Located 58km/90 mins from Bhopal, Udayagiri Caves is a group of 20 Gupta-era temples and
monasteries
Brahmi inscriptions on the caves indicate that the site was excavated during the rule of Gupta King,
Chandragupta II (AD 376-413).
Cave 5, also known as the Varaha Cave, depicts Vishnu in a massive carving as Varaha (boar) incarnation
and rescuing goddess Earth (Bhudevi, Prithivi) from the depths of cosmic ocean. Varaha, as embedded in
Hindu text, is a symbol of right versus wrong and good versus evil.
The doorway of Cave 6 has ornately carved figures of Ganesha, Vishnu and Shiva Gangadhara on the
left and Brahma, Vishnu and Shakti Durga as Mahishasura Mardini on the right.
While, Cave 13 has a Anantasayana panel featuring a 12-ft long, remarkable rock-cut sculpture of a
reclining Vishnu.
Situated in Sonpura and Udayagiri villages of Vidisha district, these caves are the finest example of
classical Gupta art. You can go to the top of the hill for a 360-degree view of the forested hills and
valleys around Udayagiri. In addition to these, Udayagiri has a series of rock-shelters and petroglyphs,
buildings, inscriptions, water systems, fortifications and habitation mounds, all of which remain a
subject of continuing archaeological studies.
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