Sumanta's Travelogue | Trek story |Rock Climbing Experience |Travel share: June 2009

Welcome dear friends to my blog. I hope you enjoyed my last few posts. Now I am posting about the trip to Khandagiri & Udaygiri Cave located near Bhubaneswar.
On mid on June 2009 I moved to Bhubaneswar from Rourkela for summer courses. In summer we enjoyed at Bhubaneswar a lot with friends. As Bhubaneswar is capital of Odisha so lot of attractive spots are there nearby. I dreamt to cover a max of them but promised myself that not to miss any of the classes for which I meant there. Only on Sunday, I may move for these trips.
As Khandagiri & Udaygiri is having very close proximity to Bhubaneswar so my first option was selected. That was Saturday with the clean & humid afternoon. While I was preparing for the trip, a friend named Priyabrata joined with me so combining we moved there. From Vanivihar we took an auto to baramundha & switched to another auto to Khandagiri Chawk. Now after few meters of walking we reached the base of Khandagiri cave. Bought ticket for ₹ 5.00 and proceeded toward the cave. Udaygiri cave is not protected just free but toll requires to entering into Khandagiri. So we planned to visit Udaygiri while returning from Khandagiri. The base part of the cave/hill was covered with beautiful garden decorated with beautiful flower plants. It was a great pleasure to see such beautiful scenario there. Thanks to the authority who maintains such beautiful garden & decoration. Now we started climbing toward these caves. All carvings are showing the culture of Buddhist & Jainism as sculptured with different part of these religions. Caves named with Rani Gumpha (Queens Cave), Hathi gumpa (Elephant cave) etc are there. These types of sculpture show the ancient lifestyle how they were maintaining life. Though such caves are meant for Kings & their dynasties.
Now our cave exploration is over so we moved further top of the hill, few water container we found there. A worst case scenario is the plastic garbage created by tourists who come there, use plastic kind of stuff and throw and adds bad impact to such beautiful places. Really great people are they; I wanted to salute such persons!!!! Would you wish??? Other worst case scenario I noticed there, a lot of couple making romance there most of them college students. Really they are great, parents sending them to college/tutorial and they are giving the result like that. What to say? What to do? Nowadays these are common, better let them as they are. But obviously 90% of them face severe probs like cheating, dumping, suicide etc., then friends what benefit are they getting? These are the future of current youth. Who cheats with the trust of parents, they never get success. Ok sorry! Friends I am differing from my point. Now we didn’t want to disturb their romance so returned from there.
Now we exited from Khandagiri and switched to Udaygiri. That is an easy climb to the hill, few temples are there. Nothing such interesting we found there except temples & statues of god/goddess carved in rocks. That was evening time so darkness almost reached so in no time we completed that visit and returned back to our hostel. This way our trip finished.
Information: As Khandagiri & Udaygiri name conveys they are hills. These twin hills were carved by Jain Monk in the rule Of Samrat Kharabela. Khandagiri has almost 15 caves & Udaygiri has 17 caves. As this place is having religion & spiritual importance so crowded every day. A lot of foreigners also come to visit. This place is well communicated with Bhubaneswar city.
Distance info:
9 km from Bhubaneswar railway station & 2 Kms from Baramundha Bus depot.
How to get there: As mentioned, this place is well communicated with Bhubaneswar so no problem to reach there. Reach baramundha by auto/city bus and take another auto to Khandagiri chawk & walk right from the chawk till you reach the base of Khandagiri cave (200 meters). From Bhubaneswar railway station city bus also runs you can opt for that also to reach directly. Also, local bus runs from Bhubaneswar railway station to Khurda which passes Khandagiri chawk. So a lot of options is there. Just you have to extract time from your daily routine to visit such a beautiful place.
By Road: As Bhubaneswar is state capital so almost it connects to all other places of Odisha. Also, this place is near the NH-5 which connects Kolkata-Chennai.
By Air: Bhubaneswar itself is having an airport which connects to all major cities of India. Just 3 km away from Khandagiri.
By Train: Bhubaneswar is also a Railway station in East-coast railway just 9 km away.
Best time to visit: Throughout the year.
Cost: From Bhubaneswar Railway station it costs ₹15.00 by bus, ₹25.00 by Auto. From Baramundha Bus depot (The main bus depot where thousands of buses run from various corners of Odisha & Outstate) it costs ₹8.00 by auto.
