Barabar Caves

Welcome to the Makhdumpur region of Jehanabad district in Bihar, India. Located approximately 24 kilometers north of the sacred city of Gaya, this historic landscape houses the Barabar Caves, the oldest surviving rock cut cave…

As you walk along the southern slope of Barabar Hill, you will arrive at the exquisite facade of Lomas Rishi Cave. Situated directly adjacent to Sudama Cave on its left, this monument represents one of the most significant…

Moving just a few steps to the left of Lomas Rishi Cave, you arrive at Sudama Cave, the earliest excavated sanctuary in the entire Barabar group. Although the name Sudama was assigned through later popular tradition, this cave…

Walking around to the northern face of Barabar Hill, you will encounter Karan Chaupar Cave, also known as Karna Chaupar. Unlike the two chambered layouts of Sudama and Lomas Rishi, this cave features a unique single rectangular…

Located approximately one hundred meters east of the main granite ridge on Barabar Hill, a set of ancient steps carved directly into the cliff side invites you upward. Known as the Ashoka Steps, this rock cut staircase leads to…

We now transition our journey approximately 1.6 kilometers eastward from Barabar Hill to the neighboring Nagarjuni Hill. Arriving at the southern slope of Nagarjuni Hill, you stand before Gopika Cave, the largest and most…

Ascending into a secluded rock crevice on the northern face of Nagarjuni Hill, approximately three hundred meters away from Gopika Cave, you will discover two hidden sanctuaries: Vadathika Cave and Vapiyaka Cave. Tucked away high…

This concludes our audio guide tour of the Barabar and Nagarjuni Caves. Excavated out of intractable granite during the Mauryan Empire over twenty three centuries ago, these seven rock cut sanctuaries represent far more than…