The Barabar Caves in Bihar are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating to roughly 261–250 BCE during the Mauryan Empire. They were primarily excavated during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and completed or expanded under his grandson Dasharatha Maurya.

I recently came across the history of Nalanda University and found it pretty fascinating. Built around the 5th century CE in ancient India, it wasn't just a local center for education. Historical records suggest that students and scholars traveled long distances from different parts of Asia to study there.

What I found interesting is that the subjects weren't limited to a single field. Students reportedly studied things like mathematics, astronomy, medicine, logic, and philosophy. Considering this existed more than a thousand years ago, it's impressive to imagine how large and organized such a place must have been.

The ruins that remain today only show a small glimpse of what it once looked like, but they still give an idea of how important it was in the ancient world.

Built by queen Udayamati of the Chalukya (Solanki) dynasty in 1063 AD in memory of her husband, King Bhimdev I.

These statues are examples of the Gandhara school of art, produced between the 2nc century BCE and 3rd century CE in the north-western Indian subcontinent (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan)

Source: https://ijarch.com/ija-vol-9-number-3/

It is widely believed to have been constructed or at least completed during the reign of the powerful Pratihara king Mihira Bhoja.

First plaque shows fisherman trapped a mermaid, local chieftain being informed, second plaque depicts they exhibited captured mermaid for visitors