The Edakkal Caves are situated at Ambukuthi mountain ranges near Ambalavayal, about 12 km from Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala in India’s Western Ghats. They lie on an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the Malabar coast ports.The Edakkal Caves in Wayanad are magnificent formations of nature. The word ‘Edakkal’ itself means ‘a stone in between’. The structure of these caves is truly extraordinary as a big boulder balances itself on two relatively smaller boulders, thus forming the truly fascinating Edakkal Caves of Kerala. These caves are a very popular tourist attraction of Wayanad. The cave has two levels inside that can be entered through an entrance that is merely 5 feet in height.

Inside the caves are pictorical writings believed to be from neolithic man, evidence of the presence of a prehistoric civilisation existing in this region. Such stone age carvings are very rare and these are the only known examples in southern India.These are not technically caves but rather a cleft or rift approximately 96 feet by 22 feet, a 30 foot deep fissure caused by a piece of rock splitting away from the main body. On one side of the cleft a rock weighing several tons has fallen over the fissure forming a roof. The carvings are of human and animal figures, as well as of tools used by humans and symbols, suggesting they were created by a highly civilised prehistoric people.

The petroglyphs inside the cave are of at least three distinct types. The oldest may date back over 8000 years ago. Evidence indicates that the Edakkal caves had been inhabited at several different times in history.

The caves were accidentally discovered by Fred Fawcett in 1890 who immediately understood their anthropological and historical importance. He subsequently wrote an article about them, attracting the attention of scholars.

Getting here

By Air

The nearest airport is Karipur Airport, 23 kms from Edakkal Caves. The airport is connected to many cities in India including Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai and Airline services are available from Karipur to many gulf countries.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is located at a distance of 97 kilometers at Kozhikode.

By Road

The Edakkal Caves can be accessed easily from anywhere in Kerala and Wayanad as it is well connected by a wide network of roads.The nearest town to Edakkal Caves is Sultan Bathery which is 12 km from Edakkal Caves.

Hotels

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