Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.132

c8.132

*Barabar hill* (vide *Khalatika*).—There are some caves in these hills situated about 16 miles north of Gayā. The caves known as *Sāṭgharā* (seven houses) are divided into two groups, the four southernmost in the Barabar group being more ancient. The Nyagrodha cave is hewn in the granite ridge and faces south. There is an inscription recording the gift of the cave to the Ājīvikas by Aśoka. The Lomasrishi cave is similar to this cave, but is unfinished. The side walls of the outer chamber are dressed and polished but the inside of the inner chamber is very rough. The entrance is finished and is, no doubt, the earliest example of the rock-cut *caitya* hall. The fourth cave of the Barabar group is the Viśvajhopri. It consists of chambers, but it is unfinished. There is an inscription on the wall of the outer chamber recording the gift of the cave by Aśoka (Law, *Geographical Essays*, pp. 17, 341).