Udayagiri-Khandagiri walk a big hit among locals and tourists

The Monks, Caves and Kings trail of Ekamra walks, which are held every Saturday on the twin hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri, saw good participation in recent events. The heritage trail, which has seen 70 editions earlier, is a great experience for the participants, who are awestruck by the historical magnificence captured on the rocks of these hills. The caves on the hills date back to second century BC and were believed to have been carved by Jain monks during the reign of King Kharavel. Despite the fact that the twin hills are located within the city limits, many residents are unaware of the history associated with them. And this guided tour helps not only the tourists but also the local enthusiasts know about the hills, the caves, the paintings, the history and more.

Minakshi, who is from Bhubaneswar but currently resides in Chennai, was surprised to know so much history of the place. “I was born and brought up here and had come here several times in the past. But I never knew so much about the hills! This walk is really a fantastic thing and it enlightens us about so many things,” she said.
Satyaswarup Mishra, the guide who narrates the history, archaeology and legends behind the art and the architecture of the hills, felt happy being part of this curated trail. “We used to guide tourists at many places. It’s a different feeling to guide a bunch of people including tourists and locals. Even the locals feel after the walk how little they knew about this place though they have been staying close to it all their lives,” he said.