Barabar: Polished Stone Caves and the Trace of a Lost Technology

In the granite hills north of Bihar, India, caves were cut directly into single blocks of rock. Inside Sudama Cave, curved walls are polished enough to reflect light. The entrance is small, the outer chamber is rectangular, and the inner chamber is vaulted. There are no dense murals or giant statues to hide the surface. The first thing a visitor notices is the flatness and shine of the granite.

In the granite hills north of Bihar, India, caves were cut directly into single blocks of rock. Inside Sudama Cave, curved walls are polished enough to reflect light. The entrance is small, the outer chamber is rectangular, and the inner chamber is vaulted. There are no dense murals or giant statues to hide the surface. The first thing a visitor notices is the flatness and shine of the granite.

In the granite hills north of Bihar, India, caves were cut directly into single blocks of rock. Inside Sudama Cave, curved walls are polished enough to reflect light. The entrance is small, the outer chamber is rectangular, and the inner chamber is vaulted. There are no dense murals or giant statues to hide the surface. The first thing a visitor notices is the flatness and shine of the granite.

In the granite hills north of Bihar, India, caves were cut directly into single blocks of rock. Inside Sudama Cave, curved walls are polished enough to reflect light. The entrance is small, the outer chamber is rectangular, and the inner chamber is vaulted. There are no dense murals or giant statues to hide the surface. The first thing a visitor notices is the flatness and shine of the granite.