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[caption id="attachment_5968" align="alignnone" width="777"]
Khandagiri Caves 1[/caption]Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are the ancient jain shrines more than 2100 years old in the the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar at a walking distance from the Mahashakti foundation’s Khandagiri office. The twin hills contain the rock cut caves called Lena in the inscriptions and were used as dweling retreats by the Jaina ascetics.[caption id="attachment_5967" align="alignnone" width="734"]
Khandagiri Caves 2[/caption]There are altogether 18 caves in Udayagiri and 15 caves in Khandagiri hill. Most of the caves consist of a row of cells open either directly to the verandah or to the open spaces in front. The cells are essentially dormitories which also can be substantiated by the sloping rise of the floor at the rear end to serve the purpose of a pillow.[caption id="attachment_5956" align="alignnone" width="748"]
Khandagiri Caves 3[/caption]The doorway of the cells has pilasters on either side with crowning animal figures and arches over them are decorated with flowers, keepers and animal motifs. One can have a view of the whole city from the top of these two mountains. The best time to visit is evening after 4 PM. There are small shops at the base of the mountains which serve tea and snacks to the visitors.[caption id="attachment_5958" align="alignnone" width="731"]
Khandagiri Caves 4[/caption]Â [caption id="attachment_5957" align="alignnone" width="752"]
Khandagiri Caves 5[/caption]Â Lingaraj Tmeple is one of the oldest temples and largest temples in Bhubaneshwar and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated in the old town and is almost 10 kilometers from the famous Rajmahal market. Temples has a magnificient architecture and one of the finest examples of the purely hindu temples in India.[caption id="attachment_5964" align="alignnone" width="775"]
Lingaraj Temple[/caption]The temple is looked after by the temple trust and archeological survey of India (ASI). The any kind of the photography is prohibited inside the temple premise hence I had to take pictures from outside only. Beisde the central large temple, there are other small temples inside the premise dedicated to different other gods and goddesses. The Shivalingam in the sanctum of the Lingaraja temple rises feet above the floor level, and is around 8 feet in diameter. The Bhagawati temple is located in the northwest corner of the courtyard.[caption id="attachment_5959" align="alignnone" width="811"]
Another temple outside the Lingaraj temple[/caption]Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Khandagiri Caves 1[/caption]Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves are the ancient jain shrines more than 2100 years old in the the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar at a walking distance from the Mahashakti foundation’s Khandagiri office. The twin hills contain the rock cut caves called Lena in the inscriptions and were used as dweling retreats by the Jaina ascetics.[caption id="attachment_5967" align="alignnone" width="734"]
Khandagiri Caves 2[/caption]There are altogether 18 caves in Udayagiri and 15 caves in Khandagiri hill. Most of the caves consist of a row of cells open either directly to the verandah or to the open spaces in front. The cells are essentially dormitories which also can be substantiated by the sloping rise of the floor at the rear end to serve the purpose of a pillow.[caption id="attachment_5956" align="alignnone" width="748"]
Khandagiri Caves 3[/caption]The doorway of the cells has pilasters on either side with crowning animal figures and arches over them are decorated with flowers, keepers and animal motifs. One can have a view of the whole city from the top of these two mountains. The best time to visit is evening after 4 PM. There are small shops at the base of the mountains which serve tea and snacks to the visitors.[caption id="attachment_5958" align="alignnone" width="731"]
Khandagiri Caves 4[/caption]Â [caption id="attachment_5957" align="alignnone" width="752"]
Khandagiri Caves 5[/caption]Â Lingaraj Tmeple is one of the oldest temples and largest temples in Bhubaneshwar and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated in the old town and is almost 10 kilometers from the famous Rajmahal market. Temples has a magnificient architecture and one of the finest examples of the purely hindu temples in India.[caption id="attachment_5964" align="alignnone" width="775"]
Lingaraj Temple[/caption]The temple is looked after by the temple trust and archeological survey of India (ASI). The any kind of the photography is prohibited inside the temple premise hence I had to take pictures from outside only. Beisde the central large temple, there are other small temples inside the premise dedicated to different other gods and goddesses. The Shivalingam in the sanctum of the Lingaraja temple rises feet above the floor level, and is around 8 feet in diameter. The Bhagawati temple is located in the northwest corner of the courtyard.[caption id="attachment_5959" align="alignnone" width="811"]
Another temple outside the Lingaraj temple[/caption]Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
