Credit: Nisai Manjrekar
Overview and History
A pilgrimage site for Jain, Khandagiri is an important center of Jain art, culture, and philosophy in ancient times. 700 years old caves are features in the hills that have inscriptions from Sanskrit and Nagri script. Among all the caves, the oldest cave is 6.
The towering statue of the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabnath also known as Lord Adinatha is present in Cave 2. It stands at a height of 45 feet tall and is engraved on the surface of the hills. Other images of tirthankaras are beautifully carved although on a smaller scale. All these images are carved on the rocks during the 13th to 16th centuries. There is a modern temple at the bottom of the hill that is approachable by climbing around 100 steps.
Hillock is an ideal spot to experience peace and tranquillity when the sun set down on the town of Chanderi.
How to Reach Khandagiri
If you are traveling by car, you can take the NH 30 or NH 16 to reach the destination. Khandagiri is located at a distance of around 10 km from Bhopal, and it takes around 20 minutes to reach there by car.
If you are traveling by train, the nearest railway station is the Bhopal Junction Railway Station. From there, you can take a taxi or hire a car to reach Khandagiri. The railway station is well-connected to major cities across India.
If you are traveling by air, the nearest airport is the Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal. From there, you can take a taxi or hire a car to reach Khandagiri. The airport is well-connected to major cities in India, and there are frequent flights available.