Edakkal Caves In Lakkidi
Lakkidi is the gateway of Wayanad district of Kerala. The small town is situated 700m above the sea level on the Thamaraserry ghat pass. Lakkidi is one of the highest locations in Wayanad. Edakkal caves in Lakkidi is one of the famous tourist spots close by.
A popular hill station in India, Lakkidi receives the second highest rainfall in India after Cheerapunji in Assam. The famous hill station of India is soaked with rain almost through out the year. Like the rest of Kerala the hill station is lush green and moist most of the time. The Tropical forests surround the hill station and tourists can experience the murmuring of rain insects and rain dripping woods.
While the other hill stations in India have become commercial and crowded with visitors, Lakkidi is still nascent. The natural inhabitants of the hill station are tribes like Mudugar and Irulas. Tourists can enjoy the Lakkidi hill station in the famous Rain Resorts located here. The terrain of Lakkidi provides good trekking ground to the tourists.
Lakkidi has strong historical and cultural background. The famous poet Kunjan Nambiar was born here. People know the poet satirist Kunjan Nambiar for starting the famous solo dance narration known as Ottanthullal. Kunjan's poetry used to be satirical as well as humorous at the same time. He was one of the luminaries of Kerala's literature and poetry. Lovers of art and literature visit Lakkidi to see the poet's house which is still preserved and maintained by the Government.
Edakkal cave in Lakkidi is also a much visited destination in this small hill station of Wayanad. These are prehistoric caves situated on Ambukuthi Hills. The literal meaning of Edakkal in Malyalam is "the stone in between". According to the archeologists Edakkal is not actually cave but a fissure in the stone which is amazing and mysterious.
Edakkal Caves in Lakkidi
The fissure is made by a corner of rock splitting from the main body due to some natural cause. What looks like a cave is actually a formation of three stones, two splitting form each other and one big stone on top of both providing a shed. This position of the stones makes it look like a cave.
The walls of Edakkal caves have paintings and scriptures. These paintings and pictures almost date to the Neolithic age and tell the story of the tribes that lived here long back. The animal and human figures depict the way and lifestyle of tribal who was heavily dependant on nature, animals, and farming for their livelihood.
Edakkal Caves is surrounded with lush green tropical forest and hillocks. One can get a thrilling view of the surrounding area with the help of the telescope fixed there. The tourists should not forget to enjoy the special ginger sherbet and herbal masala tea sold by locals. One has to trek a little in order to reach Edakkal but the view on reaching the spot is worth it.
Eddakal cave in Lakkidi is a unique spot that thrills the tourists. It is of special interest for Historians and Archeologists studying tribal history and predated civilizations.