Udayagiri Jain Caves

Chedi Dynasty, 100 BC - 100 AD
Orissa, near Khandagiri

These Early Jain cave temples are located on the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, about 4km (6mi) west of Bhubaneshwar (map). Constructed during the Chedi dynasty (2d century BC - 1st century AD), the caves are assigned to the 1st century BC by Michell, p.238, but to the 1st century AD by Huntington, p.105. The entrance, seen above, faces SW.

There are several other Udayagiris besides this one. One is the nearby Buddhist site between Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri. Another is the celebrated Varaha cave in Madhya Pradesh.