Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves are partly natural and partly artificial caves of archaeological, historical and religious importance near the city of
Bhubaneswar in
Odisha,
India. The caves are situated on two adjacent hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, mentioned as
Kumari Parvat in the
Hathigumpha inscription. They have a number of finely and ornately carved caves. It is believed that most of these caves were carved out as residential blocks for
Jain monks during the reign of King
Kharavela. Udayagiri means "Sunrise Hill" and has 18 caves while Khandagiri has 15 caves.