Bhimbetka remained a center of human activity from the lower Paleolithic times. Some of the Stone age rock paintings found among the Bhimbetka rock shelters are approximately 12,000 years old. The name Bhimbetka is associated with Bhima in great Indian epic Mahabharata, a hero-deity renowned for his immense strength. The word Bhimbetka is said to have derived from 'the siting place of Bhima'.
The rock shelters of Bhimbetka are 45 km south of Bhopal at the southern age of the Vindhyachal hills. The entire area is covered by thick vegetation, has abundant natural resources in its perennial water supplies, natural shelters and rich forest flora & fauna.
Dr.Vishnu.S.Wakankar visited this area first with the team of archaeologists & discovered several pre-historic shelters in 1957. Of the nearly 750 rock shelters, 500 or so are adorned with paintings & about 15 are open to public. Due to the site's relative remoteness & lack of public transportation, few people come to visit this place. The area is surrounded by the trees of Teak & Sal.
The rock shelters & caves of Bhimbetka have a number of interesting paintings which depict the lives & times of people who lived in caves. The paintings include the scenes of childbirth, hunting, riding, warfare,communal dancing & drinking, religious ceremonies & burials. Other scenes usually depict music, animal fighting, honey collection, daily life, decoration of bodies & household scenes. Animals depicted include elephants, bisons, deers, sambhars, horses, peacocks & snakes. The mineral colours used are red, green, ochre & white & are still remarkably vibrant.
The superimposition of paintings show that the same canvas was used by different people at different times.
I have created a slideshow on Bhimbetka Rock shelters. Kindly copy-paste the following link in the address bar & watch the slideshow :
http://www.kizoa.com/slideshow/d2316042k5180765o1/bhimbetka-rock-shelters
very well written... Caves are truly marvelous... so serene and enchanting...
ReplyDeleteVishnu