Udayagiri Buddhist Monastery

9th-10th century
Orissa, near Ratnagiri

Udayagiri Buddhist monastery is located (map) near the contemporaneous Buddhist sites of Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri. Its entrance faces west, and this photo looks east across the courtyard to the monastic shrine. Other structures at the site include a stupa with carvings and a 14th-15th century tank. The tank, although interesting in itself, is not associated with the older monastery.

There are several Udayagiris in India besides this one. One is the nearby Jain cave complex at Khandagiri, and another is the celebrated Varaha Cave in Madhya Pradesh. The literal meaning of "Udayagiri" is "Sunrise Hill."