The topography of Bhubaneswar is gently undulating, with an average elevation of about 45 meters (148 feet) above sea level. The eastern and central parts of the city are largely flat plains that gently slope toward the Kuakhai and Daya rivers, creating a natural southeastward drainage pattern.
To the west and south, the terrain becomes slightly more rugged, marked by the presence of small hillocks. The most famous of these are the twin hills of Khandagiri and Udayagiri, which contain rock-cut caves carved by Jain monks in the 1st century BCE. The city's combination of riverine plains and low-lying hills offers a stable foundation that has historically protected it from the severe river flooding that plagues its twin city, Cuttack.