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The twin hills of Kumarigiri known as Khandagiri and Udaigiri contain varieties of rock-cut caves, built mainly for the Jain Monks around 1st - 2nd century B.C. Surrounded by paddy fields and the Dhauli hill, Dhauli brings back memories of the historic 'Kalinga War' which was fought around here...It is here that Ashoka, the terrible, was transformed into Ashoka, the compassionate who championed the cause of Buddhism.

Just two km from the famed Lingaraj Temple of Bhubaneshwa, lay the ruins of Sisupalgarh. Dating back to the third or fourth century BC, these ruins show that even at that early date there was a well fortified city here, and also establishes the fact that the Orissan civilization has very ancient roots.