Dating back as early as the 2nd century B.C, Udayagiri Caves are a fascinating set of deep cut sandstone caves 3km west of Bhubaneswar in Odisha. Built by the Jain ruler Kharavela, the caves were part of a large Jain monastic complex. Whilst many of the caves appear to have been converted into shines, originally it is believed they served as dormitories and study areas for the monks.
Established in 1932 and occupying the current building since 1960, the Odisha State Museum in Bubaneswar houses a fine collection of religious sculptures, coins, copper plates, stone inscriptions, armours, rare bronze age tools, natural history, geological objects, anthropological specimens and traditional musical instruments.
The Shatrughaneshwar group of temples are a trio of 6th century A.D. temples built during the Sailodbhava rule, consisting of Shatrughaneshwar temple, Bharateshwar temple, and Lakshmaneshwar temple. They are located immediately opposite the Rameshwar temple, on the left side of the road leading from Kalpana Chowk to Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar (see map at the end of this post).
The twin 15th century Shiva temples of Kushesvara (Kushakeswara) and Labesvara (Labakeswara or Hanumantesvara) are situated on both the sides of the road, almost opposite each other, immediately east of the Rameshwar temple on the road leading from Kalpana Square to Bindhu Sagar.
Believed to have been built at the start of the Somavamsi dynasty in the early 9th century A.D, Rameshwar Temple (also known as Rameshwar Deula) was the first site I visited in what turned out to be a somewhat epic tour around the temples and archaeological sites of both Bubaneswar city and the surrounding countryside.
Kevin Standage 
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