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 Hathigumpha 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 leṇa 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 Monument by ASI.
Count of the 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.
The number of existing caves at Udayagiri is 18, while Khandagiri has 15. The local names of the existing caves are listed below, numbered according to the enumeration of the Archaeological Survey of India.
The famous caves
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.
Caves at Udayagiri
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”
Rani Gumpha is the largest and most popular cave among the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri. The word Rani means “queen”.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; 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.
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.
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
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.
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
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. 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. 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.
11. Jambesvara Gumpha
Jambesvara Gumpha is a very simple and small cave with one column and two pilasters. The inscription tells that it is the cave of Nayaki, wife of Mahamade.
12. Vyaghra Gumpha
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. It is one of the most photographed sites in Udayagiri. The word vyaghra means “tiger”. 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 with an inscription by Kharavela which is the main source of information about him. The cave is known as Hati Gumpha due to its exquisite carvings of elephant. The word hati means “elephant”.
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.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet