If you are an avid traveler and a curious explorer, you are willing to travel far and wide to discover new things! Most of the time, you are on a quest to know about the hidden wonders that have not yet caught the attention of many.

Our Odisha has many such priceless treasures, such as our ancient and magnificent caves are one such. Each of these caves has a mystical ambiance and an intriguing history.

If you are planning a cave exploration in Odisha, we bring you a detailed list of old caves that are worth exploring.

The Marvellous Khandagiri

With the arrival of the weekends, we keep thinking about places to hang out and spare some me-time for ourselves. To all the Bhubaneswar Wasis, Khandagiri becomes the perfect picnic spot. 

Built during the reign of King Kharavela during the 2nd century, its caves perfectly reflect the marvelous artistry through the beautiful stone carvings making the place worth the visit. You can catch a panoramic glimpse of the entire Bhubaneswar city. The sight is so beautiful to look at. You can hardly resist taking pictures of the beautiful sight, including some amazing selfies of yours.

Khandgiri has about 15 caves. They feature old inscriptions and intricate rock-carved sculptures, having interesting background stories to narrate. Each has a striking appearance. However, there are three such caves that you must know about before you visit.

One among them is Barabhuji Gumpha which has carved poignant sculptures of teerthankars along with statues of Sasana Devi facing each other; Trushula Gumpha features the sculptures of 24 Jain monks; Ambhika Gumpha has yakshas and yakshinis of each of the monks.

So what are you waiting for? All you have to do is to find yourself a suitable day and time to visit the caves.

Timing:  The caves are open every day from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening! 

The Magnificent Udayagiri

The beautiful twin of Khandagiri, Udaygiri features besotting caves, which were beautifully carved out of the steep mountains ages ago. Embellished with beautiful rock-cut statues and figurines, they beautifully bring out a story in each. They also remind us about the amount of effort put into making them.

One of the main attractions is the Rani Gumpha. A breathtaking structure, striking carvings of animals, and beautiful depictions of women playing musical instruments.

Hathigumpha or the elephant cave gives a glimpse of King Kharavel’s life through exquisite inscriptions on it. You can get a sneak-peak into his accomplishments throughout his rule.

Another architectural wonder Udaygiri houses is the Vyaghra Ghara cave. The entrance resembles a tiger’s head, while the door resembles its throat featuring beautiful pictures of athletes, lions, and bulls.

So do not forget to plan out a cool trip with your buddies and set out on a drive to Udayagiri!

Timings: The caves are open from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening!

The Mysterious Bikramkhol

Cocooned in the arms of nature and situated amidst a thick cover of greenery, is an ancient cave immersed in a pool of history. Walking through the silent pathways of this historic cave will make you feel as if you have teleported to a pre-historic era.

You get to witness massive circular holes dug in the rocks that were used to keep weapons, clothes, and other essential commodities. Another focus is the geometric patterns of animals drawn on the walls. The inscriptions on the walls of the caves come across as an object of interest for several historians and scholars. They are half-carved and half-painted in red-ochre color, a common feature we often see in pre-historic caves. Upon examining them closely, they closely resemble the Brahmi script that dates back to the Harappan civilization.

Well, if you are curious to explore such beautiful facets of our history, visit this beautiful pre-historic cave.

Timings: Being called the twin cave of Khandagiri, it’s open to all visitors from morning 8 till 5 in the evening.

The Majestic Gupteshwar

Located about 80 km from Koraput, is an ancient cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. This solitary shrine is surrounded by lush greenery and pure tranquility. The word ‘Gupteswar’ implies ‘Hidden God’.

The cave houses a 2-meter tall Linga of Lord Shiva. Its interiors are deep and dark, letting out a mysterious vibe.

Natural beauty encircles the cave, with the waterfall swiftly gushing down, with Ramgiri hills adding to the joy. There is an interesting legend behind the place.

Fun Fact: Lord Rama first discovered the linga during his exile and stayed at Dandakaranya for a few days.

The place witnesses hordes of devotees during the holy month of Sravana. So if you are religious with thrill and excitement running through your veins, add Gupteswar to your itinerary.

If you feel fatigued and wish to snack on something, you can find several restaurants nearby! If you are

Timings: There are two different slots for the visitors:

1.Morning 8- 12 Noon

2.Evening 4- 8 in the night

Winters are always the best time to visit, as summer and humidity can cause a lot of problems.

The Amazing Panchu Pandav Caves

Well, our list is getting interesting. We have the Panchu Pandava cave, which dates back to the golden era of Mahabharat. Yes, you got it right! As the name suggests, the five Pandavas had stayed here during their 13 years of exile. The place has three caves. The first cave contains images of Navagraha on the top of the entry door.

The main altar consists of a Shivling, with a statue of Nandi Bull facing it. The divine trio of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram, and Subhadra are seated. You can also see a figure of five Pandavas, in which Yudhishtir is seen sitting in the center, while the rest of his brothers surround him. There is also an idol representing a female seated beside it, Draupadi. Painted red all over, it gives you a stone-age vibe!

A well is situated on the premises, which is believed to be used by Pandavas during their stay in the caves.

Timings: You are free to visit the caves anytime between morning 6 in the morning till 6 in the evening

If you have got any of your suggestions to share with us, just drop a comment in the box below!

Happy Travels!