Edakkal Caves, Wayanad, Kerala India

The fascinating prehistoric rock etchings found on the walls of these caves have drawn the serious attention of archeologists and historians worldwide.

The Wayanad trip was totally unplanned and something that came up at the spur of the moment. You can read more on how we ended up here in a previous post. After a hearty breakfast, we were all geared up to start with the sightseeing. Our driver, Vinu, turned up right on time with the Jeep. On the way to Edakkal Caves, our first destination, it started raining and our spirits dampened anticipating a wet trip ahead. Edakkal Caves, around 25 kms from Wayanad, is a popular attraction with fascinating pre-historic rock carvings on the walls of the caves, some of these date as far back as 5000 years. This was informed to us by Vinu, who also doubled as our Tour guide. He was very knowledgeable about the district for that matter.

Surprisingly, despite the continuous rains, the place was brimming with tourists. There was a half mile trek uphill to reach the actual caves. People draped in plastic covers of an assortment of colours were making their way slowly up the hill. The localites had come up with an innovative way to promote business despite the monsoons and in the process make some money. They were selling large plastic covers which one can use as a rain coat for protection from the rains. And these were in huge demand among the tourists. With no other option but to get our feet wet, we also joined in and draped in bright red covers started making our way uphill. But due to the rain, I decided to leave my SLR behind in the Jeep and only carried my pocket camera. On the way to the top, there were some modern carvings near a small chapel. The carvings had been etched beautifully in the rocks depicting stories from the Bible.

With at least three distinct sets of petroglyphs, the earliest thought to date back over 5000 years, it is assumed that the Edakkal caves had been inhabited at various stages in history.

The name “Edakkal” literally means “a stone in between”, and this describes how the cave is formed by a heavy boulder straddling a fissure in the rock. Inside the cave is on two levels, the lower chamber measures about 18 feet long by 12 feet wide and 10 feet high and can be entered through an opening of 5 x 4 feet. A passage opposite the entrance leads upward to a small aperture in the roof through which one climbs up to the next storey whose interior is about 96 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 18 feet high. Light enters the cave through a big gap at the right-hand corner of the roof where the boulder does not touch the facing wall. 

A trek up the Ambukuthi hill near Ambalavayal takes you to the neolithic cave site of Edakkal. Etchings found on the walls of these caves have drawn the serious attention of archeologists and historians worldwide.

The Edakkal Cave is located about 25km from Kalpetta is a 96ft long, 22ft wide and 30ft high cleft formed by the vertical split of a rocky mountain. The rock wall is etched with carvings depicting human and animal figures and objects of human use. These carvings speak of a highly civilized people of pre-historic age, and have drawn the serious attention of archaeologists and historians worldwide.

In 1894 then British Malabar Police superintendent F Foster found out rock tools used in neolithic era, when he was on his way for hunting. He also noticed Edakal caves after having an expedition there. He documented the pictures after having excavations. In 1984, State Archiology departement took over Edakkal caves and proclaimed it as a protected monument. Today it is a hub for many tourists,students and researchers . The hill is 4000 meters above sea level.