Bhimbetka

The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site of the Paleolithic age, exhibiting the earliest traces of human life on the Indian subcontinent. Bhimbetka caves of Madhya Pradesh, located 46 km south of Bhopal, is a valuable repository that acts like a sentinel to the prehistoric art and architecture of India.

The caves reflect the lifestyle of some of the earliest human races in the country. Records mentioning Bhimbetka Caves were found on a Buddhist site. Recognizing their exceptional importance to mankind, the caves were declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2003.

A number of analyses suggest that some of these shelters were inhabited by hominids like Homo erectus more than 100,000 years ago. Some of the Stone Age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are approximately 30,000 years old (Paleolithic Age).

These are similar to the aboriginal rock paintings of the Savanna regions of Australia, the paintings done by pygmies of the Kalahari Desert, and the Paleolithic Lascaux cave paintings of France. Bhimbetka rock paintings are extraordinary pieces of art having no contemporary matches.

Explorations & Experiences in Bhimbetka–

• Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
• Bhimbhetka Caves