I was always fascinated by the sculptures. There was time when I even tried my hands on it but due to lack of creativity I failed in it. Though I have always appreciated this art. When I came to know, that there are some caves in Orissa which carries them, I just couldn't stop myself and left to explore them.

Udaygiri, Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri, namely, had caves which were like worth looking. Each of them situated at 5 kms away from each other, forms the major Buddhist circuit of Orissa.

I was able to glimpse into the past with the help of with the help of each engraved sculptures on the walls. The shape of stupas, rock-cut caves, rock-edicts, excavated monasteries, viharas, chaityas and sacred relics in caskets.

I came to know that number of monasteries were found in these caves. In Ratnagiri, two monasteries were found that carried artifacts belonging to Gupta's period. They flourished from 6th to 12th centuries AD.

In Udaygiri, I was able to find a stupa and remains of two monasteries. The site belonged to seventh - eighth AD site and flourished upto 13 th AD. The site houses effigies of Buddha in various mudras.