Edakkal Caves

Famous for its exquisite rock and wall carvings, the pre-historic Edakkal Caves are two naturally occurring alcoves located in the Wayanad district of Kerala. The caves measure a massive length and width of 96 and 22 feet respectively and lie 1200 meters above sea level.

Owing to its precarious location, one needs to trek for one and a half hours (around 4000 ft) to hit the cave entrance, and another 45 minutes to reach the mouth of the cave. The Edakkal caves are of historical and archaeological significance as it has carvings that date back to the Neolithic era, the late Stone Age. The stonework in the interior of the cave is estimated to be as old as 5000 BC to 1000 BC.

Edikkal means 'a stone in between' and aptly describes its formation. A smaller rock has wedged in between 2 bigger ones to form a natural cave. In the truest sense of the word, it is not a cave but a natural fissure in the rock which has a heavy boulder on top.

The cave thus has 2 levels. The first level of the cave can be explored through a small opening. Just opposite this is a passage that leads to another opening, this time in the roof. Here you come to the second level which is much bigger. To explore the caves, visitors, have to pass uneven boulders, an iron ladder, and rock walls covered with fungi.

The walls are covered with carvings of animal and human figures, some of which are hazy but clear for the most part. The clarity of the carvings is even more surprising given the duration they have survived.

Discovery of Edakkal Caves

Fred Fawcett 1890 discovered Edakkal Caves. He was on a hunting trip when he came across a stone axe in a coffee estate that was used by a Neolithic Celt. Fred had a deep-rooted interest in prehistory and wanted to explore more. He crossed the thick forests of Ambukuthy Mala to discover what later proved to be a dwelling dating back to the New Stone Age which was inhabited several times in the course of human history.

The rock carvings here are of at least three distinct types, with the oldest one dating back to a period as long as 8,000 years ago.

History of Edakkal Caves

There are many stories behind the formation of the Edakkal Caves. A famous one is that the caves were formed by the arrows of Kush and Luv. Another folklore is that it was formed because of Kuttichathan and the Goddess Mudiampilly.

History has it that the caves were first discovered by the then superintendent of police of the Malabar District, Fred Fawcett, on his hunting trip. He found the caves to the west of Edakkal Mala and when he explored it further, he found that the caves were the habitat of the Neolithic people.