Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster
Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE)·Jain (Kharavela)·🇮🇳 Odisha, India
About
About Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster
Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster in Odisha, India is a Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE) rock_cut attributed to Jain (Kharavela). Rear cave row behind Rani Cave at Khandagiri twin hills with Jain cells. Khandagiri Jain caves 33 cells, Brahmi inscriptions of Kharavela at Hathigumpha 40 m away.
Why it mattersKey Jain (Kharavela) reference site for the Odisha
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Rock-cut chronology
- 02Chalcolithic sequence refinement
Theories
- 01Mahayana mural transmission
- 02Harappan sherd seriation
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 150 BCE
- Period
- Mauryan to Gupta (200 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Jain (Kharavela)
- Purpose
- Rear cave row behind Rani Cave at Khandagiri twin hills with Jain cells
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 150 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Archaeological survey
On the ground
Structures & features
20.2700° N · 85.8500° E · 60 m · 3 mapped features
Ranigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster — Chaitya Hall
chaityaRock-cut chaitya hall with vault and stupa
20.2702° N · 85.8501° ERanigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster — Vihara Cells
viharaVihara monk cells with rock-cut beds
20.2698° N · 85.8502° ERanigumpha — Khandagiri Rear Cave Cluster — Façade Gavaksha
facadeHorseshoe gavaksha window carving
20.2704° N · 85.8498° E