The caves are located atop the twin hills known as Udayagiri
(meaning the hill of the sunrise) and Khandagiri (meaning the
broken hill) which rise abruptly from the coastal plain, about 6km
West of Bhubaneswar, separated by a highway.

Udaygiri caves are approximately 135 ft high and Khandagiri caves are 118 ft high.

The main attraction of these caves consists of its stupendous carvings.

Of all the caves in Udaygiri, the largest one is the Rani Gumpha or the Queen’s Cave.

The origin of the rock cut caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri dates
back to the 2nd century BC.

The caves are reminiscent of influence of Buddhism and Jainism in Orissa. The inscription and carvings on the walls show that they once served as Jain Monasteries.