Credit: Satish Patel
Overview and History of Zoo Rock Shelter
The zoo’s rock shelter offers a captivating experience for visitors. It takes you back in time to ancient India. Among the 15 rock shelters, the site holds great archaeological importance amidst the vast expense of Bhimbetak’s 750 numbered shelters. A mesmerizing rock painting, the place has nearly 500 discovered locations.
Cave 4, also referred to as a “zoo rock shelter,” has an extensive collection of animal paintings. The paintings display the wide range of species that lived at that time. Deer, peacocks, bison, sambhar, and elephants look beautiful in paintings.
Rock shelters have 453 different figures, out of which 252 are animals of 16 different species and 90 are human figures. The early painting in the caves dates back to 10,000 BC, as time progressed, artists switched back to vegetable colors and irons, resulting in artworks from 5,000 to 3,000 BC.
A Journey Through Time: Scenes from Prehistoric Life
The intricate cave paintings capture the beautiful hunting scenes of our ancient ancestors. A glimpse into prehistoric life, where the skilled hunter wields bows, swords, and shields, and a bison relentlessly pursues a hunter, is beautifully portrayed.
Entry time and fees
The Zoo Rock Shelter welcomes visitors between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., allowing ample time to explore this archaeological marvel. To enter, Indian nationals pay Rs. 25, while foreigners are charged Rs. 500. If you arrive on a two-wheeler, the entry fee is Rs. 100, while cars are charged Rs. 300.