Rock paintings of Odisha are admirable masterpieces of Indian paintings created by talented artisans, which draw millions of tourists and travellers from different parts of India and also foreign visitors. Such rock paintings are existent in rock shelters present in the dense forests of western portion of Odisha. Ushakothi and Manikmada, Sundargarh District, Yogimatha and Gudahandi, Kalahandi District possesses some of the most marvellous rock paintings of this eastern Indian state. Natural rocks located here are home to prehistoric paintings. The colours employed by the painters contained pigments of iron oxides, which create colours like brown and red. Similarly, white and green colours used to be obtained from copper compounds. Such rock paintings have been done by local tribes of western Odisha and Central India.

A painting which exists at the Ravana Chhata Rock al Sitabinjhee of Keonjhar District is widely acclaimed due to its unique beauty. This painting depicts a scene wherein a ruler rides an elephant and if followed by a female attendant, soldiers and some horse riders. It bears a close resemblance to Ajanta murals which have been painted with a twig of a palm tree which has been transformed into a brush. Linear pattern is followed in these paintings. The rock paintings at Manikamada contain images of natural grandeur and figures, painted with many coats of paints. Red-orche lines have been used in the paintings at Yogimath, and generally ceilings and rear walls of rocks are painted. Horizontal patterns adorn the walls of the rocks, and designs of deer, sambhar, stag, cattle and floral or geometrical motifs are also present. Rock paintings depicting human figures contain images of humans dancing, hunting, fighting and much more. Saura tribals are known to have painted rock paintings especially in Ganjam and Koraput Districts.

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