Accommodation: Hundreds of options are there for your accommodation at Bhubaneswar. Just choose one of them according to your budget.
Cuisine: while typing about the cuisine of Bhubaneswar my mouth getting salivated. Yes, friends, Bhubaneswar has numerous option of delicious foodstuff. I guarantee you will enjoy the mouthwatering stuff there.
1. Pahala Rasogolla: Pahala is a place which comes in the way from Bhubaneswar to Cuttack on NH -5. You will observe numbers of Sweet stalls aside from the highway as they sell famous Pahala Rasogolla. The brown colored sweet itself enough to take out your saliva!! So try to be a part of that.
2. Kora Khai: This is the delicacy of Bhubaneswar one type of sweet stuff prepared from sugar, roasted rice (Khai) & coconut.
3. Chat, Gupchup: You will observe numbers of stalls at evening time who sells Gupchup (pani puri).
4. Chenapoda: Though Chenapoda is the delicacy of Nayagarh Dist, still Bhubaneswar Chenapoda also famous. A typical Odiya sweet, prepared from Chena (Paneer), sugar, rava(Suzi). After making dough they burn/bake it like Cake and after taking out a dip in sugar syrup. Other secret ingredients they use to make more appealing.
5.       Dahibara: Though Dahibara (Dahivada) is the delicacy of Cuttack, being the neighbor city of Cuttack Bhubaneswar is famous for Dahibara. You will see some local sellers sell daihvada on cycle. They charge nominal rate.
6.       Others: Besides mentioned cuisines other famous available foodstuffs are Lassi, gulap Jamun, Khoa Peda, Malpua, Vada, Jalebi etc.
Nearby Attraction: There is a saying that Bhubaneswar is Temple Garland (in Odiya Mandira malini). Numerous temples are there. Not only temples but also numbers of parks & monuments are there to entertain your mind. I am listing below some famous places: (All distance from Bhubaneswar Railway Station)
1. Lingaraj (6 km): The highest temple of Odisha dedicated to Lord Shiva. Having a height of 55 mtr (180’). Daily thousands of devotees crowd this consecrated place. Aside of Lingaraj temple one Big pond is there named Bindusagar is quite attractive.
2. Kedar Gouri, Siddheswar & Mukteswar (7 kms): After visiting Lingaraj temple, you can switch to Kedar Gouri, Siddheswar mukteswar temple which is located just walking distance from Lingaraj temple(1-2 Kms). Kedar Gouri is famous for Both Shiva & Parvati temple. Kedar means Shiva & Gouri means Parvati. There is a small pond where you can have a bath but I can’t guarantee the cleanliness of the water. After Kedar Gouri Darshan is over you can switch to Siddheswar & Mukteswar-the twin Shrine( 300 Mtr distance). Though small temples are there dedicated to Lord Siddheswar & Mukteswar (may be of Lord Shiva) but the environment is very calm and quite there. Pertaining to peace you can go there and pass some time lonely. Few students opt for this place for study also. No toll required to enter into these places. Good decoration with varieties of ornamental plant found there. Even these places are famous for the park also (Siddheswar & Mukteswar).
3. Rajarani Temple(6 kms): This is another interesting place close to the above places. This is a park cum shrine. Well maintained park and a temple found here. Toll required to enter this park/temple as comes under “Other Protected Monuments of India”. This temple name Rajarani but no Raja/Rani adored here rather this temple is built with the rock named Rajarania. So the temple is named so.
4. ISCON Temple (6 Kms): ISCON is internationally known and well known as “International Shri Krishna Consciousness”. Also famous for well-furnished white colored temples. Everywhere you will find neat and clean surface & Chanting of Radha Krishna-Hare Rama Hare Krishna. So these sounds & environment bring Peace & harmony to mind. This great temple is situated aside from NH-5 which comes after Jaydev Vihar (Way from Bani Vihar to Baramundha). Also, the Prasad (food served for God) tastes like ambrosia. So don’t miss this auspicious opportunity.
5.       Chief Cabinet(Bidhan Sabha): The proud of Odisha –Chief cabinet is just 2 km distance away.
6.       Ram Temple (0.5 Km): This is situated near to Railway Station with walkable distance. So be blessed with the spiritual power of Lord Ram & get inspired by the character of Ram.
