Bhimbetka is located in Raisen district of central state of INDIA “Madhya Pradesh”.

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are one of the

UNESCO World Heritage sites in India.

Declared in 2003 and known for amazing “Rock Shelters” and “Cave Paintings“.

It is situated in lush green, dense forest and rocky terrain of Vindhyan range, within the northern periphery of the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary. The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka are located about 46 km south east of Bhopal en route to Hoshangabad. Bhimbetka has been made easily reachable by the state government but visitors can view selected clusters only for the sake of conservation purposes.

Let’s start the TOUR

Welcome to STONE AGE 🙂

Entrance to Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka

Entrance to Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka

He was Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar, an archaeologist who has discovered this amazing place during 1957. These rock shelters are spread across 10Kms length and 3Kms width area. This region has more than 700 rock shelters, of which over 400 have paintings Out of which 243 Rock Shelters are in Bhimbetka (III), 133 contain paintings. Bhimbetka Cave paintings exhibits prehistoric cave paintings and some are around 30,000 years old.

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka
Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Here below you can see mummies of Stone Age people…Kidding…those are just for presentation 🙂

Stone Age, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Stone Age, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings of Elephant and Person (hunter with weapon in hand) sitting on elephant

Can you believe that?

These rock shelters and Paintings are from different periods like Upper Palaeolithic(50,000 and 10,000 years ago), Mesolithic, protohistoric and early historic periods. Massive naturally occured rock formations are identifiable landmark from kilometres around.

See those Rock Structures, Bhimbetka

Take a look at those gigantic Rock Structures

These paintings are largely in Red and White colors but you can see use of Green and Yellow as well.

Various Paintings on wall in Auditorium Cave, Bhimbetka

Various Paintings on wall in Auditorium Cave, Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Yes they had somehow used paint (from naturally occurring resources) to draw these paintings which can be clearly seen after thousands of years. Comparatively, we have to paint our houses in every few years. 🙂

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

What You See? looks like a Tiger?

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings of animals

Here is the place where excavation team found a skeleton buried with stone age tools. Our guide said that this skeleton is kept now in Deccan College Museum.

Yes in PUNE

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Skeleton found here with stone age tools

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Information Board regarding skeleton and tools found here

Now we are heading towards “ZOO Rock Gallery”

Way to Zoo Rock, Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Way to Zoo Rock Gallery

Zoo Rock, Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Zoo Rock Paintings

These paintings include animals like Horse, Rhinoceros, Tiger, Elephant, Wild Boar, Antelopes, Lizards, Monkeys, Peacocks etc. It can also be seen activities like Hunting and Dancing.

Zoo Rock, Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

See animals and horse riders/Hunters with weapons

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Rock Paintings

Rock paintings that are well protected from direct sunlight, surface run off of water, and wind erosion are well preserved.

Zoo Rock, Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Zoo Rock Paintings

Evolution of Mankind

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Information Board

Can you see HUMAN Face in the rock?

Man Face Rock Formation, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India

Rock Formation like human face

Can you see LION in the rock?

Lion Face Rock Formation, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India

Lion Head Rock Formation

Also can you see something in lion’s mouth? Let me zoom it for you 🙂 check below

Rock Paintings, Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

Horse Riders with weapons but overall looks like celebration or festival something

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Information Board about above cave painting

Natural Cave / Rock Shelter, Bhimbetka

Natural Cave / Rock Shelter, Bhimbetka – caves are wide enough and 6ft high includes 25 – 30 ppl at a time

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Here you can see Yellow Color… and Green? Yes there is also Green color, look closely

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Check Horse painting carefully…Here, Horse is drawn in perfect shape and now SCROLL down few images

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Rock Painting, Elephant

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Can you see paintings on wall?

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Horse Riders…Wait…Look closely, you can see major difference in HORSE shape than previous painting. These two painting show signs of Human Evolution and understanding.

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Rock Painting, Bhimbetka

Auditorium Cave, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India

Auditorium Cave, Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India

Rock formation found here are result of different weather conditions from millions of years.

What you see below is natural and not MAN made

Tortoise Shaped Rock Formation, Bhimbetka

Do you see something? Check below

Tortoise Shaped Rock Formation, Bhimbetka

Tortoise Shaped Rock Formation, Bhimbetka

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Information Board by ASI in Bhimbetka

Bhimbetka also has archaeological remains of Monasteries, Mini Stupas from the Maurya / Sunga periods and Inscriptions painted in white and red, engraved on the rock surface in Sunga Brahmi (second century BC), post-Gupta Brahmi and Sankha Lipi (first century BC – seventh century AD). Not only this but remains of temples and mainly large number of Stone Tools are found during excavations.

Huge Rock Shelter at Bhimbetka

Huge Rock Shelter at Bhimbetka

Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh

Rock Shelter of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh

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Destination Guidelines:

All caves are not open for public but some part of the site is. You have to explore this place by walking only so it might be strenuous for senior citizens.

How to Reach

Bhopal (about 46 Km.from Bhimbetka) is the nearest for all modes of transport i.e. Air, Railway and Bus.


Best Time to Visit

You can visit throughout the year but best time is July To March


Open Timings

It is open from Sunrise to Sunset


Fees
  • ₹25 entry fee per person for Indians
  • ₹300 per private car
  • ₹200 Guide fee

Note: Information of pricing/timing given here may change so please confirm with tourism department before visiting.


Things to Carry
  • You must carry sufficient water and food with you as there is no arrangement near by
  • Rain Coats (Monsoon) and Woollens (Winter)
  • Camera is allowed
  • Your regular Medicines
  • Guide is must here

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Summary
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Article Name
Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh, India - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Description
Bhimbetka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for Rock Shelters & Cave Paintings from Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, protohistoric periods.
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History of Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka

According to ASI, first reference to Bhimbetka was by W. Kincaid, published in a paper on information from the adivasis for a reconstruction of the history of the Bhojpur lake and mentions Bhimbet hill on the opposite end of the lake as a Buddhist site but later discovered by Archaeologist Dr. Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar in 1957.

Bhimbetka gets his name from “Bhimbaithaka” or “The sitting place of Bhima”, one of characters of epic MAHABHARATA. It is believed that when Pandavas were banished from their kingdom, they came here and stayed in these caves. Bhim used to sit on these rocks hence the name 🙂 There is no clear evidence for this but when you see these rock formations and their size all we can say is “BHIMKAI (HUGE)”.


Relative Books

Prehistoric Painting Of Bhimbetka By Yashodhar Mathpal