Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves form a Jain cave temple site in Bhubaneswar within Khordha district in India, consisting of 33 chambers carved directly into the rock face of two neighboring hills. The walls display relief carvings of animals, plants, and human figures, while some chambers also include simple sleeping niches and narrow passages connecting to adjacent sections.

King Kharavela commissioned the complex in the first century before the common era as dwellings for ascetics of the Jain community who withdrew there for meditation and study. Later additions expanded the site, while monks continued to use the chambers over several centuries.

The name Udayagiri means sunrise hill, while Khandagiri translates as broken hill, both referring to the natural appearance of the two elevations. Several caves display inscriptions in Brahmi script that visitors can see on the rock walls today, offering a window into the religious practice of the monastic community at that time.

The two hill sections lie close together and can be explored comfortably in half a day if you start early in the morning or choose late afternoon. Flat sandals are helpful on the uneven rock paths, and bringing some drinking water is advisable since there is little shade on site.

Some chambers have narrow channels in the floor that directed rainwater into cisterns, ensuring a supply for the residents even during dry months. Small round openings in the partition walls allowed monks to speak with each other without leaving their cells.