Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, formerly called kattaka caves or cuttack caves, are partly natural & 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 Hatigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves built during the 1st century BCE. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for Jain 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 lena in the inscriptions, these were taken out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the abode of Jain ascetics. The most importance of this group was 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. The Archaeological survey of India (ASI) has listed that Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in the list of "Must See" Indian Heritage.
The Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are listed as one of the Adarsh Smarak Monuments by ASI.
B. M. Barua, based on a reading of line 14 of the Hathi Gumpha Inscription, declared that a total of 117 caves were excavated by Kharavela and others on the Kumari hill (Udayagiri). Marshall has counted more than 35 caves in both the hills, while M.M. Ganguli has enumerated only 27 caves.
The number of existing caves at Jdayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15.The local name
he existing caves are listed below, numbered according to the enumeration of the Archaeological Survey of India.
In Udayagiri, Hathi Gumpha (cave 14) and Ganesha Gumpha (cave 10) are especially well known for their historically important sculptures and reliefs. Raninka Na'ara (Queen's Palace Cave, Cave 1) is also an extensively carved cave and elaborately embellished with sculptural friezes. Khandagiri offers a fine view back over Bhubaneswar from its summit. The Ananta Cave (Cave 3) depicts carved figures of women, elephants, athletes, and geese carrying flowers.
The Udayagiri hills are on the right-hand side as the visitor approaches 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.
There are 15 caves in Khandagiri. 1. Tatowa Gumpha, 2. Tatowa Gumpha, 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. Lalatendu Keshari Gumpha, Caves 12, 13 and 15 are unnamed. Cave 14 is very simple and called Ekadasi Gumpha.
Entry fee for Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) – Rs. 25 per head and for each foreigner is Rs. 300 and free entry for children below 15 years.
The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset.
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