Bhimbetka : A World Heritage Site

Bhimbetka is an archeological site in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are a big evidence for the Stone Age in India.

Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are a World Heritage Site, as there are many rock paintings on the walls of the caves. This interesting tourist spot is situated inside Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.

A walk around the shelters and caves indicates the existence of art in Stone Age. There are so many rock paintings, depicting human life and their connection with wildlife.

This heritage site is 45 km from Bhopal; it is part of Vindhya hills and Satpura hills. It is also a famous tourist place in Bhopal.

They have found almost 243 shelters in the Bhimbetka group and the studies indicate to some of the oldest stone walls and floors in this place.

Bhimbetka is also connected with the epic Mahabharatha and the character Bhima. It is believed that, the name is derived from Bhimbaithka meaning 'sitting place of Bhima'.

However, the amazing and intricate paintings on these rocks show the creativity of Stone Age man. And the paintings are classified into 5 periods : Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Chalcolithic, Early Historic and Medieval.

Let us look at some of the paintings and rock shelters of Bhimbetka!

The Entrance to Bhimbetka

Tourists feel the rustic charm of Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, as they walk towards the entrance.
Photo Courtesy: Tanujdeshmukh

Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary

Bhimbetka is situated inside Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.
Photo Courtesy: Anubhab91

Cave 2

Believed to be a kind of auditorium of Stone Age humans.
Photo Courtesy: Anubhab91

Mesolithic Paintings

The rock paintings which have humans hunting, holding spears ,pregnant women, musical instruments, men carrying dead animals, etc are classified as paintings of Mesolithic paintings.
Photo Courtesy: Bernard Gagnon

Tortoise Rock

Just outside the Bhimbetka caves, you can see a rock shaped like a tortoise.
Photo Courtesy: Tanujdeshmukh

A Man is Attacked by an Animal

This is the only painting in Bhimbetka, which portrays a beast attacking a man; a horned boar hunting a man.
Photo Courtesy: Bernard Gagnon

Another Cave in Bhimbetka

These caves are believed to be 10000 years old and some five thousand year old human skeletons were also found during excavation.
Photo Courtesy: Raveesh Vyas

Information Board

The Information Board gives a detailed descriptions about Bhimbetka.
Photo Courtesy: Nandanupadhyay