IIT Bhubaneswar Students Retrace Emperor Kharavela’s Footsteps At Cave Trails

Bhubaneswar: A group of 100 IIT Bhubaneswar students joined the Monks, Caves and Kings heritage trail to know the story of Emperor Kharavela at the Cave Trails at the twin Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills, famous for their Jain heritage.

The engineering students who have come from all over the country were in awe of the beauty of Rani Gumpha from where the Emperor and his queen used to enjoy cultural performances two millennia ago.

They learned the story of the mighty ruler.

One of the aspects that drew the attention of the students was the depiction of a woman in the posture of a warrior in one of the engraved panels in Rani Gumpha.

The walk progressed through the various caves to the top of the Udaygiri Hill where they got to enjoy the beautiful cityscape of Bhubaneswar on one side and the Chandaka Sanctuary and its lush green cover on the another side. Another point of much discussion was the 17 line inscription at the Hati Gumpha, which talks about the glories and achievements of the legendary Emperor.

While the IIT Bhubaneswar students were part of a special group on Saturday at Khandagiri and Udayagiri, other students from various colleges of the city have been participating in the 79th Monks, Caves and Kings under Ekamra Walks from time to time as a cultural exposure and for drawing inspiration from our collective historical and cultural legacies.

The Cave Trails at the famous Jain Heritage sites of Khandagiri and Udaygiri happens on Saturday mornings and the Temple Walk in the Old Town area on Sunday morning.