With deep jungles interspersed with gorges and beautiful waterfalls, containing randomly dispersed antiquarian remains, the Hills of Kaimur retain their unique air of mystery. Forming the easternmost part of the Vindhya Range, beginning near Katangi in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) and ending near Sasaram in Rohtas (Bihar), the Hills have sheltered human activities since the most ancient times, and one still finds several imprints of the activities of our early ancestors, with prehistoric rock shelters dating to even earlier than 10,000 B.C. More than 500 pre-historic rock shelters have been found on the hills, and several of these have been found to contain paintings preserving the artistic impressions of our early ancestors. The Hills contain several early Hindu and Buddhist relics along with medieval ones.  

Several motifs like Baghauts which are memorials to persons killed by tigers and memorials of earlier Babas (holy men) met with at various locations on the hills have become a part of the popular culture. The importance of the Hills during the medieval history is revealed from the available documents of the period and discovered inscriptions.

However, the importance of most of these historical sites is not fully understood even today, though it is well known and appreciated that the Hills have housed some of the earliest settlements of pre-historic men. Having earlier described the Forts of Rohtasgarh and Shergarh lying at strategic vantage points, along with the ancient temple of Mundeshwari, it would be in place to briefly discuss the other mysterious and general antiquities randomly found to be often dispersed on the Kaimur Hills.

To be continued.....