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seventeen caves is 23.5 Sq.M. Among the rest seventeen caves, Rasui Gumpha is the smallest; having area of 4.0 Sq.M. whereas Hathi Gumpha is 122 Sq.M. only next to the Rani Gumpha. Its shows that Rani Gumpha and Hathi Gumpha is more imporatant on Udaygiri hill.
Type of Roof
There are usually gable shaped roofs and flats roofs cut from natural rocks. About 72% of the caves have flat roof profile, while 22% have roofs with gable profile. Hathi Gumpha has unique roof, having natural terrain as cover to the cave.
Natural topography
6%
Gable 22%
Flat 72%
Figure: 6.6 -Type of roof in Udaygiri Caves. Source: (Author)
Ceiling height
Fourteen of these caves had a verandah in front of the cells. The ceiling of the verandah was usually different from that of the cell. Average ceiling height of cells was 1.30 M. While for verandah, it was 1.90 M. It is evident that entrance to the cells was so arranged that the user had to move from larger space to smaller space. The cells were mostly used for meditation and sleeping purposes, as it was difficult to stand up under a ceiling only 1.05 M high.
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