7.       Indira Gandhi Park (1 km): This is a beautiful free park located near to the Bidhan Sabha. In the memorial of Indira Gandhi this park is dedicated.
8.       Nandan Kanan (15 Kms): Nandan Kanan means the heavens Garden, but actually famous for the Zoo. Direct bus from Bhubaneswar Railway station available at a cost of ₹25.00. you can enjoy Safari ride, Electric ropeway-Lake crossing, varieties of apes, animals & lot more. Entry fee required here and for Safari & Lake crossing extra you have to pay.
9.       Pathani Samanta Planetarium(5 kms): The planetarium is dedicated to the famous Indian Astronaut Pathani Samanta. You can learn a lot of things about solar family here which is explained ina different language (Odiya, Hindi & English) through the sky view show. A bigdome-shapedd room is there inside which you can seat on a rotating base and enjoy the show by looking to up which looks likethe sky. It’s an interesting show where a lot of things about solar family explained nicely. Also in the time of Solar/Lunar eclipse special arrangement is there to see the different planet through a telescope. It is useful place for students. This place is located at the Acharya Vihar of Bhubaneswar near the Nh-5.
10.   Regional museum Of Natural History (5kms): Heaven for sthe tudent. Lot of Science exhibition shown here daily. Starting from the creation of earth till date all the information exhibited here. You can observe description of va ariety of species of Flora/Fuana, Aves/Animals with their fossils. All the evolution information shown here. There is an auditorium where you can enjoy sa cience show. This place is just close to Pathani Samnata Planetarium.
11.   Science/Jurassic park(4.5 Kms) : This park is just near to Pathani Samnata Planetarium (other side of NH-5). As Jurassic park ,you know which thing exhibited there.
12.   Nicco Park(4 Kms): great amazement park for childrens & family. You can enjoy Roller-coaster, water world etc. there. This park comes just 1 km distance from Jaydev Bihar.
13.   Dhauli Giri (10 Kms): Famous for “Shanti Stupa”. The legendary place famous for the historical change of Emperor of Kalinga (Old Odisha) Ashoka. Where Samrat Ashoka turns into monk after watching the fight of Kalinga War. From that day he took the Buddhist religion and started meditating like Buddha. Great monument is there named as Shanti Stupa with Statue of Buddha. You can hire an auto from Bhubaneswar to here which comes in the way from Bhubaneswar to konark/Puri route.
14.   State Museum (3kms): This museum is located at Kalpana Chawk. The museum where you can see lot of historical stuffs, ancient age stuffs, variety animal, rock, sculpture, manuscript, lithoscopy and thousands of information. The life style of tribal people also shown here. From railway station one can hire an auto & on share basis to Kalpana chawk.
15.   Ekamra vana: Ekamra Vana is a beautiful garden near Fire station, Comes between CISF & BaramundhaChawk.
Shopping: Lot of shopping options are there for you at Bhubaneswar. You can purchase the World famous Pipili Canopy (Available at Pipili, 33 Km from Bhubaneswar on the way to Puri/Konark). Rock carved stuffs, screen painting etc. you can buy. Other craft items made from Bamboo also available. Bigbazaar, Vishal mart available at Bhubaneswar.
Festivals: All types of fthe estival celebrated here out of them Durga Puja, Mahashivaratri,G anesh Puja, Rathayatra famous. In the neighbor city Cuttack, Durga Puja Celebrated exclusively.
Caution: Keep remembering following things while visiting Bhubaneswar & around

Theft & robbery: As sthe tate capital of Odisha so this place is vulnerable to Theft & robbery, be careful enough, don’t carry costly ornaments, never remain alone, avoid lonely places & try to remain in gthe roup.
Few places of Bhubaneswar are vulnerable to monkeys, so be careful there: At Nandankanan, Khandagiri etc.
Never follow any unknown’s voluntary suggestion.
If you are la ady then be careful to Auto drivers (if using Auto), first of all note down Auto Number & ID card details before boarding in auto.
Be careful about the Priests (Pundits/Pandits/Brahmins at temples) as they always force you to spend vthe ery high amount in respond you will get bless of God/Goddess. My suggestion just avoid them, Going to temple then Convey pranam to God/Goddesses and return back, never follow what they are telling you to do.
Don’t ask for information to Auto driver or Unknown person, you can ask to Traffic police regarding this.

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