Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves
The Rock-Cut Retreats of Jain Monks
Overview
The Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are a group of partly natural, partly carved rock-cut caves about 3 km from Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, dating to the 2nd to 1st century BCE. Most were cut as residential cells for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty. Udayagiri ('Sunrise Hill') has 18 caves and Khandagiri 15, set on two facing hills. Udayagiri's Hathigumpha bears Kharavela's famous inscription, and the two-storey Rani Gumpha is the largest and most ornately carved. MyTripMyTravel escorts the site as the deep-history counterpoint to Bhubaneswar's medieval temples.
The Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are among the earliest surviving works of Jain art in eastern India, a honeycomb of monks' cells cut into two facing sandstone hills more than two thousand years ago, long before Bhubaneswar's great temples were even conceived.
They are inseparable from King Kharavela, the Kalinga ruler whose achievements are recorded in the Hathigumpha ('Elephant Cave') inscription, one of the most important epigraphic records of ancient India. Around it, the carved cells range from plain sleeping cavities to the elaborate two-storey Rani Gumpha, decorated with friezes of processions, dancers, and daily life.
MyTripMyTravel escorts the caves with a guide who translates the Hathigumpha inscription and the carvings, positioning the site as the ancient bedrock beneath Bhubaneswar's later temple city.
At a glance
Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves in brief
What to see
Highlights
Rani Gumpha (Queen's Cave)
The largest cave, a two-storey court carved with detailed friezes of royal processions and scenes of court life.
Hathigumpha inscription
The 'Elephant Cave' bearing King Kharavela's autobiographical inscription, a landmark record of ancient Indian history.
Ganesha Gumpha
A cave named for its later Ganesha carving, with tigers and sculpted panels flanking the entrance.
Khandagiri hilltop
The facing hill with its own caves and a later Jain temple, offering views back across to Udayagiri.
Serpent & animal carvings
Doorway sculptures of serpents, elephants, and figures that mark the ornate cells apart from plain cells.
Visitor information
Our tips
Do Udayagiri first, then cross to Khandagiri, the layout and the light both favour a morning circuit.
Wear proper shoes; the rock-cut steps between caves are steep and uneven.
Watch for the resident monkeys, keep food and loose items secured.
An expert guide is worth it to decode the Hathigumpha inscription and the friezes.
Good to know
Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves, your questions
Who built the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves?
They were largely cut in the 2nd to 1st century BCE as residential cells for Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavela of the Mahameghavahana dynasty.
What is the Hathigumpha inscription?
A famous inscription in the 'Elephant Cave' recording the reign and achievements of King Kharavela, one of the most important epigraphic sources for ancient Indian history.
How many caves are there?
Udayagiri has 18 caves and Khandagiri 15, set on two adjacent hills about 3 km from Bhubaneswar.
How much time should I allow?
About 1.5 to 2 hours to explore both hills, including the two-storey Rani Gumpha.
More in Bhubaneswar
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See Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves, properly.
A private, chauffeured visit with a licensed expert guide, timed for the best light and the smallest crowds. We fold Udayagiri & Khandagiri Caves into a wider Bhubaneswar and East India itinerary, built entirely around you.
- Skip the queue where possible, at the right hour
- Licensed local guide who brings the story to life
- Private car and chauffeur, door to door
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