| Introduction | Places of Interest | How to Reach |
| WHAT TO LOOK FOR |
| Barabar |
Situated at a distance of 11 km from the Makhdumpur block HQ Barabar can be called a
tourist's paradise. Barabar, connected by a motorable road, consists of a group of hills with
distinct peaks. The most conspicuous are the peaks known as Murali, Sandagiri and Siddheshwar. These hills are noted for the world-famous Seven Caves. For sheer panoramic
grandeur and rugged natural beauty, very few places in the old Gaya district can be compared
to the northern portion of the Barabar hills. There's an ancient temple of Siddheshwar nath,
which from an inscription in one of the neighbouring caves is known to belong to the sixth or
seventh century. This temple attracted the attention of pilgrims even before the advent of
Buddhism.
Towards the south of Siddheshwar nath Temple at its foot lies a small basin surrounded by
hills with openings on the north-east and south-east where walls have been built. Towards the
southern corner of the basin are two small sheets of water, which find an outlet under ground
to the south-east and reappear in the sacred spring called 'Patal Ganga', where a bathing festival is held annually on Anant Chaturdashi.
The Barabar Caves are excavated in the hardest granite with infinite care and the interior
surface of all of them contains high polish and is burnished like glass. Chinese traveller
Xuanzang its visited this place and has given detailed descriptions of the place in his book.
However, the credit for unravelling the charm and appeal of the Barabar hills goes to celebrated British author E M Forster. Forster's 'A Passage to India' is replete with references to the
Barabar hills though the name has been changed to Marabar.
Taking into consideration the immense tourism potential, historicity and religious significance of Barabar hills, the Bihar tourism department in association with the district administration has renovated the place giving it an entirely new look.
FACILITIES AT BARABAR
Stairways to the Siddheshwar nath Temple a top the hill
Tourist bungalow at 'Patal Ganga'
Cafeteria
Piped water facilities
Nagarjuni Museum
Rural Marketing Complex
Police outpost
Telephone booths
Solar and electric lights
Dharaut
About 10 km north-west of Barabar hills, Dharaut has been identified as the site of the
Buddhist monastery of Gunamati. At the foot of the Kunwa hill is a large tank known as
Chandpokhar or Chandrapokhar. The name of the tank perpetuates the legend that it was excavated by Raja Chandra Sen. Two modern temples at its north-eastern corner once contained a
large collection of ancient statues.
Dabthu
Six km east of Hulasganj in the district, Dabthu is chiefly known for its finely-carved images
and ruins of temples. In the remains of ancient shrines, one can still see images of deities mutilated and decayed by ravages of time.
Ghejan
Situated in the Tatani-Faridpur block of the district and about 19 km away from jehanabad
on the Shakmabad-Ghyan road, this place came light after the Gupta-period stone statues were
excavated here. A huge statue of Lord Buddha has been on display in the village.
Kako
Kako is one of the blocks of this district situated at a distance of 10 km from the district
HQ. There is a temple in the north-east of the village which has an ancient statue of sungod.
There is also a mausoleum of great woman Sufi saint Hazrat Bibi Kamal. Bibi Kamal, aunt of
Hazrat Makhdum Saheb of Biharsharif, is said to have been endowed with mystic and divine
powers.
Ancient monuments have also been found in several other villages of the district like
Bhelawar, Meerabigha, Amthua, Banwaria, Zaroo, Lat, Murgaon, Lari and Umta. |
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