Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves

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.[8]

The number of existing caves at Udayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15.[9] The local names of the existing caves are listed below, numbered according to the enumeration of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

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.[6] 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.[10]

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:[11]

1. Rani Gumpha "Cave of the Queen"

Rani Gumpha is the largest and most popular cave among the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri.[12] The word Rani means "queen".[13] Although it is not an architectural marvel, it has some ancient beautiful sculptures.

This cave is double storeyed. Each storey has three wings and the central wing is bigger among all the three wings. The lower floor has seven entrances in the middle wing whereas the upper floor has nine columns. The upper portion of the central wing has relief images depicting the victory march of a king. Many of the cells have carved dwara pala images;[14] some of them are disfigured. The area that connects the central wing with right and left wings have some panels where the sculptures of wild animals, fruit-laden trees, human figures, women playing musical instruments, monkeys and playful elephants are found. The pilasters contain the torana (arches) decorated with sculptures of Jain religious importance and royal scenes.[15]

2. Bajaghara Gumpha

Bajaghara Gumpha is very simple and small. It has a stone bed and pillow and it was used as the Jain monks' shelter in ancient times. Apart from the plain rectangular-shaped pillars, there is no other sculpture in this cave.

3. Chota Hathi Gumpha

Chota Hathi Gumpha is small in size. It has six small elephant figures in the facade and a statue of a guardian.[17]

4. Alakapuri Gumpha

Alakapuri Gumpha has a relief sculpture of a lion holding its prey in its mouth. The cave has pillars with winged human figures (divine beings). It is double storeyed.

5. Jaya Vijaya Gumpha

A tree-worship relief from the Jaya Vijaya cave.

Jaya Vijaya Gumpha is double storeyed. The cave has a carving of a female wearing heavy earrings, bands, beautifully decorated hair. On one hand of the carving are a parrot and the other resting on her waist.[17]

6. Panasa Gumpha

Panasa Gumpha is a very small and simple cave without any significant features.

7. Thakurani Gumpha

Thakurani Gumpha is double storied but is very simple in style. It has a few tiny relief sculptures.

8. Patalapuri Gumpha

Patalapuri Gumpha is slightly bigger with a pillared verandah.

9. Mancapuri and Swargapuri Gumpha

Manchapuri cave relief depicting the worship of Kalinga Jina

Mancapuri and Swargapuri Gumpha is double storeyed. Manchapuri cave depicts two male and two female figures worshipping the Kalinga Jina that Kharval brought back from Magadha.[18] It has a damaged Jain religious symbol which was probably used for worship.

There are three inscriptions: one inscription talks about the chief queen of Kharavela, and the other two refer to Kudepasiri, the successor of Kharavela and Badukha, the son or brother of Kudepasiri.

10. Ganesha Gumpha

Ganesha Gumpha is one of the most important caves in Udayagiri. The cave is named for the carved figure of Ganesha on the back of its right cell. Of course, it would have been carved in the later period and it cannot be the original work. The cave has two large statues of elephants carrying garlands at the entrance and is the first example of sculpture animals used as a guard to the entrance.[12] Also, the carved figures of dwara palas are found at the entrances. The carvings in this cave narrate the story of the elopement of Bassavadatta, Princess of Ujjayini, with King Udayana of Kausambi in the company of Vasantaka.[12]

11. Jambesvara Gumpha

Jambesvara Gumpha is a very simple and small cave with one column and two pilasters.[19] The inscription tells that it is the cave of Nayaki, wife of Mahamade.

12. Vyaghra Gumpha

Tiger (Bagha/Byaghra Gumpha) (cave no-12), Udayagiri

Vyaghra Gumpha is one of the popular caves in Udayagiri. The cave, which is in ruins, has an entrance carved like a tiger's mouth, with the single-cell forming the tiger's throat.[12] It is one of the most photographed sites in Udayagiri. The word vyaghra means "tiger".[20] The inscription found here tells that this cave belongs to the city judge Sabhuti.

