Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves Bhubaneswar

Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves Bhubaneswar | ଉଦୟଗିରି ଏବଂ ଖଣ୍ଡଗିରି ଗୁମ୍ଫା, ଭୁବନେଶ୍ୱର

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, formerly called Kattaka Caves or Cuttack caves, are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical, and religious importance near the city of Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India.

Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves Bhubaneswar

About Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves Bhubaneswar

The caves are located 7KM from Bhubaneswar, it take back us in time and it is probably the only noted history of the generation that is still curtained in an enigma. It was Built somewhere around the 2nd century BC by King Kharavela of the Meghavahana dynasty, extensively known as the most powerful king in the archives of the history of Odisha, these ancient careening caves were first discovered by a young British Officer namely Andrew Sterling in the 19th century AD.

History of Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves Bhubaneswar

The caves built on Kumari Mountain. The ranges were dedicatedly built for the Jain monks to offer them a place to stay and meditate. Out of the 100 and 17 caves that were built originally and only 33 survive till today. The visitors can see the 18 caves at Udaygiri hill and 15 at Khandagiri hill.

Caves at Udayagiri

  1. The Rani Gumpha or the cave of queen
    Is a double-storeyed structure with attractive engraving. Well executed carvings apart, the cave is also known for its acoustic properties.
  2. Bajaghara Gumpha
    Bajaghara Gumpha is very uncomplicated and small. It has a stone bed & pillow. The cave was used as the Jain monks’ shade in ancient times. Besides the plain rectangular-shaped poles, no other sculpture can’t be found in this cave.
  3. Chota Hathi Gumpha
    Chota Hathi Gumpha is also small in the expanse. This cave has 6 no of small elephant shaped in the outside and a sculpture of a guardian.
  4. Alakapuri Gumpha
    The said Gumpha has a relief chisel of a lion holding its prey in its mouth. The cave has poles with winged human figures (divine beings). Its structure is also double-storeyed.
  5. Jaya Vijaya Gumpha
    The cave has a carving of a female shaping heavy earrings, bands, pleasing decorated hair. The cave is double-storeyed.
  6. Panasa Gumpha
    It is a very small and simple cave and it doesn’t have any weighty features.
  7. Thakurani Gumpha
    Thakurani Gumpha is double storied in structure with very simple in style along with little relief sculptures.
  8. Patalapuri Gumpha
    Patalapuri Gumpha is slightly bigger as compared to other caves with a pillared verandah.
  9. Mancapuri and Swargapuri Gumpha
    Mancapuri and Swargapuri Gumpha is double-storeyed. Manchapuri cave represents two male and two female figures honouring the Kalinga Jina that Kharval brought back from Magadha. It has a spoiled Jain religious symbol that was used for worship.
  10. Ganesha Gumpha
    It is one of the most supreme caves in Udayagiri and is named for the carved figure of Ganesha on the back of its right cell. The cave has 2 nos of large statues of elephants carrying crowns at the entrance and according to legends, it is the first example of sculpture animals used as a guard to the entrance.
  11. Jambesvara Gumpha
    The look of Jambesvara Gumpha is a very simple and small with one column and two pillars. The engraving tells that it is the cave of Nayaki,(wife of Maha made).
  12. Vyaghra Gumpha
    It is one of the popular caves in Udayagiri which is ruins, has an entrance carved like a tiger’s mouth, with the single-cell framing the tiger’s throat. It became one of the most photographed sites in Udayagiri. The word viagra is known as “tiger”.
  13. Sarpa Gumpha
    Sarpa Gumpha is an unexpectedly small cave containing two inscriptions. The meaning of sarpa is “snake”.
  14. Hati Gumpha
    Hati Gumpha is a large natural cavern with an inscription by Kharavela which contains one of the main sources of information about him. The cave is known as Hati Gumpha because of its unbearable carvings of an elephant. The word hati is known as “elephant”.
  15. Dhanaghara Gumpha
    It is a small cave. The Dhanaghara Gumpha has two wide pillars with dwara pala (gatekeeper) sculptures carved at the gate.
  16. Haridasa Gumpha
    Haridasa Gumpha is a small cave which has 3 nos of entrances and a verandah on the front side.
  17. Jagannatha Gumpha
    Jagannatha Gumpha is a mercilessly cut cave with 3 nos of the gate.
  18. Rasui Gumpha
    Rasui Gumpha is a very small cave.

Caves at Khandagiri

  1. Tatowa Gumpha
    It is known as Tatowa Gumpha because of its architecture which describe the parrots are carved above the entrance arch. It has 2nos of dwarapala (gatekeeper) figures too.
  2. Tatowa Gumpha
    Tatowa Gumpha is decorated with sculptural friezes like nayikas, different animals, gandhrvas, and birds, pilaster design, chaitya arch, rafters and vaulted roof.
  3. Ananta Gumpha
    Ananta Gumpha has crave of elephants, geese and women etc.
  4. Tentuli Gumpha
    Tentuli Gumpha is a small rock-cut chamber with just 1 column.
  5. Khandagiri Gumpha
    Khandagiri Gumpha is an uneven cut cell and has double stories.
  6. Dhyana Gumpha
    Dhyana Gumpha is an uneven cut cell.
  7. Navamuni Gumpha
    Navamuni Gumpha is an uneven cut cell with the sculptures of 9 nos of Jain Tirthankaras and Sasana Devis. According to history, these sculptures were added to the caves by the 11th century by Somavamshi dynasty.
  8. Barabhuji Gumpha
    Barabhuji Gumpha have twenty-five figures of Tirthankaras on the walls of the cell on 3 sides, Parsvanatha being counted as twice. According to history, sculptures were added to the caves in the 11th century by the Somavamshi dynasty.
  9. Trusula Gumpha
    Trusula Gumpha, the sculptures of Rishabha Deva found in the Kayotsarga pose.
  10. Ambika Gumpha
    Ambika Gumpha can be shown 3 relief sculptures, out of which 2 of Rishabhanatha and 1of Amra the sasana-Devi of Neminatha.
  11. Lalatendu Keshari Gumpha
    Lalatendu Keshari Gumpha- can seen as In compartment 1, There are 2 images of Rishabhantha and 3 of Parshvanatha and in compartment 2, 2 images of Parshvanatha and 1 of Rishabhantha.

Caves 12, 13 and 15 are unidentified. Cave 14 is very simple is called as Ekadasi Gumpha.

Timing

The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset, with free entry fees

Other Attractions in Bhubaneswar

How to Reach

By Air
The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar, which is 3 km away. Well connected by rail to all major tourist destinations of the country.
By Train
The nearest Railway Station is at Master Canteen Square, Bhubaneswar which is about 5 km
By Road
Bhubaneswar is on the National Highway linking Kolkata 480 km to Chennai 1225 km. There are many Taxis and Autos available at the nearest bus stop at Baramundra which is only 1 K.m away.

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