Bhimbetka Caves were once a hiding spot for the Pandavas during the Mahabharata Era, which are now a UNESCO site. Just ~100 kms from Bhopal, these caves are also a 100,000 year old rock shelters! This blog covers all the questions in your mind about how to reach Bhimbetka Caves? Cost? An Itinerary, and the importance!
I strained my nape looking at massive stone structures lined up in front of me. At the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains, I stood there astonished looking at the art curated by our ancestors!
I couldn’t believe that I was at Bhimbetka Caves – one of its kind who is a part of THE ONLY THREE caves found globally (in Kakadu National Park in Australia and Bushmen in the Kalahari Desert and Upper Palaeolithic Lascaux cave paintings in France)!
What makes Bhimbetka Caves so special?
Out of the various reasons, here are a few reasons about why and how are these caves special.
V.S. Wakankar in 1957 discovered 500 of these painted caves from 760 rock shelters.
Only 15 caves accessible to the tourists and thankfully, all are protected with barriers around it to prevent any sort of vandalism.
The paintings depict the everyday life of our ancestors. It also includes some common animals are drawn bigger than humans!
There are drawings of processions, elephant riding, hunting scenes, religious motives etc. with the help of vegetable hues and animal fats as colors.
A famous painting of massive bison attacking a man is visible only when the sun hits the painting! Drop me a message when you see it?
How does Bhimbetka get its name?
“Bhimbetka” is derived from the name of one of the Pandavas – Bhim.
According to legends, Bhim took shelter in these caves during his years of exile. Therefore, the place came to be known as Bhim Baitha (sat).
Where to stay in Bhimbetka?
While there are no options to stay around, you can stay in Bhopal since it is just a few hours away.
How to reach Bhimbetka?
45 km away from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh is this UNESCO site- Bhimbetka
Bhopal is accessible from all railway stations (book on IRCTC) and it has its own airport (book on GoIbibo/MakeMyTrip) too!
Public Transport:
Reaching here with the help of local transport is a tricky business.
You need to get into a bus from Nadra/ISBT Bus Stand in Bhopal going towards Hoshangabad, Betul, or Panchmarhi which passes Obaidullaganj.
You must get down at a bus stop ‘Highway Treat Bhimbetka’, which is 3km ahead of Obaidullaganj and walk 3kms towards the caves.
Private / Hired Vehicle:
We hired a cab since the locals too suggested the same.
Moreover, we were short on time and didn’t want to exhaust ourselves instead of exploring more.
Therefore, we chose Savaari Car Rentals to experience a hassle-free ride.
We made this decision since they are present in 98 cities, 29 states with a transparent billing system, and courteous chauffeurs who are road trip experts!
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Costs for exploring Bhimbetka
The entry fee is Rs. for 3 people ( the two of us and driver ) + a vehicle turned up to INR 150/-
Public transport cost would not cross INR 300 /- from Bhopal to Bhimbetka and return. A private cab would cost you around ~INR 2000 for an entire day (Read – Day 2 of Bhopal blog)
Food costs around ~INR 200-500 for a day.
This blog is in collaboration with Savaari Car Rentals. However, the views, experiences, and photos are mine.
I hope this blog helps you plan your travel. Share this blog with your travel companions and feel free to connect with me in case of any doubts!
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