Machhi Khalla, Rani Chhajja

Neemuch district is very rich in terms of rock paintings. The caves with deep drains on the eastern and western sides of Dekan town, located 40 km from the district headquarters on the Neemuch-Singoli road, are full of precious treasures of rock paintings made by primitive man.

According to Indian archaeologist Dr. Wakankar, these rock paintings are from the Middle Stone Age to the prehistoric period. The rock paintings of Dekan were discovered by Shri Girija Shankar Runwal. The rock paintings of Dekan are divided into two parts. At a distance of 6 km in the north-eastern direction of Dekan, Machhi Khalla (drain with the shape of a fish) and in the north-western direction near Ramnagar, they are known as Rani Chhajja and Adharshila. At both these places, thousands of paintings in red, green and white are made on two to three kilometer long, high and low rocks in the deep drain. Human figures are made in these rock shelters. There is a bow in the hand. Similar paintings are of reindeer, deer, cow, trident, worship, tree, hunter, child, bullock cart, man out for hunting with axe, horse. There are rock paintings in Bharda Doh near Kanjarda in Manasa tehsil of Neemuch district. Shri Girijashankar Runwal has surveyed the DK Ratangarh area and discovered about 100 painted rock shelters at 22 places in river and mountain valleys. These painted galleries have paintings from the Mesolithic period to the prehistoric period. Through these paintings, man has expressed his love for nature and beauty and has also depicted many activities of his daily life.