Tucked among Odisha’s rolling hills, near the Brahmani, Birupa, and Kelua rivers, the Udayagiri Buddhist complex, part of the “diamond triangle” with Lalitagiri and Ratnagiri, stands as a testament to ancient India’s spiritual depth. Known historically as Pushpagiri, a 1st-millennium university rivaling Nalanda, it thrived on Yoga philosophy until the 11th century, drawing Mahayana Buddhists and Hindus.
Udayagiri, the largest of the trio, dazzles with its Mahastupa at Udayagiri 1, where four Buddhas in distinct mudras face cardinal directions. Exquisite Padmapani statues and yogi reliefs blend Hindu iconography, while red-brick monastery ruins whisper of a vibrant past, uncovered through 20th-century excavations.
Udayagiri 2, spanning 1st-century BCE to post-8th-century CE, showcases evolving Hinayana and Mahayana architecture. Its monasteries, votive stupas, and intricate sculptures echo Krishna valley artistry, though some artworks now reside in Patna and Cuttack museums.
For students, India enthusiasts, and global travelers, Udayagiri’s rock-cut trails and syncretic art reveal a 1st-millennium crossroads of Buddhist and Hindu traditions, blending archaeology, architecture, and cultural heritage in Odisha’s serene landscape.
20.643554 N, 86.26984 E
- East of Krusnadaspur (8 kilometers)
- Northeast of Bhubaneswar (84 kilometers)
- near National Highway 53 and National Highway 16
Udayagiri 1:
 |
  Buddhist temple, Udayagiri |
 Udayagiri vihara |
 |
 |
 |
Site is also known as / synonyms:
- Udayagiri hills
- Pushpagiri sites of Odisha (early 20th century, incorrect)
- Madhavapura Mahavihara
- Simhaprastha Mahavihara
- (Note: many towns and historic sites in India are called Udayagiri and Pushpagiri, such as in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana – some are very far from Odisha; there is a different Jain and Hindu site in Odisha which is also called Udayagiri; the use of Udayagiri and Pushpagiri names for different sites is found in Indian manuscripts, inscriptions and they remain in use in the 21st century).
Nearby historic sites:
- Lalitagiri Buddhist site
- Ratnagiri Buddhist site
- Mahakala temple and Jain monuments
- Monolithic elephant of Kaimabada
Sources and Further Reading:
- P. Mukerjee (1957), Lalitagiri, Udayagiri & Ratnagiri, The Mahabodhi Society Orissa
- Thomas E Donaldson (2001), Iconography of the Buddhist sculpture of Orissa, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts : Abhinav Publications
- P Sahoo (2004), Buddhist Centers in Orissa: An Overview, Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, Volume 65, pp. 147–153
- Trivedi, P K (2012). Further Excavations at Udayagiri-2, Odisha (2001-2003). Archaeological Survey of India. New Delhi
- Umakanth Mishra (2019), Continuity and change in the sacred landscape of the Buddhist site of Udayagiri Odisha, Routledge, ISBN 978-04292-741-69
- Akshaya Jena (2017), Tourism prospects of Langudi Puspagiri, Odisha Review: November, pp. 82–84
- Saurabh Saxena (2020), Udayagiri – The Sunrise Hill, Puratattva