Just 7 kms west of Bhubaneswar are the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udaygiri, the next major Odishan historical monument after Ashoka’s rock-cut edict.The rocks of the Khandagiri and Udaygiri hills were carved and tunneled, to create this multi-storied ancient apartment residence for Jain monks. They were the work of the first known Odishan ruler, King Kharavela, and probably begun in the first century BC.

Jaugada forms a part of the Malati range of hills and occupies an important place in Ashokan studies. It is the second place in Odisha where Ashokan rock edicts specially addressed to Kalinga have been inscribed.

Here on a clean surface of granite is an edict of Emperor Ashoka which provides valuable information about the pattern of administration followed by the great emperor. About 2 km from Jaugada is Buddhakhol, where visitors can see images of the Buddhist pantheon along with the Shaivite shrines.