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The 7 Caves of Barabar & Nagarjuni Hills
Discover the 7 ancient caves of Barabar and Nagarjuni Hills in Bihar. Explore Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Gopika and other Mauryan rock-cut caves.
PurushottamPrakash
The 7 Caves of Barabar & Nagarjuni Hills
The 7 Caves of Barabar & Nagarjuni Hills form one of Bihar’s most remarkable archaeological landscapes. Carved into granite during the Mauryan period, these ancient caves represent some of the oldest surviving rock-cut cave architecture in India. Located in the Barabar Hills of Jehanabad district, the group consists of four caves at Barabar Hill and three at Nagarjuni Hill.
The Seven Caves at a Glance
1. Lomas Rishi Cave
Perhaps the most iconic cave at Barabar, Lomas Rishi is famous for its beautifully carved entrance façade and early chaitya-arch design. Its polished granite interior demonstrates the extraordinary craftsmanship of Mauryan-era artisans.
2. Sudama Cave
Sudama is one of the best-known Barabar caves and is associated with the Ajivika tradition. Its chambers feature the characteristic highly polished granite surfaces for which Barabar is renowned.
3. Viswamitra Cave
Also known as Visva Zopari in some references, this cave forms part of the Barabar group. Like the other caves, it reflects the remarkable ability of ancient craftsmen to excavate and finish chambers directly from solid granite.
4. Karna Chopar Cave
Karna Chopar, sometimes called Karna Chaupar, is another important Barabar cave. Its relatively simple form provides an opportunity to appreciate the engineering and precision behind these ancient rock-cut spaces.
5. Gopika Cave — Nagarjuni
Crossing to Nagarjuni Hill brings you to the second group of three caves. Gopika Cave, also called Gopi-ka-Kubha, contains inscriptions associated with Dasharatha Maurya, Ashoka’s grandson, and the Ajivikas. Bihar Tourism notes that its large chamber retains the famous Mauryan polish.
6. Vapiyaka Cave — Nagarjuni
Vapiyaka-ka-Kubha is another Nagarjuni cave associated with Dasharatha's patronage of the Ajivikas. Its location and surviving inscriptions add important historical context to the Nagarjuni group.
7. Vadathika Cave — Nagarjuni
Vadathika-ka-Kubha completes the seven-cave group. Together with Gopika and Vapiyaka, it demonstrates the continuation of Mauryan rock-cut architecture on Nagarjuni Hill.
Why Are the Barabar Caves Important?
The caves date to the Mauryan Empire, with the Barabar group generally associated with the 3rd century BCE. Official Barabar Cave-Tourism information identifies four caves on Barabar Hill and three on Nagarjuni Hill, separated by roughly two kilometres. The Barabar caves were dedicated to the Ajivikas, while the Nagarjuni caves were constructed under Dasharatha Maurya for the same tradition.
One of their most fascinating features is the exceptionally smooth Mauryan polish on the granite surfaces. The precision of the chambers, inscriptions and architectural details provides a remarkable window into ancient Indian craftsmanship.
Barabar & Nagarjuni: More Than Ancient Caves
A visit here is not only about archaeology. Barabar Hills combine heritage, hills, forests, nature and opportunities for outdoor exploration. Official Barabar Cave-Tourism programmes include cave exploration, nature walks, hilltop trekking, bird watching and interaction with local communities.
For travellers, the experience can extend from a heritage walk and cave exploration to trekking, sunset views, stargazing and an overnight stay near the hills.
Planning Your Visit
Barabar Caves are in Makhdumpur, Jehanabad, Bihar. The official Barabar Cave-Tourism site places the caves approximately 25 km from Jehanabad, 35 km from Gaya and 80 km south of Patna.
The Bihar Tourism website currently recommends September to April as a suitable visiting season. Visitors should wear comfortable footwear, respect the archaeological structures, avoid littering and maintain appropriate behaviour at the heritage site.
Experience Barabar with BAECB HILLS
Make your visit more than a sightseeing stop. At BAECB HILLS — Barabar Eco Camp™, travellers can combine heritage exploration with comfortable stays, nature experiences, camping and adventure activities around Barabar Hills.
Explore the ancient caves by day, experience the landscape around the hills, enjoy local hospitality and spend the evening under the stars.
Seven caves. Two ancient hills. More than 2,000 years of history.
Come to Barabar. Explore deeply. Experience responsibly.
