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Bhimbetka |
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Surrounded
by the northern fringe of the Vindhyan ranges, Bhimbetka
lies 46 km south of Bhopal. In this rocky terrain of dense
forest and craggy cliffs, over 600 rock shelters belonging
to the Neolithic age were recently discovered. Here, in
vivid, panoramic detail, paintings in over 500 caves
depict the life of the prehistoric
cave-dwellers, making the Bhimbetka group an archaeological treasure, an
invaluable chronicle in the history of man. |
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Executed mainly in red
and white with the occasional use of green and yellow, with themes
taken from the everyday events of aeons ago, the scenes usually depict
hunting, dancing, music, horse and
elephant riders, animals fighting, honey collection, decoration of
bodies, disguises, masking and household scenes.
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Animals such as bisons, tigers, lions, wild boar,
elephant, antelopes, dogs, lizards, crocodiles etc. have been
abundantly depicted in some caves. Popular religious and ritual
symbols also occur frequently.
The superimposition of
paintings shows that the same canvas was used by different people at
different times. The drawings and paintings can be classified under
seven different periods : |
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Period 1
- ( Upper Paleolithic ) |
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These are linear representations, in green and
dark red, of huge figures of animals such as bisons, tigers, and
rhinoceroses. |
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Period 2 - (
Mesolithic ) |
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Comparatively small in size, the stylised figures
in this group show linear decoration on the body. In addition to
animals, there are human figures and hunting scenes, giving a clear
picture of the weapons they used: barbed spears, pointed sticks, bows
and arrows. The depiction of communal dances, birds, musical
instruments, mother and child, pregnant women, men carrying dead
animals, drinking and burials appear in rhythmic movement. |
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Period 3 - (
Chaleolithic ) |
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Similar to the paintings of Chaleolithic
pottery, theses drawings reveal that during the period the cave
dwellers of this area had come in contact with the agriculture
communities of the Malwa plains and started an exchange of their
requirements with each other. |
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Period 4 and 5 - (
Early Historic ) |
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The figures of this group have a schematic and
decorative style, and are painted mainly with red, white and yellow.
The association is of riders, depiction of religious symbols,
tunic-like dresses and the existence of scripts of different periods.
The religious beliefs are represented by figures of yakshas, tree gods
and magical sky chariots. |
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Period 6 and 7 - (
Medieval ) |
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Theses paintings are geometric, linear and more
schematic, but they show degeneration and crudeness in their artistic
style.
The colours used by the
cave dwellers were prepared combining manganese, haematic, soft red
stone and wooden coal. Sometimes the fat of animal and extracts of
leaves were also used in the mixture. The colours have remained intact
for many centuries due to the chemical reaction resulting from the
oxide present on the surface of the rocks. |
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How to go |
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Regular bus services
connect Mandu with Indore, Dhar, Mhow, Ratlam, Ujjain and Bhopal. |
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Convenient railheads
are Ratlam ( 124 km ) on the Mumbai-Delhi main line and Indore (
99 km ). |
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nearest airport is at Indore, 99 km away, connected to Mumbai,
Delhi, Gwalior, and Bhopal. |
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