Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, lie the historic Khandagiri and Udayagiri Caves, a testament to the rich cultural heritage and architectural prowess of ancient India. Carved into the sandstone hills overlooking the city, these caves serve as a window into the past, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of ascetics, monks, and scholars who once inhabited these sacred spaces. At a distance of 9 km from Bhubaneswar Railway Station, Udayagiri&Khandagiri are two ancient Jain rock-cut caves located in the vicinity of Bhubaneswar. Called as twin hills caves, these caves are one of the most popular places to visit in Bhubaneswar and also one of the best places of heritage in Odisha. Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves have derived their names, owing to their location on two hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri. Mentioned as Kumari& Kumara Parvatas in HathiGumpha inscription, the two caves face each other across the road. These two hills represent one of the earliest groups of Jaina rock-cut architecture in eastern India in the field of architecture, art and religion. The caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, called Lena in the inscriptions, were dug out mostly during the reign of Kharavela for the abode of Jaina monks during 1st century BC. These caves were first brought to the notice by A. Stirling in 1825 AD.
