Edakkal Caves Wayanad

A trip to Edakkal Caves is like a journey into our forgotten past. Located 10 kms from Sulthan Bathery, they have provided historians with great information regarding the lives and habits of our ancestors. The caves are two natural rock formations believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock. The carvings inside are extremely beautiful. It is a dwelling that showcases nature’s skill and philosophy on architecture and you have to trek to about 4000 ft up a mountain to reach the place. We are talking about Edakkal Caves, which still remain a wonder and a mystery for archaeologists and historians alike. A trek up the majestic Ambukuthi Hills is required to reach these caves. The aroma of coffee stays with you the entire way. It is truly a surreal experience as we step into the palms of history.

Edakkal caves have drawn great attention from archeologists and historians worldwide. The carvings give great evidence for a highly civilized society who lived in the prehistoric age.Edakkal is the only known place in India with Stone Age carvings. You can see here carvings belonging to the Neolithic and Mesolithic age. The human figures of these caves have raised hair and some have masks. They all have archeological significance and are interesting too. Along with these pictorial carvings, you can also watch Tamil and Brahmi Script in Edakkal caves.

Edakkal is said to have some links with the Indus Valley Civilization too. Around 400 signs were discovered recently, which had shown its relationship with the ancient civilization. The most prominent among them was ‘a man with a jar cup’.

The visiting time to Edakkal caves is from morning 9:30 to evening 4:30. Entry to the caves is not permitted on Mondays.You can reach the lower part of the Ambukuthi hills via bus or car and from there you have to climb the hills. Till mid way of the hills, you can make use of the jeeps arranged by the DTPC. To enter the caves, you have to give a reasonable entry fee.

History of Edakkal Caves, Wayanad

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

The name of Edakkal Caves literally means `a stone in between’. As the name indicates, it seems that one boulder miraculously wedged in between two bigger ones to create a cave. Scientists too are of the opinion that Edakkal Caves is not a cave in the real sense. It is a fissure in the rocks which had been created due to natural causes/ changing climatic conditions. The split in the rock is about 22 ft. in width and 96 ft. in length. The depth of the cleft extends to over 30 ft and there is a large rock which has fallen forming a roof over it and this large cleft and the roof-rock gives it the appearance of a cave.

The engravings are abundant and of great variety. Human figures, animals, tools, vehicles, day-to-day occurrences and scripts in different language scripts have been discovered here. The diversity of the engravings suggest that the Edakkal caves were inhabited several times at different points in history. The oldest among them date back to 6000 B.C, to the age of Stone Age man. The engravings are not the only attractions at Edakkal. The Muniyaras, or ancient burial sites that have been discovered in these hills have yielded a rich collection of ancient earthenware and pottery. Most of the artifacts discovered here are now housed in the Wayanad Heritage Museum.

How To Reach Edakkal Caves, Wayanad

By Air- Calicut International Airport is the nearest airport to Wayanad. Which is 90 km away. Visitors can reach Calicut from any part of the country. Taxis are available at the airport to Kalpetta. From Kalpetta To Edakkal Caves, the distance is 26.6 km.

By Train- Wayanad district is not connected by rail. Visitors can take a train till Kozhikode, the nearest railway station to Wayanad. Kozhikode is connected with major towns and cities by train. From Kozhikode station, taxis or buses can be boarded to travel to Kalpetta. From Kalpetta To Edakkal Caves, the distance is 26.6 km.

By Road- One can reach Kalpetta by road from all cities. Bus services from nearby cities to Kalpetta. Distance from Kalpetta to Calicut (75 KM), Mysore (150 KM), Bangalore (290 KM) , Kochi (250 KM), Gudalur (70 Km), Ooty (125 Km). From Kalpetta To Edakkal Caves, the distance is 26.6 km.