"Son Bhandar Cave" : A Secret Passage of Gold

One of the unresolved mysterious places in India, Son Bhandar caves are maybe not highly popular among tourists, but the excavators of gold and history lovers always find it fascinating.

Around 1144 km away from Delhi, crossing Gwalior and Prayagraj via Agra-Lucknow Expressway, we can easily reach this famous mysterious place known as "Son Bhandar caves". Which will definitely increase your curiosity, once you dig in further.

The term "Son Bhandar", which literally means a “Store of Gold” in the Sanskrit Language, has been increasing the greed of man for centuries. 

In the ancient era, a large number of travellers travelled through India in search of gold and gems since they had heard many stories about countries in South Asia rich in gold and diamond. 

They came as a trader and soon became its possessor. But actually, this is not our concern.

Unlike any other country around the world, before16th century, India had thousand times more gold than the present time. To acquire the power and wealth of a Kingdom, Kings and their successors fight with each other. They betrayed their own family and kill or prisoned them to acquire all the wealth and kingdom they inherited. Hence, to prevent their wealth sometimes they camouflage their treasure in nature so that no one can discover them.

We are going to talk about one similar case of the past. A cave believes to be a passage of vast treasure.

Also Read: Vrindavan Gardens : Where "Atma" (soul) meets "Parmatma" (God)

Where is it?

The Son Bhandar caves, also Sonebhandar, are two artificial caves situated in Rajgir, Bihar. However, Bihar is presently in a poor condition, but once it used to be the most glorious part of India, the centre of power in the Later Vedic era. Buddhism, Jainism, the Maurya Empire and Gupta were part of it.

The History

According to Bimbisara's legend, when his son Ajatashatru restricted his powers and prison him to claim the throne, his mother took all the wealth and hide it somewhere in the forest. The only known way to reach wealth is the Son Bhandarn cave.

A Secret Passage of Gold

Archaeologists connect the treasure to the Maurya Empire as the inscription was found on the wall of the cave similar to the Mauryan Empire. On the basis of inscriptions, they believe that the treasure belongs to Jarasandha, and others believe it belongs to Bimbisara.

However, some believe those mysterious inscriptions are some kind of map or puzzle that reaches the treasure and the cave believed to be a passage. If one can solve them, one can easily find the treasure.

In the cave, a sculpture of Lord Vishnu found on one of the walls of the cave shows, that caves belong to Jainism and are generally dated to the 3^rd or 4^th century CE. Another inscription found on the wall confirms its relation with Jainism.

One of the officers of the British Government tried but didn’t succeed. In the process of finding the camouflage hidden treasure, they damaged some parts of the cave. 

However, to date, no one is succeeded in solving the puzzle. Thus this cave became another unsolved mystery in India.