Udayagiri Cave

Udayagiri and Khandagiri, once the abode of Jains, date back to a long time ago. One of the sites in Bhubaneswar welcomes visitors to this marvellous site built by the ruler of the Mahameghavahana dynasty, King Kharavela, during the 1st century BCE. The king, who was very passionate about his culture and traditions, built this rock cave sculpture to pass on the treasure to his upcoming generations. Even though the exact time taken for completing this masterpiece is still unknown, it is guessed by researchers that it took some decades to create this wonder carefully. Famous for the intricate and exquisite sculptures of goddesses and some depictions of wild animals and temples, this place is a must-visit, according to the Archaeological Survey of India. This testament will carry over the principles and teachings of Jains and be a homage to seek and pay one’s respect to the Jain deities that were found in the inscriptions, which were written in Brahmi and Prakrit scripts (one of the oldest languages to emerge), and carvings of the Jain monks. Some scenes of Jain mythology were also found in this historical palace. Some sculptures depicted the victory march of the king and the dwara pala images carved in the entrance. Still, this monumental palace showcases the religious sculptures of the Jains and the royalties they earned during that time.

Description of the Udayagiri Caves:

The caves built on the northeast face of the city were known as Udayagiri Caves. This name denotes ‘Sunrise Hill', which consists of around 18 caves. A unique feature of this cave is that there is a two-story monastery named Ranigumpha, which is the major attraction of this Udayagiri part. Every group in these testaments has some peculiar name that mentions the place’s residence.

Ranigumpha Cave is the largest and most notorious block among this group. It was built for the Queen of the King Kharavela and has been beautifully carved and well-maintained. While entering, Ranigumpha’s walls caught our eye, which are adorned with stunning carvings of important sculptures and reliefs. This architectural carving of the cave showcases three wings, which have so many entrances with sculptures of wild animals, fruit-laden trees, human figures (like warrior-guards), women playing musical instruments, monkeys, and elephants in their joining panels, etc. Also, there was a separate campus for Lord Ganesha, with his image carved in the back of the cave.

Description of Khandagiri Caves:

Placed on the left side, contrary to the Udayagiri, the Khandagiri premises consist of 15 caves that were believed to have been renovated in the period of the Somavamshi dynasty ruler, Uddyotakeshari, in later centuries like the 2nd century BCE. No less than Udayagiri, Khandagiri caves also carved complex structures lavishly in the rock and stones, appealing to visitors. Like Ranigumpha, Anandha Cave is the largest in the Khandagiri Part carvings and also the main attraction among its group. Tatowa Cave is notable for the elephant carvings near the entrance, which have so many inscriptions and sculptures. Comparatively, the Khandagiri part of the caves has more spiritual connectors than the Udayagiri caves, with long enough meditation halls and full of rooms or parts allocated for the monks (Thirthankaras) individually with unique designs of nature or gods and goddesses. You will be amazed at these fantabulous carvings carved in the rocks, which are living proof of the skills of the ancient craftsmen and artisans. So make sure to visit this timeless sanctuary mixed with spiritual devotion and soulful sculptures.

Visiting Hours:

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. [To avoid crowds and heat, morning is the best time to visit.]

Entry fee:

Rs. 15 per person for Indian nationals and Rs. 200 per person for foreign nationals. Rs. 25 for using a video camera. Children under 15 have free entry.

Best time to visit:

November to February is the best time to explore the place with pleasant weather.

How to reach the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves

By Air : Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, is the nearest airport at a distance of nearly 4 kilometres by taxi or cab.

By Train :Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Bhubaneswar is the closest at a distance of 9 km. From there, you can hire a taxi or cab to the caves.

By Road :Public and private transportation is available to or from major towns as roads are well connected.