Today’s Bhimbetka Rock Shelters
Bhimbetka caves are now one of India’s most significant ancient complexes and a popular tourist destination near Bhopal. In 1990, the archaeological site was proclaimed a protected monument and placed under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India, while UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 2003.
Over time, the caves have changed into beautiful rock shelters ideal for local settlements. Some geologists believe the region was once underwater because of the smooth appearance of the rocks. The shapes, hues, and textures of the stones are stunning. Apart from the significance of indigenous art in human history, the caves offer essential information about the earth’s past.
Interesting Facts of Bhimbetka Cave
The Bhimbetka Cave displays India’s oldest signs of human life and the Stone Age dating back to the Acheulian periods. The cave is 45 km away from the Raisen district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bhimbetka includes seven hills and over 750 caves spread across a 10-km area. The Bhimbetka caves are famous for ancient rock paintings and Precambrian fossils. Dr. V. S. Wakankar, a well-known archaeologist, found these caves in 1958. The Bhimbetka rock shelters’ existence and importance was appropriately discovered in the 1970s and documented.