Bhimbetka

Bhimbetka, near Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in India and the world. The name “Bhimbetka” is traditionally linked to Bhima from the Mahabharata, but its real significance comes from the hundreds of rock shelters scattered across the sandstone hills of the Vindhyan range. Archaeological research shows that this area has been occupied by humans for hundreds of thousands of years, with evidence from the Lower Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and later periods.

The shelters contain remarkable rock paintings—in red, white, yellow and green—showing animals, hunters with bows and spears, dancers, riders, handprints and geometric designs. Different layers and styles of art indicate that generations of communities painted here over many millennia, reflecting changes in lifestyle from hunter-gatherer bands to early farmers and historic tribes.

Although local people knew of the shelters, Bhimbetka came to the attention of scholars in the 1950s, when archaeologist V. S. Wakankar recognised their importance and began systematic study. Excavations and surveys established a long cultural sequence and international significance. In 2003, Bhimbetka was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised as an outstanding repository of early human art, settlement and interaction with the natural landscape.