Edakkal Caves

Posted Date: 09 Jul 2010 Author: Latha Jayaprakash Profile photo

Edakkal caves are located in Wayanad district in the northern part of Kerala state. There are ancient carvings of our ancestors from the stone age period found here.

Edakkal Caves of Wayanad

Location of the Edakkal cavesof Wayanad

Edakkal Caves are located on the western side of the Ambukuthimala, a hill situated about 12 kilometers southwest of Sultan Bathery and about 6 kilometers away from the Amabalawayalof the Wayanad district of the state of Kerala. These caves are located at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level and the peak of the hill is about 500 meters about the surrounding area. You can see the place even from a considerable distance and this area lies on the ancient route from high ranges of Mysore to the Malabar side ports for trade.

About the Edakkal caves of wayanad

Edakkal means the stone in between, in the local language malayalam. You can see that the cave is formed by a heavy boulder of a rock straddling over the fissure. The interior parts of the cave is on 2 levels, the lower part is about 18'x12'x10' with an opening of 5'x4'. There is a small aperture on the roof through which one can climb up and enter the upper chamber which is about 96'x22'x18'. There is a big gap in the right side of the roof through which light enters the cave

You can find beautiful and fascinating rock etchings and carvings of the prehistoric times on the walls which have interested the archaeologists and the historians alike.
You can find three sets of distinct and different petroglyphs and the earliest seems to be dated back over 5000 years before. It is also assumed that people have inhabited Edakkal Caves at different stages in the history of India.

About the Wall Carvings in the Edakkal Caves

There are recordings of the problems of the stone aged people and the iron age people and this found in 1910 by an amateur archaeologist. This is one of the very few places in India where the prehistoric drawings have been found. The walls on both sides of the Cave up to 4 meters in height are embroidered and there are deeply carved motifs on the floor level of the cave. The motifs look dramatic in the cool mellow sheen of the damp interior of the rock's surface.You will be able to identify crosses, triangles, tridents, squares, a rectangle divided into 9 square shaped chambers and many more.
You can find about 446 carved motifs in these Edakkal Cave and at Toberimala you can see 84 motifs. These are situated in the Tea Estate of Harrison Malayalamabout 14 kilometers from Amabalawayal. If you like to visit the Caves you have to get permission from the Estate Owners.

Accommodation Facilities available at the Edakkal caves

Edakkal Hermitage
Rock valley,
Kolaggappara Estate
Sultan Bathery
Kerala - 673592
Tel: 04936 221860

Eastern Tourist home
Near Hotel Prince
Sultan Bathery
Wayanad
Telephone - 04936 220339

Green Leaves Habitat (Homestay)
opposite St. Mary's College
Sultan Bathery
Tel: 0 9446647635

Castle Wood Retreat
Dottappankulam
Beenachi Post
Sultan Bathery
Tel: 04936 222728