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Madhya Pradesh

Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)

Prehistoric painted rock shelters above the Bhopal plains

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Best time to visit Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and August to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb is 9-27 C and the ochre paintings read clearly in low sun; a two-hour walk covers the fifteen open shelters.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Apr-Jun the sandstone radiates 44 C heat and there is no shade on the shelter trail - come at 7am or not at all.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jul is a washout, but Aug-Sep leaves the hill green, the rock damp and dark, and you may have the whole site to yourself.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov is easy and dry; pair the shelters with the unfinished Bhojeshwar temple 20 km north for a full day.

What Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur) is actually like

A quiet UNESCO hill with a ticket hut and no cafe; almost everyone day-trips out from Bhopal and sleeps there

Getting to Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)

45 km SE of Bhopal on the Hoshangabad road; Obaidullaganj railhead 9 km, autos from there, no beds at the site

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
1 day
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Quiet at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
600 m
State
Madhya Pradesh
Coordinates
22.9374, 77.6112

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)?

November to February is peak season in Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur). March and August to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Oct-Nov is easy and dry; pair the shelters with the unfinished Bhojeshwar temple 20 km north for a full day.

How many days do you need in Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)?

1 day is the usual stay. A quiet UNESCO hill with a ticket hut and no cafe; almost everyone day-trips out from Bhopal and sleeps there.

How do you get to Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur)?

45 km SE of Bhopal on the Hoshangabad road; Obaidullaganj railhead 9 km, autos from there, no beds at the site. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Bhimbetka (with Bhojpur) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs quiet at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Madhya Pradesh

All 28 destinations in Madhya Pradesh