Udayagiri-Khandagiri
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Planning a visit to Udayagiri-Khandagiri
Two facing hills of rock-cut caves carved for Jain monks in the 1st century BCE, on the western edge of Bhubaneswar. Udayagiri is the larger and far better carved of the pair — if time is short, do that one properly and skip the other. There is real climbing on uneven rock steps here, so flat shoes matter more than anywhere else in the city.
Know before you go
- From Puri
- About 65 km — roughly 1.5 hours by road
- From Bhubaneswar
- About 8 km from the city centre
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours for both hills
- Best time to go
- Morning or late afternoon — the rock reflects heat
The steps are steep and uneven in places, with long stretches of exposed rock. Not an easy climb for visitors with limited mobility.
What you'll see
- Rani Gumpha, the double-storeyed cave
- The Hathigumpha inscription of King Kharavela
- Carved doorway friezes across both hills
- Views over Bhubaneswar from the upper terraces
Pair it with
These sit on the same day's route as Udayagiri-Khandagiri.
