The Paleolithic Art Gallery Of Bhimbetka
Introduction
The Paleolithic Age (up to 10,000 BC) of human evolution is characterized by the ability to use stone tools and a primitive society centered around small groups or bands. The humans of this age were hunter-gatherers and lived in primitive accommodation such as caves and rock-shelters. In more ways than one, these ancestors of ours were directly dealing with the (perceived) whims of nature.
The tools of this age have been found by archeologists after considerable efforts and excavations. Their life-accounts, however, have been preserved in the form of paintings and murals which have survived to this date. These paintings tell tales of warriors, of festivities, of hunters and the hunted and a lot more. A downside of all this is that it has inspired modern technology companies to document every minute thought that an engineer thinks of thinking about!
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About Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
The Bhimbetka (or Bhim-Baithika, seat of Bhim) Rock Shelters are a group of fifteen rock shelters occupied by humans in the Paleolithic age. All of these are located near the top of a rounded hill in the ageless Vindhya Range over a distance of about 800m. Some of the shelters are just that, while some others have paintings. The paintings date from Paleolithic age of hunters-gatherers to a much modern age of kings and armies.
There is an important distinction between a rock-shelter and a cave though - these shelters are mostly open from two or more sides and have a scarp of protruding rock overhead for protection. Some of these are small enough to shelter not more than a couple, while some are large enough to shelter a band of twenty.
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Monuments since 2003.
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The Rock Shelter Walk-Through
Shelter #1 - Paleolithic Family and Elementary Archeology
The course of introduction to Paleolithic life begins here. This shelter has modern sculptures of a small Paleolithic family going about their daily chores. Next to it is a pit - about 3m deep - with a board indicating the different stone formations and associating them with various ages. This is more of an educational shelter.
Shelter #2 - Elephants and Hunting Scene
This shelter has small paintings of elephants, their riders and what looks to be a hunting scene.
Shelter #3 - The Auditorium
Open on both sides, but continuous cover on top. This one has a unique imprint of a child's palm and a few cupules. It also has a natural seat-like structure which has been sat on by countless modern unconcerned visitors.
Shelter #4 - The Zoo Rock
One of the best shelters in terms of paintings - this one has 453 of them! There are 262 animals of 16 species, 90 humans, 1 bird, about 100 odd designs and figures and one inscription in Shankha script. There's also a royal procession shown here.
Shelter #5 - Nothing here
There is a view point after this shelter. The views are expansive on one side, but still restricted due to the jungle on the northern side.
Shelter #8, #9, #10 - Bunched up
These three shelters open up to one another. There is a huge crawlspace here, along with multi-level shelters and galleries.
Shelter #11 - Rooting For Life
This shelter is nondescript, except for the rots of a Papda tree that extend all the way from top to bottom of the shelter.
Shelter #12, #13, #14 - Unseen
These are scattered about and feature some moderate paintings. One of these also shows a brick wall of modern masonry
Shelter #15 - An Interesting Boar
This shelter appears from away to resemble a toad. This features a large boar being attacked by small humans (or the other way around).
Shelter #6, #7 - Parties and Processions
These shelters are located on the return path and feature beautiful paintings of human-animal interaction, a hunting party, people gathered together and a dancing lady.
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The Temple
Up the road from the main Bhimbetka complex is a small temple built out of a rock-shelter. The temple is frequented by locals and also has a resident sadhu.
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Highway Retreat
This is the resort run by MP Tourism that is located at the main highway indicating the fork to Bhimbetka. The place has a restaurant with a set menu, but excellent food quality.
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Getting In
Bhopal, about 50km north, is the best point of entry for Bhimbetka. Local buses plying the route from Bhopal to Hoshangabad or Pipariya will drop off at the Highway Retreat resort. A road across the railway lines takes one to the ticket counter after 1km.
The entry ticket for Bhimbetka is INR50 per head. A further uphill road of 2km separates you from Bhimbetka. A rickshaw might be awaiting at the counter if you are lucky, else a walk takes about 20mins.
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Other Places On The Bhopal Circuit
Sanchi || Bhojpur || Gyaraspur
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© KP On The Go!
