Sitamarhi Cave

24.90°N 85.28°E / 24.90; 85.28 Sitamarhi Cave is an Indian artificial cave, and an important example of Indian rock-cut architecture. Located 20 km southwest of Rajgir and 10 km southwest of Hisua, it dates from the Maurya empire.[1] It was hewn in a huge hemispherical rock of granite.

Sitamarhi Cave.

Plan of the Sitamarhi Cave.

The cave has the structure and Mauryan polish qualities of the Barabar caves, but without any inscriptions. It is smaller than the Barabar caves, measuring only 4.91x3.43m, with a ceiling height of 2.01m. The entrance is also trapezoidal, like the Barabar caves.[1]

According to a later Hindu legend, the cave was built by the legendary builder Vishvakarman. It is also the cave in which Sita took refuge from Mara, hence the cave's name.

The cave is sometimes considered part of the "Rajgir group", together with Son Bhandar Caves.[2]

References

Gupta, The roots of Indian Art, p.194-
Le, Huu Phuoc (2010). Buddhist Architecture. Grafikol. ISBN 9780984404308.

Indian Buddhist caves
Andhra Pradesh	Adapur Caves Belum Caves Chandavaram Erravaram Caves Guntupalli Caves Kotturu Dhanadibbalu Pandavula Metta Caves Ramateertham Sankaram Undavalli Caves
Bihar	Indrasala Cave Vulture Peak Saptaparni Cave Lomas Rishi Cave
Gujarat	Dhank Caves Junagadh Buddhist Cave Groups Khapra Kodiya Caves Bava Pyara Caves Uparkot Caves Kadia Dungar Caves Khambhalida Caves Sana Caves Siyot Caves Talaja Caves
Karnataka	Aihole Badami cave temples Pandava Caves
Madhya Pradesh	Bagh Caves Dhamnar Caves Saru Maru
Maharashtra	Ajanta Caves Ambivali Caves Aurangabad Caves Bahrot Caves Bedse Caves Bhaja Caves Dharashiv Caves Ellora Caves Mahad/Gandharpale Caves Ghatotkacha Caves Ghorawadi/Shelarwadi Caves Karla Caves Karad Caves Khed Caves Kondana Caves Kuda Caves Nenavali Caves Nasik/Pandavleni Caves Panhalakaji Caves Patan caves Pitalkhora Pohale Caves Shirwal Caves Nadsur/Thanale Caves Vijasan Caves Wai Caves Yerphal Caves In the Mumbai area: Elephanta Caves Jogeshwari Caves Kondivite/Mahakali Caves Mandapeshwar Caves Kanheri Caves In the Junnar area: Lenyadri Manmodi Caves Shivneri Caves Tulja Caves
Rajasthan	Binnayaga Buddhist Caves Hathiagor Buddhist Caves Kolvi Caves

Jain Caves in India
Andhra Pradesh	Undavalli Caves
Bihar	Son Bhandar Caves
Gujarat	Bava Pyara Caves Dhank Caves Talaja Caves
Karnataka	Badami cave temples Aihole
Madhya Pradesh	Siddhachal Caves Gopachal rock cut Jain monuments Udayagiri Caves
Maharashtra	Ellora Caves Nashik Caves/Pandav Leni Mangi-Tungi Dharashiv Caves
Odisha	Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves Belum Caves
Tamil Nadu	Samanar Hills Kalugumalai Jain Beds Sittanavasal Cave Armamalai Cave Tirumalai (Jain complex) Sithanavasal Thirakoil

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