The man-made caves at Udaigiri have beautifully-chiselled entrances, architraves, and pillars.

Udaigiri Caves

Udaigiri Caves have a remarkable collection of sculptures that were carved into the rocks around the 4th and 5th centuries AD.

There are 20 carved caves in the group at Udaigiri, with 18 being Hindu and two being Jain. – © Michael Turtle

The carving of Vishnu as Varaha is the most impressive of the rock carvings that were done at Udaigiri in the 4th to 5th centuries AD. – © Michael Turtle

Mahishasurmardini, or Durga slaying Mahishasura, on the wall outside Cave 6. – © Michael Turtle

There are 20 carved caves in the group at Udaigiri, with 18 being Hindu and two being Jain. – © Michael Turtle

Udaigiri Caves are just 16 kilometres from Sanchi and offer another opportunity to see some beautiful rock carvings. There are 20 caves here – 18 Hindu and 2 Jain – that have religious iconography and stories sculpted from the rocks. They were made over a period of many generations between the 4th and 5th centuries AD.

The caves were excavated from the solid rocks and most have beautifully-chiselled entrances, architraves, and pillars. Some of the caves have richly-carved doorways guarded by mythical beings, with pillared porticos protecting them from the weather.

The most impressive sculpture at Udaigiri Caves is of Vishnu in his incarnation as a boar raising the earth goddess Prithvi from the oceans. The enormous artwork is 14 metres wide and 7 metres high and has dozens of worshippers carved on either side.

Cave 5 has the celebrated sculpture of Vishnu in his incarnation as Varaha, or boar, raising the earth goddess Prithvi from the primal waters. – © Michael Turtle

Another sculpture to note is the 3.6-metre-long image of Sheshashayi Vishnu lying on the coils of a snake.

The 3.6-metre-long image of Sheshashayi Vishnu portrayed lying on the coils of a primeval snake in Cave 13. – © Michael Turtle

It’s also worth making a special mention of an unusual ‘mukhalinga’ in one of the caves, which is a ‘linga’ with a face carved on it.

The unusual linga with a carved face that is found in Cave 4. – © Michael Turtle

Udaigiri Caves make a perfect visit as part of a trip to Sanchi. It’s another good example of the beautiful stone artistry and the evolution of religion in the region.

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