Bhimbhetka is famous for it’s rock painting by pre historic Humans . This caves are one of the oldest human habitant in the world . Some of the marks signify that , some humans lived here upto 100000 years ago but the paintings are up to 20000 years old . This paintings are mainly about different animals , Hunting , ridding and communal dances . All painting are made of natural pigments . It is astonishing that somehow this painting survived that many years . There is all total 760 caves , amoung them 15 are opened for general people . In between those caves 1,3,4 ,6,7,9 ,12,14 are most prominent , others are either bleak or not having much figure .
Mythological stories said that , Mahabali Bhim(Mahabharata) used to rest in this place in his time of forest living . This is the reason of name of the place become ‘Bhimbhetika’ . It means place to sit for Bhim .
How to reach to Bhimbhetka ?
Bhimbhetka is situated inside the Raisen district of Madhya pradesh beside the city obdullaganj .
NH 46 passing beside bhimbhetka . If you come by bus then you have to board the buses from either the Nadra Bus stand or ISBT from Bhopal. From Bhopal, the distance is 47 km and the buses will take around 1hour 30 mins . The buses toward Hosangabad and Panchmari will reach here .These buses will drop you at the highway junction. From there also it is 3.5 km to reach to the actual rock shelters. From here either you hire a vehicle or may walk .But walking this road will be very hard because mostly there is no shade . I was in the afternoon time , it was too hot . Also you arrange drinking water before going in this road , because there is no Shops for eating and no water tap .
The nearest rail station to Bhimbhetka is Obedullaganj. Which is also 9 km from the actual bhimbhetka site . There is direct daily train from the Bhopal to obedullaganj . From there you have to reach to the site . It is very pathetic to see that , railway passes through this place but no station in the site which is a UNESCO World heritage site .
The nearest airport to the Bhimbhetka site is Bhopal Airport . Bhopal have a direct flight towards most of the big cities in India
There is a very typical and unique entry price applied to this spot . As , after this gate you have to walk almost 2.5 km to reach to the final destination. You have rates according to which mode you choose . As I walked I have paid Rs 12 . They have manual ticketing system . The Lady in the counter made a 12 rupees slip on my name .
On this road , you have to climb up to the actual cave . The road is very dry. There is little bush type vegetation in this place . There is no house or inhabitant beside the road . sometimes you will see some villagers with lots domestic animals . This area have been inhabited mostly by the tribal people of Madhya Pradesh . Beside the road you can see some big rocks , naturally curved by weathering . This is a very unique shaped rock beside the road I see .
This area comes under the vindyachal range and nearby Ratapani wildlife sanctuary is another attraction. The place is very quiet and you can really hear your breath in this journey . Roadside you can rest and enjoy the sidescene .
There is all total 750 caves spread across 10 km of Range . Most of the caves have been the research place for the Archaeologist . Among the caves about 500 have pictures made by pre historic humans . In 1957-58 Dr Bishnu Sridhar Wakankar searched out this rock paintings . Previously it had been known to local tribal population but never been mainstremed . After that more tourist come here to see this place . In 2003 it has been inscribed into UNESCO’s world heritage list.
Cave no 3
This cave have been the biggest among the all caves opened for exhibition . For it’s large size it has been called the Auditorium Hall . It is 40 meter long , 4 meter wide and 17 m in height . There is lots of painting in the walls of this cave . Probably in the lower end , pictures become dim by human activity , after it was opened for general public . Most of the pictures in this cave are of Animals like bison , goat , ox etc .
At the exit point of the cave , there is a deep trench which was used as of the graveyard of the pre historic human beings . The skull have been placed in the Pune Museum .
Cave No 4 or Zoo rock
Mr Wakankar renamed it as Zoo Rock because there is 252 animal figures of 16 different species and also some human figure . All total there is 453 figures in this rock – making it unique among all rock shelters . Upper figures are made in the white color and the lower figure in the red color .
Cave no 6
In cave no 6 there is painting on the Group dancing , holding hands of one another.
Cave no 7
In cave no 7 there is some people riding in the Horse and seems like hunting by their actions .
Cave no 9
This caves have been unique where some pots , a horse and a elephant has been painted . But unique thing is this , different color have been used like Green , yellow , orchid and white color . This all are all natural pigments used in this painting .
Cave no 15
Cave shelter 15 have some unique picture of a boar with large mouth and one pig . This painting is of red color .
Summery
I may have explained little of the painting but if you go there , you will find lots more painting . I have taken those picture by mobile camera only . It is very difficult with mobile camera to take picture of the painting which become faded . This painting are really one of the oldest in the world and real opportunity to be placed inside India . Among the UNESCO world heritage site , it is very less spoken . Please visit the place when you are on a trip to Madhya Pradesh .
