Edakkal Caves

Edakkal Caves lie on the Ambukuthi Mala, at an average altitude of 1000 m above sea level. These caves are considered as the earliest human settlement on the planet. The cliff on which the caves are situated is around 96 ft in length and 22 ft in width.

The word Edakkal, means a stone in between. As per the legend, these caves were formed on the cliff by the arrows shot by Lava and Kusha, the sons of Lord Rama. The caves were discovered by Fred Fawcett, the superintendent of police of the Malabar District, in 1890. After research, he concluded that these caves were the inhabited by the Neolithic man.

These caves are known to be the world's richest gallery of cave paintings. It is also believed that the interiors of these caves are the handwork of Kurumabars, one of the tribes inhabiting the region.

These caves are believed to be constructed around 7000 years ago and have a close resemblance to the caves in Stiriya in Europe and a few places in Africa. Ancient stone scripts, symbols and pictures of numerous animal and human figures and weaponry can be seen engraved on the walls of these caves.