Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Bhubaneswar (celebrated globally across ancient Indian archaeology as 'Kumari Parvata' and the premier rock cut Jain cave complex in eastern India, excavated in the 2nd century BC during the reign of King Kharavela across two adjacent sandstone hills, protected as a National Monument by the ASI, world famous for the 17 line Hathigumpha Brahmi inscription recording Kharavela's military expeditions and civic projects, double storied Rani Gumpha decorated with royal sculptures, Ganesha Gumpha, Ananta Gumpha displaying Tirthankaras, hilltop Digambara Jain temple, and panoramic city vistas), located on the western ridge of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, stands as Odisha's premier ancient cave monument.

Carved out of sandstone outcrops as rain shelters (Lena) for Jain monks, the complex encompasses 33 caves (18 on Udayagiri and 15 on Khandagiri) with stone drainage channels and inclined sleeping ledges.

It's the home of Rani Gumpha with its acoustic courtyard for royal dance recitals, the 2,100 year-old Hathigumpha inscription providing the earliest chronological record of Kalinga history, sculpted guard figures dressed in Greek tunics, langur monkeys roaming stone staircases, and an intensely peaceful, deeply evocative archaeological monument atmosphere filled with ancient sandstone echoes and hill breezes.

It represents a rich Odisha Mahameghavahana legacy, Digambara Jain ascetic heritage, and cave archaeology where rock cut Lena cells, Kharavela inscriptions, Rani Gumpha pavilions, and Bhubaneswar heritage tours unite in Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves.

Located on Khandagiri Chandaka Road in western Bhubaneswar, it sits 7 km west of Bhubaneswar Railway Station, 6 km from Biju Patnaik Airport (BBI), 8 km from Lingaraj Temple, and 65 km from Puri, easily reached in 15 minutes by auto rickshaw, app cab, or 'Mo Bus' Route 10.

The Historic Hathigumpha Inscription & King Kharavela

The natural cavern of Hathigumpha preserves a 17 line inscription incised in deep Prakrit language and Brahmi script, recording the yearly military conquests, public canal repairs, and royal patronage of Emperor Kharavela.

The inscription also mentions the retrieval of the sacred Jina idol of Kalinga taken away 300 years earlier by King Nanda of Magadha, marking one of India's earliest written historical victories.

Truth is, tracing the 2,100 year-old Brahmi letters on the rock ceiling of Hathigumpha will make you feel like stepping directly into ancient India.

Rani Gumpha Multi Level Courtyard & Khandagiri Hilltop

Rani Gumpha (Queen's Cave): The largest cave on Udayagiri rises in two storeys with triple arched verandas, featuring intricate friezes of royal hunts, winged lions, fruit bearing trees, and a musical dance performance before the king.

Khandagiri Hill & Jain Temple: Across the road, Khandagiri hill features Cave 7 (Navamuni) with relief carvings of nine Tirthankaras, Cave 8 (Barabhuji) displaying twelve armed Sasana Devis, and a 19th century white Jain temple atop the peak.

Twin Hill Exploration Circuit Plan

The Cave Explorer Circuit: Morning arrival at Udayagiri main entrance (8:00 AM) -> Rani Gumpha multi level exploration (8:15 AM to 9:15 AM) -> Chhota Hathigumpha & Ganesha Gumpha (9:30 AM) -> Hathigumpha Kharavela inscription & Bagh Gumpha / Tiger Cave (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM) -> cross road to Khandagiri hill, explore Navamuni & Barabhuji caves (11:15 AM to 12:30 PM) -> climb to summit Jain temple for panoramic city views.

Footwear & Walking Advice: Wear comfortable walking shoes with good grip as exploring both hills involves climbing carved stone steps; beware of resident monkeys and avoid carrying open food packets.

After exploring the ancient caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, visit Mukteshwar Temple, explore Rajarani Temple, or tour Dhauli Shanti Stupa.