"Can't Get Over This Place": UK Traveller In Awe Of Edakkal Caves In Wayanad

A UK-based traveller recently shared her jaw-dropping reaction upon visiting the iconic Edakkal Caves in Wayanad, Kerala, standing inside a rock shelter and marvelling at its ancient carvings. The video, posted to Instagram, has since captivated millions of viewers online. Awestruck by the caves, she says in the video, "I'm standing in a cave which dates back to thirty thousand years ago. That is not even the most interesting part. These carvings right in front of me are the oldest carvings in the whole of India. As she pans her camera towards the engravings, she explains, "Have a look up here. That's all writing in Tamil Brahmin. They translate to: a man who lived here killed lots of tigers. These carvings date back six thousand to three thousand BC."

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"I'm about to show you the tribe leader. You can see his face, and he has a crown white just there. Children and another girl are just up there. This is like the craziest thing I've ever seen," she said. She writes in the caption, "I will never get over this place," further adding how incredible it was while stumbling across something as incredible as this place. "This place remains one of the coolest places I have EVER been." Watch the video here:

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In the comments, many people echoed her sentiments:

A user said, "These are magnificent!!"

Another chimed in, "I've never heard of this before?! So special to see in real life the evidence of people who walked the planet looong before us!"

Someone mentioned, "Oh my gosh, this is incredible!"

"The way you say things.. So lovely," read a comment.

History Of Edakkal Caves In Wayanad, Kerala

The majestic Edakkal Caves are a formation of huge boulders, roughly 96 feet long and 22 feet wide, that are clefts rather than caves. In the intricate engravings throughout the stretch, we can spot a 6,000 BCE prehistoric village that depicts early human implements, human and animal forms, and other uninterpreted symbols. The carvings date back to the Neolithic and Stone Ages, with pictorial writings on the walls. The natural rock formation was discovered by a police official named Fred Fawcett in 1895, leading to the place being recognised by its historical importance.

The digital creator mentioned some fun facts about this place in the same caption, making it a must-visit destination for travellers. These are:

• Despite being called "caves", Edakkal is actually a natural rock shelter formed when a large boulder got wedged between two bigger ones.
• The Caves contain ancient carvings (petroglyphs) believed to be over 8,000 years old, dating back to the Neolithic or late Stone Age.
• The caves were discovered in 1890 by a British police officer named Fred Fawcett while he was out hunting.

How To Reach Edakkal Caves?

Here's a simple guide to visiting this fascinating spot:

The easiest way to reach the Edakkal Caves is by driving to Sultan Bathery in Wayanad. You can also take a bus from the Kalpetta bus station towards the same spot. Then head to the Ambukuthi hill. From the parking lot, you need a 1.5 km trek, including a set of stairs, to reach the caves. This hike takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes, offering surreal views of the surrounding greenery.

Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode, also known as Calicut (CLT), situated at a distance of 100 km, which can be covered in about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Nearest Airport: Kozhikode, also known as Karipur International Airport (CCJ), at a distance of 106 km, which can be covered in 3 hours 10 minutes.

Edakkal Caves remain closed on all Mondays and national holidays. It opens at 8 AM and closes at 4 PM, and allows only 1920 visitors each day.