Historical Background & Heritage
Son Bhandar ('Gold Storehouse') consists of two artificial caves carved into the cliff of Vaibhargiri Hill. Inscriptions in Shell Script state they were constructed by Digambar Jain Muni Vairadeva in the 3rd-4th century BCE.
Popular folklore holds that King Bimbisara hid his vast gold treasury inside a secret mountain chamber behind the western cave door, locked by a spell written in Shell script.
Spiritual Significance & Importance
Architecturally, the caves mirror early wooden structures with pointed barrel roofs. Adjacent to the caves lies the Cyclopean Wall—a 40km pre-Mauryan stone wall built of massive unhewn stones without mortar, encircling ancient Rajagriha.
Key Attractions & Places to Visit
Western Cave Treasury Room
Polished granite cave with ancient Shell script door carvings.
Eastern Cave Jain Tirthankara Reliefs
Upper story cave with stone carvings of 24 Tirthankaras.
40km Pre-Mauryan Cyclopean Wall
Massive stone fortification wall older than the Great Wall of China.
Bimbisara Jail Site
Prison stone foundation where King Bimbisara watched Shanti Stupa.
Destination Highlights & Amenities
- Twin Monolithic Rock-Cut Jain Caves (3rd Century BCE)
- Ancient Sankhlipi (Shell Script) Inscriptions on Cave Wall
- Exquisite Carvings of Jain Tirthankaras in Upper Cave
- Adjacent 2,500-Year-Old Pre-Mauryan Cyclopean Wall
