The Bhimbetaka Rock Shelters are a credible source of information about the pre-historic life of Indian civilization. These paintings boasts of the societal life of the people lived in that era. These rock shelters are included in the prestigious world heritage site lists of the UNESCO.
Formerly found its mention as the Buddhist centers, this rock shelters are recognized as the dwellings of the pre-historic man during the year 1957. The entire area is covered by substantial vegetation, has copious natural resources, natural shelters, with perennial water supplies.
Bimbetka Rock shelters are classified as Lakha Juar group and Bhimbetka group, which depict an incessant progression of Stone Age cultures. These shelters are acclaimed as the oldest stone floors and wall in the entire world itself. The outstanding feature of this rock shelters are its downy nature with implausible contour, stunning tinges and feels.
The rock shelters and caves of Bhimbetka have a number of interesting paintings which depict the lives and times of the people who lived in the caves, including scenes of childbirth, communal dancing and drinking, religious rites and burials, as well as the natural environment around them. Besides the hub of aboriginal information, these stunning rock formations are excellent study materials for a geologist.
The Bhimbetka Caves or rock shelters in Bhimbetka have ancient prehistoric aboriginal paintings depicting the lives and times of people of the Stone Age, living in these caves. The scenes painted on the walls include animals around by them like wild buffalo, tigers, and rhinoceros. The scenes also depict their lives like dance, religious rituals and childbirth. Other paintings depict the tools they used for cooking, hunting and other purposes.
The natural colors used by them like red and white pigments from vegetable dye are preserved till date. The oldest painting of the Bhimbetka Caves dates back to more than 12000 years.
There are more than 700 caves and some of the paintings belong to the Paleolithic Age while others are a few thousand years old.
Those belonging to the Stone Age, painted on the walls and ceilings of the caves. It is seen that some of the most magnificent paintings are done at a height like the ceiling of the rock shelter.
It is believed that Bhima, one of the five Pandavas of Mahabharata, the Hindu Epic is associated with the location. Bhimbetka is hence named after Bhima.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bhimbetka_Caves,_Madhya_Pradesh.jpg
