All you need to know about the rock shelters of Bhimbetka

As per the legends, Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, during his exile, would often come to this place in the foothills of the Vindhya range, sit and spend time talking to the locals. These sandstone outcrops would later be known as Bhimbetka or as the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka. Bhimbetka is translated as Bhima’s place of rest (Baithaka meaning seat).

The Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is located in the Raisen district, 45 km from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The Vindhya Range, where it is located, comprises seven hills, and Bhimbetka is one of them. The sandstone outcrops are inside the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.

The significance
More than 750 sandstone rock shelters have earned Bhimbetka the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Not because of the legend, but because this site is an archaeological site dating back to the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods. Studies have shown some of the earliest traces of human life, right from the Stone Age.

These rock shelters have the oldest rock paintings or petroglyphs in the world, some dating back to 10,000 years ago! One of the largest prehistoric complexes in the world, Bhimbetka, is home to prehistoric caves paintings and most interestingly, fossils from the Precambrian period.

HighlightsOnly 12-15 of these caves are open to the public, and among the ones that are open, the Auditorium cave is the most important one. Also the largest, the Auditorium cave is a massive structure with quartzite towers and a huge boulder at the entrance, known as the Chief’s Rock or King’s Rock. Here, you can also see prehistoric rock paintings.

1. Are the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka open to the public?
   Only 12-15 of the more than 750 caves are open to the public.
2. Only 12-15 of the more than 750 caves are open to the public. When to visit the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka?
   The site is open to visitors from 6:30 AM to 6 PM.
3. When is the best time to visit Bhimbetka?
   Bhimbetka is best during the winter months, that is, October to March.