Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
Rock-cut caves on two hills in Bhubaneswar, carved as dwellings for Jain monks, with the Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela.
MonumentBhubaneswar, Khordha districtBest time to visit: October to March
Highlights
- Rani Gumpha, a two-storeyed cave with carved friezes
- Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela, king of Kalinga
- Jain temples on top of Khandagiri hill
- Views over Bhubaneswar from the hilltops
Significance
The caves date mainly to around the 1st century BCE, in the reign of the Jain king Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana (Chedi) dynasty. The Hathigumpha inscription is an important record of the history of ancient Kalinga. The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.