- The caves are located on two neighboring hills, Udayagiri and Khandagiri, which are referred to as Kumari Parvata in the Hathigumpha inscription.
- These caves, many of which are intricately carved, were constructed during the 1st century BCE.
- Most of them were created as living quarters for Jain ascetics during the reign of King Kharavela, a ruler of Kalinga in present-day Odisha, who ruled in the second or first century BCE.
- The kingdom of Kalinga was invaded by Ashoka in 262-261 BCE, but the Hathigumpha inscription suggests that Kalinga regained its independence after Ashoka’s death. Kharavela was born in an independent Kalinga.
