UDAYAGIRI & KHANDAGIRI CAVES
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Two sites with a total of 33 natural caves surrounded by charming gardens, once used as shelters by Jain monks
Both sites contain natural and man-made caves that served as shelters for Jain monks. This 2nd century B.C. site, almost contemporary with that of Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh), is located on Udayagiri Hill, "the hill of dawn", and Khandagiri Hill, "the broken hill". Charming gardens inhabited by mischievous langurs surround the caves.
Udayagiri
This hill, the more interesting of the two, has 18 caves. The most remarkable are :
Cave 1: Rani Gumpha. The largest and most popular of the caves. On two floors, one can admire interesting sculptures relating the life of the time (1st floor) as well as pillars decorated with Jain symbols.
Cave 10: Ganesha Gumpha. Two statues of elephants at the entrance, a Ganesh carved in stone in the right cell and scenes from royal history.
Cave 12: Vyaghra Gumpha. The cave of the tiger.
Cave 14: Hathi Gumpha. The inscriptions in the "elephant cave" are the main source of the history of Kharavela, then ruler of the empire stretching from the east coast to the south of India.
Khandagiri
This hill faces the one of Udayagiri. There are 15 caves. At its top is a magnificent Jain temple built in the 18th century.
Cave 3: Ananta Gumpha. The cave of the snake: engraved scenes of boys hunting animals, an elephant, Lakshmi on a lotus.
Cave 7: Navamuni Gumpha. Sculptures of the tirthankars.
Cave 9: Trusula Gumpha. 24 tirthankars.