Bagh Caves

Located on the bank of Baghani river in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. These rock cut caves posses the most amazing paintings known to be made by ancient man. Out of the initial 9 caves only 5 have been extant.

The legend says that these caves were established by Buddhist monk Dataka. The caves were carved in late 4th century – 6th century AD.

Bagh Caves are known for Mural Paintings. The walls and ceilings were to be painted were covered with a thick mud plaster in brownish orange color. Over this plaster there was done lime-priming and then paintings were laid. This is also known as tempera technique, which refers to use of permanent fast-drying painting medium consisting of colored pigment mixed with a water-soluble binder media.

The sophisticated style of art that is seen in the paintings of Ajanta is also found in surviving wall paintings and in fragments of murals in many parts of India. To the external world, Ajanta Caves are probably the only examples of Indian Murals. However it has been proved that the tradition which was started at Ajanta was actually started way back in ancient times. And it did not end with Ajanta but carried forward by people of different faiths at many parts of India.

At the time of discovery of the Bagh caves, only Cave no. 3 and 4 had endured the ravages of time. Murals of Bagh certainly represent “golden age” of Indian classical art.