Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

     The ancient land of Odisha, formerly known as Kalinga, was characterized by a strong tribal presence. It was the conquest of Kalinga by Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty that decided the emperor's conversion to Buddhism. Evidence of this is given by the edict that Ashoka  himself had carved on a rock in the shape of an elephant at Dhaul, near Bhubaneswar. The hills at Udayagiri and Khandagiri contain many 1st-2nd century BC rock dwellings excavated by Jain monks under the patronage of Kharavela, king of Kalinga.  

     Odisha has a number of architectural wonders linked to different expressions of Indian spirituality. The rock settlements at Udayagiri and Khandagiri were the dwellings of Jain monks, the monasteries on Ratnagiri hill were a cultured and refined Buddhist center. At Bhubaneswar the majority of temples were dedicated to Lord Shiva while in Puri it is Jagannath, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.

     The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri as Kumari Parvat. They have a number of finely carved caves. The number of existing caves t Udayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15. The Chedi dynasty reigned in the area Bhubaneswar between 180-100 BC. The inscription in the Hatigumpha (the cave of elephant) details the life and devotion to Jainism of their most famous king, Kharavela. Kharavela and his pious wife decorated the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri. The cells are ringed with columns and architraves topped by lunettes showing mythical landscapes and are connected by elaborate friezes showing busy scenes from court life, hunting expeditions and popular stories. The cells are onto colonnaded verandahs or directly onto courtyards like, the ground floor of the complex at Ranigumpha (the cave of the queen). Ranigumpha and Ganeshagumpha (the cave of God  Ganesh) are the two largest and most important caves on the site. Ganeshagumpha is decorated with lovely frieze and has carvings of two round elephants standing outside. The best conserved cave in Khandagiri hill is Ananta, where the cells are protected by armed dvarapala (the guardians of the door) and open onto a verandah overlooking a wide courtyard. The Ananta cave depicts carved figures of women, elephants, athletes and geese carrying flowers.

Ranigumpha

Caves at Udayagiri : 

1. Ranigumpha
2. Bajagharagumpha
3. Chota Hathigumpha
4. Alkapurigumpha
5. Jaya-vijayagumpha
6. Panasagumpha
7. Thakuranigumpha
8. Patalapurigumpha
9. Mancapurigumpha
10. Ganesagumpha
11. Jambesvaragumpha
12. Vyaghragumpha
13. Sarpagumpha
14. Hathigumpha
15. Dhanagharagumpha
16. Haridasagumpha
17. Jagammathgumpha
18. Rosaigumpha

Ganesha Gumpha

Hathi Gumpha

Bagha Gumpha

Caves at Khandagiri :

1. Tatowa gumpha No.-1
2. Tatowa gumpha No.-2
3. Ananta gumpha
4. Tentuli gumpha
5. Khandagiri gumpha
6. Dhyana gumpha
7. Navamuni gumpha
8. Barabhuji gumpha
9. Trusula gumpha
10. Ambika gumpha
11. Lalatendukesari gumpha
12. Unnamed
13. Unnamed
14. Ekadasi gumpha
15. Unnamed

Khandagiri Caves