Tourist places in and around Bhimbetka
Upper Paleolithic
These are mainly linear images in green and dark red, of huge figures of animals such as bison, tigers and rhinoceros.Mesolithic
Smaller in size, the figures show linear decoration of the body. Apart from animals, there are human figures and hunting scenes giving a clear picture of the weapons they used. The depiction of communal dances, birds, musical instruments, men and women, drinking and burials appear in rhythmic movement.The stylized figures in this group show linear decoration on the body. In addition to animals, there are human figures and hunting scenes, giving clear picture of the weapons they used. The depiction of communal dances, birds, musical instruments, mother and child, pregnant women, men carrying dead animals, drinking and burial appear in rhythmic movement.
Chaleolithic
These drawings reveal the fact that the cave dwellers of this area had come in contact with the agricultural communities of the Malwa plains and exchanged their requirements with each other.Similar to the paintings of chaleolithic pottey, these drawings reveal that during the cave dwellers of this area had come in contact with the agricultural communities of the Malwa plains and started on exchange of their requirements with each other.
Medieval
These paintings are geometric, linear and more schematic. But, the delicateness in their artistic style seems to be somewhat lost.These paintings are geometric, linear and more schematic, but they show degeneration and crudeness in their artistic style. The colors used by the cave dwellers were prepared combining manganese, haematite, soft red stone and wooden coal. Sometimes the fat of animals and extract of leaves were also used in the mixture.
On 3rd July, 2003 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organisation (UNESCO) declared the rock shelters of Bhimbetka, a world heritage site. Bhimbetka has become one of 754 sites from around the world on UNESCO's prestigious list of world heritage sites of outstanding universal value. There are 21 villages around Bhimbetka but the area around Bhimbetka is sparsely populated largely by the tribes of the Gonds, and in lesser numbers by the Pradhans and the Korkus.
The Caves
At Bhimbhekta what strikes most visitors first is the gigantic proportions of the caves. The eerie silence amongst the huge rocks is broken by the sudden flight of a bat.The caves on which pre-historic man creatively expressed himself with paintings were first discovered in 1958. From these paintings it was presumed that the area was continuously inhabited from early Stone Age. The brush used for the paintings were probably made from twigs, and the artists' subjects are ingenious in their variety and form.
It would take an entire day and more to visit all of the 130 caves which house the paintings at Bhimbhekta, but the light was fading and I had been warned by the chaukidar about prowling beasts including leopards and bears. So I just made the most of what we get least in the city - the sound of silence.
The Waterfall
With the largest forest cover in India, you can't get away from forests and greenery for long in Madhya Pradesh. Almost 5 hours drive from Bhopal at Pachmarhi there is yet another great 2 kilometer walk down to a waterfall.There is a track which leads to the falls, but while going downhill a few short cuts are welcome, although you might face the hazard of loose rocks and sand around streams, and your foot might sink in, but eventually you will make it.