Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Tourism Guide

Information about Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Opening Hours, Architecture Design, What to watch and How to reach from Bhubaneswar Railway Station and Airport with route Map.

Udayagiri Caves Lookc great form Khandagiri Cave

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, formerly called Kataka 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.

The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as Kumari Parvata in the Hathigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves built during 2nd century BCE.

It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jaina monks during the reign of King Kharavela. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.

The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, called lena or leṇa in the inscriptions, were dug out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the abode of Jaina ascetics.

The most important of this group is Ranigumpha in Udayagiri which is a double storeyed monastery. Other important caves include Hathi gumpha, Ananta gumpha, Ganesha gumpha, Jaya Vijaya gumpha, Mancapuri gumpha, Bagha/Byaghra/Vyaghra gumpha and Sarpa gumpha.

Udayagiri Caves

What to watch at Udayagiri Cave

The Udayagiri hills fall on your right side when you enter into this area from Bhubaneswar. Compared to Khandagiri, Udayagiri offers more beautiful and better maintained cave shrines. There are 18 caves in Udayagiri.

1. Rani Gumpha "Cave of the Queen"
2. Bajaghara Gumpha
3. Chota Hathi Gumpha
4. Alakapuri Gumpha
5. Jaya Vijaya Gumpha
6. Panasa Gumpha
7. Thakurani Gumpha
8. Patalapuri Gumpha
9. Mancapuri and Swargapuri Gumpha
10. Ganesha Gumpha
11. Jambesvara Gumpha
12. Vyaghra Gumpha
13. Sarpa Gumpha
14. Hati Gumpha
15. Dhanaghara Gumpha
16. Haridasa Gumpha
17. Jagannatha Gumpha
18. Rasui Gumpha

What to watch at Khandagiri Caves

The Khandagiri hills fall on your left side when you enter into this area from Bhubaneswar. There are 15 caves in 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. Trisula Gumpha
10. Ambika Gumpha
11. Lalatendukesari Gumpha
12. Ekadasi Gumpha
13. Other 3 caves has been unnamed

Opening Hours of Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

The cave opens at 9.00 AM everyday in the morning and closes at 6.00 PM in the evening.

Sunday           :9am–6pm
Monday         :9am–6pm
Tuesday         :9am–6pm
Wednesday    :9am–6pm
Thursday       :9am–6pm
Friday            :9am–6pm
Saturday        :9am–6pm

Rock Cut Architecture At Khandagiri And Udayagiri

Rock-cut architecture is the creation of structures, buildings, and sculptures by excavating solid rock where it naturally occurs.
Rock-cut architecture is designed and made by man from the start to finish. In India and China, the terms 'cave' and 'cavern' are often applied to this form of man-made architecture.

Khandagiri and Udayagiri both of the caves had been made by man by digging in solid rocks. Therefore, these are the part of Rock-cut architecture.

Sculptures in Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves

Man Made sculptures by digging in rocks in Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

How to visit Udayagiri And Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are Located at Khandagiri, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751030.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Distance from Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar

Distance between Biju Patnaik International Airport to Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves is approximately 6.4 Kilometers and It takes approx 13 minutes in the fastest route as seen in the Guided map below.

 

Udayagiri And Khandagiri Caves Distance From Railway Station, Bhubaneswar

Distance between Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves is approximately 9.1 Kilometers. It takes 18 to 20 minutes in the fastest route journey from Bhubaneswar Railway Station to reach Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves.