Welcome to the Official Website of Jehanabad District, Bihar (original) (raw)

Welcome to the Official Website of Jehanabad District, Bihar

Places of Religious, Historical & Archeological Importance Barabar, Land of Peace & Tranquillity The Barabar International Tourist Centre is situated in the hilly area of Makhdumpur in Jehanabad (Bihar) situated at a distance of 50 kms from Gaya and 75 kms from Patna. The place is world famous for its ancient Seven Rock cut Buddhist Caves and as the place of origin of Ajivak sect. Famous for its sheer panoramic grandeur and rugged natural beauty, very few places can match Barabar. The serene, calm and unpolluted surrounding provides mental relaxation, total freshness and vigor. Road Route:-- Any one can go here by road. On Patna-Gaya Main road , towards south of Jehanabad at 16th k.m. there is Mussie more. From Mussie more towards east at 10th K.m. it is situated. Best Season:-- From The month of November to February. In the month of July-August "Sraawani Mela" is organized. It Starts from the 1st day of Hindi "Saawan Month", and observed for one month. one govt. guest house having four rooms (One room for each) is available for stay@ 250/=per day each room, which can be booked by district Planning office, Jehanabad. (Phone number-- 06114-223072. )
Barabar, the Historical perspective Barabar,or VANAVAR, as a matter of fact, is one of the oldest places of Indian civilisation. It has connections with the Mahabhartha period. The great warrior of Mahabharata war, Ashwathama is said to be wandering even today in the valleys of Barabar. He had become mortal with the grace at Lord Sidhnath i.e. Lord Shiva, whose temple exists on the top of the highest mountain of Barabar hills. THE NAGARJUN CAVES, BARABAR In ancient times, Barabar was known as “KHALIT PARWAT” or “Nagarjuni parwat”. During Mahabhartha period, this was known “Gorthagiri” Either because the demon king Vanasur ruled here or because almost all the hills are of same height, this place came to be known as Banavar or Barabar in course of time. Vanasur was the senapati of the king Jarasandh and had constructed a fort on the hills, the remains of which can be seen even today. On the eastern side of Patal Ganga, Vanasur had also established the new city named “Ram Gaya” on the banks of the Nirajana river known as Falgu now-a-days. The remains of this city has also been found in the forms of bricks and rocks. Since Bimbisar to Dashratha, the Mauryan ruling period helped Barabar in flourishing. King Bimbisar was the contemporary of Lord Buddha. The Great Mauryan king Samrat Ashoka got constructed a number of caves on the request of one of his queens for saints of Ajivak sect. Ashok’s grand son, Dashrath also got constructed caves for saints of Ajivak sect and Buddhist monks. During the reign of Pushyamitra sung, its religious importance got lessened and it was used of an army fort. During his period, Barabar was attacked by the great ruler of Orissa king kharwel. He demolished the “Gorthagiri Fort”. This has been established by his Hanthi Cave inscription, situated at Udaygiri Mountain
Barabar & Buddhism There is an organic relationship between Barabar & Buddhism. Some historians believe that this is the place where Lord Budha meditated for a long peroid of 12 Years, and from here only he moved along side “Niranjarna river” (Falgu) towards Bodh Gaya where he got enlightenment. If this fact can be established through research and survey of the area this place will be of no less importance than Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. RUINS OF BUDDHIST MONASTERY Near the second Nagarjuna cave constructed by the Mauryan king Dashratha there are ruins, which according to cuningham was a Buddh-Vihar and was demolished by Muslim attackers and made a platform instead. The Kaua Dol Mountain head resembles like a Buddha-Stupa. In the eastern basement of it, the famous Buddhist scholar of Bengal, Sheel bhadra had got constructed a large and beautiful Buddha-Vihar. Here a large statue of Lord Buddha has been found on a platform. This image of Buddha in “Bhumi Sparsh” Mudra is one of the largest statue of Buddha and is in fair preservation. The figure is about eight feet higher with a breadth of four feet across the shoulder and six feet across the knees. The Chinese traveller Huen-TSang has also described about it in his travelogue.
Barabar, the literary connection NATURAL SPRING-PATAL GANGA, BARABAR The English writer E.M. Foster’s book “A Passage to India” contains a good description of the Barabar hills. In his book he has referred Barabar as “Marabar”. The main characters of his novel visit this place. The heroine of his novel gets wounded in one of the caves and her Indian friend , a Muslim doctor gets arrested and later gets released with the help of the heroine. The movie “ A Passage to India” also shows the Barabar mountain, Patal Ganga and the caves. It seems that Barabar was a fascination for Englishmen & Englishwomen. On completion of 100 Years of E.M. Foster’s book, correspondents of the Pioneer, Lucknow had visited Barabar and a description was published along with Photographs in the Sunday edition of the Pioneer, some years back.
Banavar Dwar BANABAR DWAR, BARABAR Situated at Mussi more in Makhdumpur on Patna-Gaya International tourist route, the gate welcomes the tourist from all over. The design of gate is based on Ancient Buddhist traditions and is a fine blend of modern architect and ancient culture and traditions.