The Barabar caves, India's oldest rock-cut caves
The Barabar caves lie about 35 km north of Bodh Gaya, in a cluster of granite hills. Four caves were carved here in the Mauryan period, during and shortly after the reign of Ashoka, for the Ajivikas, an ascetic sect of the time. Inscriptions record the gifts. Nearby Nagarjuni hill has three more caves.
The Lomas Rishi cave has the famous entrance: a doorway carved to imitate a wooden hut, with an arch and a frieze of elephants. Inside, the Sudama and other caves have walls polished so smoothly that they reflect torchlight, and any sound echoes for seconds. E. M. Forster used them as the model for the Marabar Caves in A Passage to India.
Reaching the caves involves a short climb over rock. We go in the morning, with water and a picnic, and return to Bodh Gaya by lunch. The road is rural and slow in places; check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How old are the Barabar caves?
The Barabar caves were carved in the 3rd century BCE, during the Mauryan empire, and inscriptions credit Ashoka and his grandson Dasharatha with dedicating them to the Ajivika sect. They are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India and influenced later cave temples such as those at Ajanta.
How do I get to the Barabar caves from Bodh Gaya?
The caves are about 35 km north of Bodh Gaya, roughly 1.5 hours by car on rural roads. From the parking area, a short walk and climb over granite reaches the caves. Wear shoes with good grip. We combine the visit with a picnic and return by lunchtime.
Are the Barabar caves linked to A Passage to India?
Yes. E. M. Forster visited the area and based the Marabar Caves in his 1924 novel A Passage to India on the Barabar caves, including their famous echo. Visitors often test it inside the polished chambers, where a single word reverberates for several seconds.
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