Edakkal | |
Settlement Type: | Village |
Pushpin Map: | India Kerala#India |
Pushpin Label Position: | right |
Established Title: | Settled |
Established Date: | 4th millennium BCE |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Kerala, India |
Coordinates: | 11.6167°N 76.2167°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | India |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Kerala |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | Wayanad |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Demographics Type1: | Languages |
Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
Demographics1 Info1: | Malayalam, English |
Timezone1: | IST |
Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
Registration Plate: | KL-73 |
Edakkal is a remote location in Wayanad district of Kerala, India, the site of the Edakkal Caves. The tallest mountain in the district, Ambukuthi mala, is located here.
Above the caves are views of the mountainous junction of the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The nearest major town is Sulthan Bathery that is around 12 km away, while the closest urban centre is Ambalavayal that is located at a distance of 4 km.
See main article: article and Edakkal Caves. Three pre-historic caves known as the Edakkal Caves, dating from at least 5000 BC, had been discovered on Ambukuthi mala. There are stone age pictorial writings on the walls of these natural caves. In late 2007, a major effort had been initiated by several archaeologists - both Indian and Western to have the UNESCO declare the site of the Edakkal Caves a World Heritage Centre.[1]
There are seemingly different sets of works. The older group of cave paintings and engravings, going back at least 7000 years, depict pre-historic tribal chieftains, elephants, queens and tools. A less ancient script from the 3rd or 4th century BC is also seen in the complex of caves.