Two New Yorkers spend six months 18 months!?! in Bangalore and other places in India.

Monday, January 08, 2007

A Bit Too Much of an Adventure


"The fascinating rock-hewn Barabar Caves, dating from 200 BC, are 36km north of Gaya and contain detailed Ashokan inscriptions. These are the 'Marabar Caves' of EM Forster's A Passage to India. From Gaya take the train to Bela (Rs. 7). Then ride a tonga (horse cart; Rs. 70) for 10km of potholes to the start of the arduous 5km hike that leads to the caves. Although well worth visiting, they're in Naxalite territory, so it's best to organize armed guards at the police station."
--Lonely Planet India, page 511.

I love the passage's can-do spirit, what with the potholes and the 10km horsecart ride and the commie gang threat, but I still don't think a trip to the caves in Bihar is for me. Here's a bit more about the caves. (It's also where I grabbed the photo above.)

4 comments:

injamaven said...

surprised to see how large those Barabar caves are inside. Did you hear the 'Ouuuuu Booooom' Forster spoke of?

Tripp Hall said...

Nope, I didn't make it there! It was too remote, and Bihar isn't exactly the safest place....

injamaven said...

The "ooooo Booom" was the sound Forster heard inside Lomas Rsi or Sudama. You were there weren't you ? where did you think I meant? Ive read what a dangerous area it is.

Tripp Hall said...

No, I didn't go to these caves or anywhere in Bihar for that matter. The quote is from the Lonely Planet guide.

To be honest, I thought the cave passages in Passage to India were kind of dull.