Must-visit caves renowned for their ancient paintings

Ancient cave art is not limited to the famous painted caves of Europe. Across India and other parts of the world, lesser-known caves and rock shelters preserve scenes of animals, hunting, rituals and everyday life created thousands of years ago. These sites offer a chance to see prehistoric art while exploring landscapes that remain relatively off the beaten track. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Adamgarh Rock Shelters, Madhya Pradesh, India: Near Narmadapuram, the Adamgarh Rock Shelters contain prehistoric paintings spread across natural rock formations. The artwork includes animals, hunting scenes, battles and ritual imagery. One particularly unusual painting at Shelter No. 10 reportedly depicts a giraffe-like figure, making the site an intriguing destination for anyone interested in lesser-known Indian rock art. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Cueva de las Manos, Argentina: Tucked into a remote Patagonian landscape, Cueva de las Manos is famous for its extraordinary collection of prehistoric hand stencils. Alongside the hands are paintings of guanacos, human figures and hunting scenes. The artwork was produced over thousands of years, creating a remarkable visual record of hunter-gatherer communities. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Edakkal Caves, Kerala, India: Despite their name, Edakkal Caves are actually a prehistoric rock shelter formed when a huge boulder became wedged between two rocks. Its walls contain thousands of ancient engravings depicting humans, animals, weapons, carts, geometric symbols and other figures. Some of the oldest carvings are believed to date to around 6000 BCE. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Hiregudda Rock Shelters, Karnataka, India: Near Badami, the Hiregudda rock shelters preserve ancient paintings that are far less famous than the area's celebrated Chalukyan cave temples. The surviving artwork includes figures and geometric motifs, offering a glimpse into prehistoric artistic traditions in the Deccan. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Serra da Capivara, Brazil: Spread across northeastern Brazil, Serra da Capivara National Park contains hundreds of painted rock shelters. Its ancient imagery includes humans, animals and geometric forms, with some of the region’s established rock-art traditions dating back thousands of years. The sheer number of decorated shelters makes it one of South America’s most significant prehistoric-art landscapes. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)

Yogimatha, Odisha, India: Yogimatha is an intriguing prehistoric rock-art site in Odisha, where ancient paintings survive on rock surfaces. The site is part of a wider group of lesser-known Indian locations containing prehistoric imagery, making it an interesting destination for those looking beyond the country's better known rock art sites. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons)