These stunning historical caves are some of the oldest manmade relics in Bihar, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Most caves at Barabar consist of two chambers, carved entirely out of granite, with a highly polished internal surface, the "Mauryan polish" also found on sculptures, and exciting echo effects. Barabar Caves consist of a group of four different caves namely, Lomas Rishi, Visvakarma, Karan Chaupar and Sudama.
It is believed that King Ashoka commissioned the construction of these caves when he was erecting monuments all over his kingdom to spread the knowledge of Buddhism. Today, you can explore the beautiful internal chambers, check out some ancient Hindu and Jain sculptures and marvel at the architectural genius that went behind constructing these caves.
Location: Barabar Hill Road, Barabar, Sultanpur, Bihar 804405
Timings: Monday to Sunday (6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
Historical Facts:
- These man-made caves are some of the most intriguing tourist attractions in Bihar.
- They were believed to have been commissioned by King Ashoka in the 3rd century AD.
- The Barabar caves are believed to be the last remaining relic from the Lost Ajivika Sect.
- The Ajivika Sect of people competed with the influence of Buddhism and Jainism in India in terms of religion and spirituality.
- Eventually, however, the Ajivika Sect died out by the 5th century AD.
- The Barabar Caves are the only remaining specimen of Ajivika history and culture.
