Khandagiri offers a fine view of Bhubaneswar from its summit.