This is the name popularly applied to the upper apartment of a small two-storeyed cave. The lower ones, however, bear the names of Pâtalapura and Yomanapura. Though small and comparatively unadorned, it is interesting, as being the prototype of the largest and finest cave of the series known as the Râni kâ Nûr or Queen’s palace. When I visited the place, it was inhabited, the openings built up with mud and brick, and no access allowed. All consequently I could do was to make a sketch of its exterior, which was published as  “a view of the exterior of a Vihara on the Udayagiri Hill.”1

There are inscriptions in the old Lât character on each of the divisions of this cave. One on the lower storey of the principal or Vaikuntha cave describes it as “the excavation of the Râjas of Kalinga, enjoying the favour of the Arhats" or Buddhist saints. Another is “the cave of the Mahârâja Vira, the lord of Kalinga, the cave of the venerable Kadepa,” and a third as the “cave of Prince Viduka.” But as none of these names can be recognised as found elsewhere, this does not help us much in our endeavours to ascertain its age.

There is, or rather was, a long frieze, containing figures of men and animals, extending across the whole front, but these are so time worn, and are so nearly undistinguishable, that no attempt was apparently made by Mr. Locke to take a cast of them, or even to bring away a photograph, so that there are really no materials available for a more perfect description of this cave.

  • 1. Plate I. of my Illustrations of Rock-cut Temples of India, folio, London, 1845.