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Odisha Part 11: Discovering the Jaina Heritage of Odisha at the caves of Udaygiri and Khandgiri

The Hindu and Buddhist history of Odisha , or rather, ancient Kalinga, is rather well known to everyone. Who hasn’t heard of the grand temples of Odisha – Puri, Lingaraj and Konark, or the great war of Kalinga which inspired Ashoka to convert to Buddhism? In contrast, very few know of the Jaina heritage of this region. This is quite a pity, since, just around 7 km from the city, is one of India’s most ancient inscriptions, which throws light on the Jaina heritage of Odisha. This inscription is the Hathigumpha inscription of Kharavela, in the hills of Udaygiri. Udaygiri and Khandgiri are two hills located opposite each other, and both are testaments to the rich Jaina heritage of Odisha. The caves at Udaygiri are older, while Khandgiri is relatively newer, but has lasted much longer, and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for Jains even today. These hills, from inscriptions and excavations of caves, shrines and rock beds, appear to have been a haven for Jaina monks, right from the ...
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Alibag article on Spice Flair

It is a small coastal town, dwarfed by its neighbor – the concrete jungle of Mumbai. Yet, Alibag manages to hold its own, with beaches, forts and temples, a wealth of history within a small area. Alibag has, for long, been the favorite destination for Mumbai-ites looking for a short break from their hectic lifestyles. It is, after all, easily accessible from the city – it is barely 30 Km by the sea, and plenty of ferries are available from the Gateway of India. It’s not too far by road either, for the 100 Km journey takes barely 2 hours to cover. I have always preferred the sea route however, enjoying the feel of the sea breeze in my hair, watching the view of the Mumbai skyline fading away, seeing ships from all over the world at the Mumbai harbor, and of course, the chance of spotting sea gulls or even dolphins!



I have been to Alibag twice. My first visit led to an entire series on the beaches, temples and forts which attract us to the coastal town. My second visit was an unplanned one, which happened suddenly, thanks to a cousin's visit. This visit was short, but just as much fun as the first visit. Looks like we can never have enough of Alibag!!! 


Read my complete article on Spiceflair.com to know more about Alibag and its attractions....



Comments

  1. R Niranjan DasMay 20, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    Nice post Anu.

    www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnuMay 20, 2012 at 11:56 PM

    Nice travel article...I love beaches, particularly in India. There's so much opportunity in there - to eat, sit, enjoy the tranquil waters touch our feet. And ofcourse the crowd!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Trikannad Raj.May 21, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    Ina concrete jungle Mumbai has some nice scenic spots--Very interesting -thank you.
    CaptTR ,Chennai

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 23, 2012 at 9:55 AM

    nice post heard its a getaway place from mumbai during weekends

    ReplyDelete
  5. IndiatravelMay 29, 2013 at 1:13 PM

    Nice photo and Blog about Alibagh

    ReplyDelete

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