Bhimbetka

Bhimbetka is a town in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, India, known for the Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, a group of natural sandstone caves standing on the ridges of the Vindhya mountains. The site is located about 45 kilometers southeast of Bhopal.

The rock shelters constitute one of the oldest known sets of human-made paintings in the Indian subcontinent. The shelters contain hundreds of painted caves, with some shelters hosting multiple paintings. The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 as part of the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka.

The paintings reflect a long sequence from the Mesolithic to historic times, with examples dating from the late Paleolithic to the early historic period. Subjects include animals, human figures, scenes of daily life, dances, hunting, and rituals. The paintings are executed in natural pigments such as red ochre, white, and green, often with outlines and hand stencils.

The site provides important evidence for early artistic expression, settlement patterns, and cultural practices in prehistoric South Asia. It offers insight into the transition from hunting-based economies to agrarian society and the emergence of complex social activities.

Today, Bhimbetka is managed as a protected site by the Archaeological Survey of India, and features a small museum and visitor facilities. It remains an important destination for researchers, students, and tourists interested in prehistoric art and Indian history.