Historic site
Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves
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Udayagiri and Khandagiri are twin hills honeycombed with caves that served as monastic retreats for Jain ascetics. The caves, carved into laterite rock, contain reliefs, inscriptions, and cells for meditation. Udayagiri's Rani Gumpha (Queen's Cave) is the largest, with ornate carvings of animals and processions. Khandagiri offers a Jain temple at its summit. The site provides insight into early Jainism in Odisha and offers sweeping views of Bhubaneswar. The inscriptions, including the famous Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela, are historically significant.
Don't miss
- Explore Rani Gumpha on Udayagiri, a double-storied cave with carved friezes of elephants and dancers
- Read the Hathigumpha inscription, which chronicles King Kharavela's reign in 17 lines of Brahmi script
- Climb Khandagiri hill to the modern Jain temple for a panoramic view of the city
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves
You can visit Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves on your own. A guide is worth it here for the history behind what you are seeing, and a tour can combine nearby sights into one day.
More attractions in Bhubaneswar