13. Sarpa Gumpha

Sarpa Gumpha is an unusually small cave containing two inscriptions. The word sarpa means "snake".

14. Hati Gumpha

Hati Gumpha is a large natural cavern[17] with an inscription by Kharavela which is the main source of information about him.[21][22] The cave is known as Hati Gumpha due to its exquisite carvings of elephant.[23] The word hati means "elephant".[24]

15. Dhanaghara Gumpha

Dhanaghara Gumpha is a small cave that has two wide pillars and dwara pala sculptures carved at the entrance.

16. Haridasa Gumpha

Haridasa Gumpha is a small cave with three entrances and a verandah on the front side.[25] There is an inscription found here.

17. Jagannatha Gumpha

Jagannatha Gumpha is a roughly cut cave with three entrances.

18. Rasui Gumpha

Rasui Gumpha is an unusually very small cave.

Carving of Rishabhanatha and Ambika, Ambika Gumpha

Cave of Ananta Gumpha.

Carving of Tirthankaras & their respective Yakshini (attendant deities) inside Navamuni Gumpha

Carving of Jain Tirthankaras, Lalatendu Keshari Gumpha

Stone work in Cave 12

The Khandagiri hills fall on your left side when you enter into this area from Bhubaneswar. There are 15 caves in Khandagiri.[11] These caves were renovated during the reign of Uddyotakeshari of Somavamshi dynasty.[27]

1. Tatowa Gumpha

The parrots are carved above the entrance arch and hence it is called as Tatowa Gumpha. It has two dwarapala figures too. There are sculptures of friezes, railing, arch, with kalasa inside the cave.[33]

2. Tatowa Gumpha

The cave is decorated with sculptural friezes like nayikas, gandhrvas, different animals and birds, chaitya arch, pilaster design, rafters and vaulted roof.[34]

3. Ananta Gumpha

The cave has sculptures of women, elephants, geese, etc.[35]

4. Tentuli Gumpha

It is a small rock-cut chamber with just one column.

5. Khandagiri Gumpha

It is a roughly cut cell and has double storeys.

6. Dhyana Gumpha

It is a roughly cut cell.

7. Navamuni Gumpha

Navamuni Gumpha is a roughly cut cell with the sculptures of nine Jain Tirthankaras and Sasana Devis. These sculptures were added to the caves in the 11th century by Somavamshi dynasty.[4][36]

8. Barabhuji Gumpha

There are altogether twenty five figures of Tirthankaras on the walls of the cell on three sides,[4] Parsvanatha being repeated twice. Beneath the Tirthankara, their respective Sasanadevis are found. Chakareswari is depicted with 12 arms giving the cave name Barabhuji. The image is now worshipped as a Brahminical deity. These sculptures were added to the caves in the 11th century by Somavamshi dynasty.[37]

9. Trusula Gumpha

There are three sculptures of Rishabha Deva who is found in the Kayotsarga posture.[38] Apart from these sculptures, there are sculptures of 24 Jain Tirthankaras which look rough.[4]

10. Ambika Gumpha

There are three relief sculptures, two of Rishabhanatha and one Amra the sasana-devi of Neminatha.[4][39]

11. Lalatendu Keshari Gumpha

In cell 1, There are 2 images of Rishabhantha and 3 of Parshvanatha and in cell 2, 2 images of Parshvanatha and 1 of Rishabhantha. These sculptures were added to the caves in the 11th century by Somavamshi dynasty.[4][40]

Caves 12, 13 and 15 are unnamed. Cave 14 is very simple and called Ekadasi Gumpha.[41]

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.[3]

The monument remains open from sunrise to sunset.

• Hathigumpha inscription
• Kharavela

• Sachin Singhal: Orissa tourist road guide and political, Vardhman Publications, ISBN 81-8080-011-3

• Media related to Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves at Wikimedia Commons
• Udayagiri Complex, extensive image gallery by Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts
• Detailed Photos of the Cave Temples
• http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_orissa_udaigiricaves.asp