The Paleolithic Age (up to 10,000 BC) of human evolution is characterized by the ability to use stone tools and a primitive society centered around small groups or bands. The humans of this age were hunter-gatherers and lived in primitive accommodation such as caves and rock-shelters. In more ways than one, these ancestors of ours were directly dealing with the (perceived) whims of nature.
The paintings at Bhimbetka
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About Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
The Bhimbetka (or Bhim-Baithika, seat of Bhim) Rock Shelters are a group of fifteen rock shelters occupied by humans in the Paleolithic age. All of these are located near the top of a rounded hill in the ageless Vindhya Range over a distance of about 800m. Some of the shelters are just that, while some others have paintings. The paintings date from Paleolithic age of hunters-gatherers to a much modern age of kings and armies.
The formations at Bhimbetka
There is an important distinction between a rock-shelter and a cave though - these shelters are mostly open from two or more sides and have a scarp of protruding rock overhead for protection. Some of these are small enough to shelter not more than a couple, while some are large enough to shelter a band of twenty.
The Bhimbetka Rock Shelters are included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Monuments since 2003.
-x-x-x-
The Rock Shelter Walk-Through
Shelter #1 - Paleolithic Family and Elementary Archeology
The course of introduction to Paleolithic life begins here. This shelter has modern sculptures of a small Paleolithic family going about their daily chores. Next to it is a pit - about 3m deep - with a board indicating the different stone formations and associating them with various ages. This is more of an educational shelter.
This family (with) rocks ...
Shelter #2 - Elephants and Hunting Scene
This shelter has small paintings of elephants, their riders and what looks to be a hunting scene.
The painting up there
Shelter #3 - The Auditorium
Open on both sides, but continuous cover on top. This one has a unique imprint of a child's palm and a few cupules. It also has a natural seat-like structure which has been sat on by countless modern unconcerned visitors.
The auditorium
Shelter #4 - The Zoo Rock
One of the best shelters in terms of paintings - this one has 453 of them! There are 262 animals of 16 species, 90 humans, 1 bird, about 100 odd designs and figures and one inscription in Shankha script. There's also a royal procession shown here.
The zoo-rock
Shelter #5 - Nothing here
There is a view point after this shelter. The views are expansive on one side, but still restricted due to the jungle on the northern side.
Shelter #8, #9, #10 - Bunched up
These three shelters open up to one another. There is a huge crawlspace here, along with multi-level shelters and galleries.
Entrance to the bunch of shelters
The upper tier of artwork
More elephants
Shelter #11 - Rooting For Life
This shelter is nondescript, except for the rots of a Papda tree that extend all the way from top to bottom of the shelter.
The life-force is strong here
Shelter #12, #13, #14 - Unseen
These are scattered about and feature some moderate paintings. One of these also shows a brick wall of modern masonry
The brick wall of a later period
Shelter #15 - An Interesting Boar
This shelter appears from away to resemble a toad. This features a large boar being attacked by small humans (or the other way around).
Toad shaped rock
Boar-dom documented
These shelters are located on the return path and feature beautiful paintings of human-animal interaction, a hunting party, people gathered together and a dancing lady.
The hunting party
The dancing party
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The Temple
Up the road from the main Bhimbetka complex is a small temple built out of a rock-shelter. The temple is frequented by locals and also has a resident sadhu.
The temple at Bhinbetka
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Highway Retreat
This is the resort run by MP Tourism that is located at the main highway indicating the fork to Bhimbetka. The place has a restaurant with a set menu, but excellent food quality.
Rail tracks near the resort - the main Bhopal-Itarsi Line
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Getting In
Bhopal, about 50km north, is the best point of entry for Bhimbetka. Local buses plying the route from Bhopal to Hoshangabad or Pipariya will drop off at the Highway Retreat resort. A road across the railway lines takes one to the ticket counter after 1km.
Bhimbetka on the map
The entry ticket for Bhimbetka is INR50 per head. A further uphill road of 2km separates you from Bhimbetka. A rickshaw might be awaiting at the counter if you are lucky, else a walk takes about 20mins.
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Other Places On The Bhopal Circuit
Sanchi || Bhojpur || Gyaraspur
-x-x-x-
© KP On The Go!
Amazing site !! we would visit this place very shortly and I think your post will help us a lot !!
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