Udaygiri hills have 32 caves excavated by King Kharavela of the Mahamegavahana dynasty, who ruled the ancient kingdom of Kalinga (presently Odisha) from 2nd century BCE to 5th century CE.
These caves were especially made for the Jain ascetics as you can see that they are among the earliest Jain rock-cut shelters. And trust me these caves are so small that a person cannot even stand straight in it.
UDAYAGIRI
There is 18 caves in Udayagiri which is connected with their own stories. People who love climbing hills and trekking can visit this place for experiencing a beautiful and peaceful environment on reaching the top of the hill. And yes it is also a great place for historians, scholars, and archaeologists as it offers a great study on the culture of the Janis.
Some of the important caves of Udayagiri are:
1) Rani Gumpha “Cave of the Queen”
2) Bajaghara Gumpha
3) Chota Hathi Gumpha
4) Alakapuri Gumpha
5) Ganesh Gumpha
KHANDAGIRI
This hill is on the opposite side of Khandagiri cave. It has a total of 15 caves and was renovated during the reign of Uddyotakeshari of Somavamshi Dynasty.
Some of the important caves of Khandagiri are-
1) Tatowa Gumpha
2) Ananta Gumpha
3) Navamuni Gumpha
4) Barabhuji Gumpha
5) Trusula Gumpha
Entry fees for the citizens of India and visitors of SAARC and BIMSTEC are INR 25 whereas INR 300 for each foreigner and free for children below 15yrs.
How to Reach:
By Air- Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves. It is connected by regular flights to many major cities in India including Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad.
By Road- It can be easily reached through National Highway NH-5 using public or private transport.
By Rail- Bhubaneswar railway station is the nearest major railway station connected with all the major towns and cities.
