Cave paintings in India are a significant part of the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage. In India, it’s ancient tradition to decorate architecture using painting. Many ancient Sanskrit texts explain how to decorate palaces and temples using colors. Today we find some of the ancient architecture are having paintings. Rest of the paintings and colors were gone due to effects of weather and also due to man made activities. Those which remained are valuable because they give us idea about expertise of ancient artists in India. These paintings provide valuable insights into the artistic and cultural expressions of ancient civilizations that inhabited the Indian subcontinent. The cave paintings are primarily found in rock shelters and caves, and they span a wide range of periods, from prehistoric times to medieval periods.
Some notable cave painting sites in India include:
Bhimbetka Caves, Madhya Pradesh: Located in the Vindhya Range, Bhimbetka is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rock shelters with prehistoric paintings. The paintings date back to the Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Chalcolithic periods, with depictions of scenes from daily life, animals, and rituals.
Sittanavasal, near Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, India: It is famous for its ancient fresco paintings that adorn the walls of the rock-cut cave. These paintings are believed to date back to the 7th century CE and are considered some of the oldest surviving frescoes in Tamil Nadu. The frescoes predominantly depict scenes from Jain history, including Tirthankaras, Yakshas, Yakshis, and other Jain deities.
The frescoes at Sittanavasal showcase vibrant colors and intricate detailing. Scenes from the life of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara in Jainism, can be understood from these paintings. The paintings also feature celestial beings, floral patterns, and other decorative elements.
The Sittanavasal paintings provide important insights into the cultural and religious practices of the Jains in ancient Tamil Nadu. They serve as a visual record of the rich Jain heritage in the region.
Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra: Although Ajanta is called cave complex, it was actually Buddhist Monastery. The Ajanta Caves house some of the most exquisite and well-preserved ancient Indian art. These caves date from the 2nd century BCE to the 6th century CE and feature intricate paintings that depict Buddhist themes, Jataka tales, and the life of Buddha.
Ellora Caves, Maharashtra: Like Ajanta, Ellora too was fully functional monastery for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. Today we consider them as separate religions, but earlier they were part of same sanatan dharma. Kings used to support with donation to spiritual practices of all religions in the region. While Ellora is more famous for its rock-cut temples, it also contains some paintings, predominantly found in the Hindu caves. These paintings depict scenes from Hindu Purana ( history), including stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
Bagh Caves, Madhya Pradesh: Situated in the Bagh town of Madhya Pradesh, these caves feature paintings dating back to the 4th to 6th centuries CE. The paintings depict scenes from Buddhist Jataka tales and the life of Buddha.
Armamalai Cave, Tamilnadu, India : It is known for its Indian cave paintings. Armamalai cave is a natural cave which was converted to a Jain temple in 8th century AD. The paintings explain the native stories of Jainism and also had images of Astathik Palakas,[1] also called as protectors of eight corners and they are Agni, Vayu, Kubera, Eesanya, Indra, Yama, Niruthi and Varuna. The cave is in the protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India and it is a Tamil Nadu tourist attraction.
Jogimara caves : Jogimara Caves are situated in the Palamu district of Jharkhand, in the dense forests of the Amarnath Valley.The caves are known for their prehistoric rock paintings, which are estimated to be around 10,000 years old. These paintings are considered among the oldest examples of rock art in India.
Adamgarh hills are situated 2 km south of Hoshangabad town, near the Narmada river. There are around 18 rock shelters in Adamgarh; 11 shelters have visible paintings,
Kupgal Pet, Karnataka: This site in Karnataka has rock paintings dating back to the Neolithic and Megalithic periods. The paintings depict daily life, animals, and symbolic motifs.
Sitabhinji Group of Rock Shelters – It is a ancient rock-cut monument with a major painted mural and inscriptions near Danguapasi village of Kendujhar (Keonjhar) district of Odisha.
Cave paintings in India provide valuable glimpses into the beliefs, lifestyle, and artistic capabilities of ancient communities. They are essential for understanding the cultural evolution of the region and have contributed significantly to the study of Indian archaeology and art history.
There can be many more cave paintings which are not known to many people. In case you know such cave painting site, Please put the name and information in the comment section.
