Discovering Bihar's hidden historical gems: 6 lesser-known monuments of national importance

Patna: There are more than 70 monuments and sites of national importance in Bihar as declared by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Yet, only a handful are recognised widely across the globe.

While two — the Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya and the Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara — proudly adorn Unesco’s World Heritage List, several others attract steady streams of visitors. But beyond them, hidden in plain sight, stand dozens of lesser-known marvels in the state.Sites such as Telhara, Rohtasgarh, Kesaria, Barabar, Rajnagar and Munger may not command the same fame as Bodh Gaya or Nalanda, yet they hold treasures of history, artistry and memory.

They are the quiet storytellers, preserving fragments of dynasties, faiths and revolutions.Former head of Patna University’s department of ancient Indian history, Jayadeo Mishra, said, “These lesser-known monuments and sites fill the gaps in Bihar’s history. They provide a more complete picture beyond the well-known ones and reveal that the state was once a hub of powerful kingdoms and spiritual movements.”

He added that these places are more than archaeological curiosities. They are alive with economic potential, capable of driving community development in areas often bypassed by mainstream tourism. “If developed properly, they can diversify the economy and offer unique experiences to visitors,” he said.Six such monuments stand as striking examples of Bihar’s forgotten grandeur:Barabar Caves: Nestled within the Barabar Hills of Makhdumpur lies one of India’s oldest surviving marvels of rock architecture — the Barabar Caves.

Carved from granite with an almost miraculous polish, they echo with the voices of history. The cluster of four caves — Lomas Rishi, Sudama, Vishwakarma and Karan Chaupar — dates back to the Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE).Together with the neighbouring Nagarjuni caves, these represent some of the finest rock-cut legacies of Ashoka’s time, bearing inscriptions of the emperor. Most consist of two chambers – a rectangular congregation hall followed by a small, domed sanctuary, their acoustics producing an enchanting reverberation.The Archaeological Survey of India has already forwarded a proposal to Unesco to include these “oldest surviving rock-cut caves” in its tentative World Heritage list.Kesaria Stupa: In East Champaran rises the monumental Kesaria Stupa, a Buddhist shrine of staggering scale and profound spiritual resonance. At 104 feet high with a circumference of nearly 400 feet, it is among the tallest and most voluminous stupas in India.Built by Ashoka the Great, it stands in six terraces crowned by a cylindrical drum. Each level holds cells with stucco images of the Buddha. Unearthed layers date the site to the Gupta period (5th-6th century CE), though traces of the earlier Sunga-Satavahana era have also been found beneath.This shrine is not merely an architectural feat but a living testimony, mentioned in the travelogues of Fa Xian and Xuan Zang, Chinese pilgrims who recorded the stupa’s glory.

Scholars often compare it to Borobudur in Indonesia, though Kesaria remains distinct for its scale and Indian ingenuity. Locally, it is revered as “Baba Kesarnath”, with legends of a Shiva temple once concealed within its mound.Rohtasgarh Fort: On a lofty plateau overlooking the Sone river stands the formidable Rohtasgarh Fort, a sentinel of stone rising 1,500 feet above the valley floor. Built in the 16th century by Sher Shah Suri, its grandeur is epitomised by the Hathiya Pol, an imposing gateway adorned with elephant carvings.

Within its walls lie mosques, palaces, watchtowers and echoes of battles fought for dominion.Indologist Shiv Kumar said the fort’s origins stretch back further, to Raja Harishchandra of the Sola dynasty, who named it after his son Rohitashwa. Dense forests once encircled it, a natural shield against marauders.The ascent itself is a trial of endurance — 2,000 steps hewn from limestone, once scaled by elephants, now an hour-and-a-half ordeal for visitors.

Inscriptions reveal that the fort witnessed countless sieges, from Hindu kings to Sher Shah Suri and beyond, each leaving traces of their reign. Among the relics discovered are seal matrices, possibly dating to the 7th-century reign of Sasanka.Shergarh Fort: Cloaked in forest on the Kaimur Hills, the Shergarh Fort rises at 800 feet, its ruins still breathing stories of power. Just 20 miles from Sasaram, this stronghold once served as Sher Shah Suri’s military bastion.

Today, the fort’s surroundings — verdant hills, a shimmering reservoir, and its majestic gateway — cast a spell on visitors.The district administration identifies surviving structures such as the Rani Pokhara, the Zenana Mahal (or Diwan-e-Khas), an underground circular well, and numerous secret chambers and tunnels. Though crumbling, the fort’s ingenuity is palpable. Its underground network, combined with its natural landscape, made Shergarh nearly impregnable, an engineering marvel lost in the wilderness.Munger Fort: Spanning 222 acres on a rocky mound flanked by the Ganges, the Munger Fort embodies centuries of shifting powers. Though its exact origins remain debated, many historians attribute its foundation to the Slave dynasty.Successive rulers — the Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Lodis, Nawabs of Bengal and later the Mughals—fortified and expanded it. Eventually, Mir Qasim surrendered it to the British after ousting his father-in-law Mir Jafar.

Inside its walls lie treasures: the Palace of Shah Shuja, the Chandisthan Temple, an 18th-century British cemetery, and the revered tomb of Pir Shah Nufa, visited by Hindus and Muslims alike in hope of blessings.Its military might was formidable — inner walls four feet thick, outer walls thrice as much. The Lal Darwaza, its imposing main gate, still welcomes visitors with unyielding pride, though much of the fort has succumbed to time.Rajnagar Palace: In Madhubani, near the heart of Mithila, sprawls the grand yet melancholic Rajnagar Palace, popularly known as the Navlakha Palace. Built by Maharaja Rameshwar Singh of the Darbhanga Raj, this was intended as a seat of administration and glory, a complex spanning 1,500 acres with palaces, temples, and halls fashioned in a curious Indo-European blend.Its elephant-styled pillars once stood as emblems of wealth and artistry. But tragedy struck in 1934 when a devastating earthquake reduced much of the complex, including the Navlakha Palace itself and its Shiva temple, to ruins. Even so, the surviving structures, battered yet graceful, whisper of the splendour that once flourished here.