1837.] XJdayagiri and Khandgiri in Cuttack. 1079 



The hillocks of Khandgiri and XJdayagiri form part of a belt of sand- 

 stone rock, which, skirting the base of the granite hills of Orhsa, 

 extends from Autgur and Dekkundl (in a southerly direction) past Kur- 

 dd and towards the Chilka lake, occasionally protruding through the 

 beds of laterite. 



Khandgiri is four miles northwest of Bobaneswar, and nineteen south- 

 west of Cuttack. 



The two rocks are separated by a narrow glen about 100 yards in 

 width. 



Khandgiri has but few caves on the summit. There is a Jain temple 

 of modern construction, it having been built during the Maharattarule. 

 There are traces of former buildings ; I am inclined therefore to think 

 that the present temple occupies the site of a Chaitya. 



There is a tank hewn out of the rock on the eastern face of the 

 hill which is held sacred by the Hindus as well as the Jains. This 

 probably may be the " Sitala taddga" alluded to in the inscription- 



XJdayagiri is entirely perforated with small caves on its southern 

 brow. The natives have a tradition that there were formerly 752, 

 exclusive of those now called Ldlhat Indra Keshan's nour. A great 

 many still remain perfect ; none are of any size ; they are mostly small 

 chambers about 6 feet by 4, and from 4 to 6 feet high, with veran- 

 dahs in front and small doorways to them hewn out of the solid rock. 

 Several are cut out of detached blocks in fantastic shapes, such as the 

 snake cave, and tiger cave, &c. There is much rude sculpture in some 

 of the caves representing battles, processions, the worship of the holy 

 tree, &c. : there are many elephants represented in basso relievo also 

 detached of yore. 



A great number of caves were destroyed for materials to build the 

 Jain temple, and it appears that the rest have suffered during the 

 wars between the Brahmans and Buddhists in remote ages, since which 

 the spot has been occupied by ascetics of the brahminical faith. 



Stone has been quarried here to build the temples of Bobaneswar 

 when probably many caves were destroyed, as well as the buildings of 

 which so many vestiges are to be found in the jangal around. 



It will ever be a matter of regret that I was unable from want of 

 leisure to make drawings of the sculpture and plans of this extraordi- 

 nary place. 



Before I conclude this note I must remark on the ingenious me- 

 thod which had been adopted to drain the chambers, which from the 

 porous nature of the stone would otherwise have dripped in wet wea- 

 ther: small grooves are cut along the ceilings all verging to one point 

 6x2 



