Why In The News?

• President Droupadi Murmu, visited the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

About:

=> The rock cut caves were built around the 2nd century BC by King Kharavela of the Meghavahana dynasty.

=> These were first discovered by British Officer Andrew Sterling in the 19th century AD.

=> The caves were built for the Jain monks and offered them a place to stay and meditate.

=> Originally there were around one hundred and seventeen caves built.

=> However only thirty-three caves survive today.

=> Eighteen caves are located in the Udaygiri hill and fifteen in the Khandagiri hill.

Major caves of Udaygiri caves:

=> Hathigumpha: or the elephant cave as it is known, bears the inscriptions of King Kharavela.

=> Rani Gumpha: or the Queen cave ; is a double storeyed structure with beautiful carvings.

=> Ganesh Gumpha: the Ganesha Cave known for its carvings of Jain tirthankars and other sculptures.

=> Vyaghra Gumpha: or the Tiger cave is so called because the entrance is shaped like the head of the tiger and the door shaped like a tiger’s throat

Major caves of Khandagiri caves:-

=> Barabhuji Gumpha features the twelve armed Sasana Devi’s facing each other along with Tirthankar sculptures.

=> Trushula Gumpha: The twenty-four Jain Teerthankar’s carved on the walls of the cave.

=> Ambika Gumpha: The Yaksha and Yakshini of each Tirthankar is carved on the walls of the cave.