India | Orissa

Manikmoda Caves




Manikmoda is situated 5 km to the south west of Hemgir, amidst a reserve forest. This extensive rock shelter measures approximately 80m in length and 15m in width and can accommodate quite a large number of persons. The inner walls of the cave are adorned with 57 specimens of painting in monochrome of dark red, orange red, white and yellow. Paintings in dark red are earlier than those in light red, yellow and white. Sometimes these earlier paintings are super imposed by white paintings. The depiction of Hanuman carrying a hillock in flying pose is very interesting. These paintings are believed to belong to the pre-Script era. The rock shelter has also yielded a large collection of microliths which indirectly suggests the antiquity of some of the paintings.

Several tiny holes found on the walls are believed to have been storehouses for arms and weapons. Nineteen grinding holes could be identified on the floor, with an average depth and diameter of 0.2 m x 0.10m, the largest being 0.60m x 0.80m and the smallest being 0.28m x 0.14m. They are believed to have been made for dehusking of grains. Once a place of human inhabitance, the rock shelter now is a safe haven for wild animals.



Updated on 27th March, 2024
District: Jharsuguda

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