Day 5 of the "virtual (digital) tour" of places known for unusual customs, practices, mysterious phenomena.
A GEOLOGICAL FLUKE
The most peculiar characteristic of Edakkal is its structure. It is actually a natural fissure, a massive crack in the mountain. In the distant past, a gigantic boulder became wedged between two enormous rocks, creating a roof-like shelter.
This explains the name; in Malayalam, Edakkal literally translates to "a stone in between".
AN SP's DISCOVERY
How it was discovered is an interesting story. In 1890, Fred Fawcett, the Superintendent of Police for Malabar, was on a hunting trip when he discovered a Neolithic stone axe. Following local leads up the hillside, he stumbled upon the rock shelter, revealing what is now recognised as one of the oldest prehistoric settlements in South India.
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| Image courtesy: Wayanad.com |
Notably, Edakkal is the only known site in South India where carvings from both the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras coexist.
An interesting feature is the lighting; natural sunlight streams through an opening in the roof, illuminating all the ancient carvings.
LEGENDS AND LINKS
Some of the 400 signs carved into the walls bear a striking resemblance to the Indus Valley Civilization script, hinting at ancient connections across the subcontinent.
Local legend attributes the fissure to Lord Rama, who is said to have pierced the hill with an arrow. This is reflected in the name of the hill, Ambukutty, which means "pierced by an arrow".
Information sources: Wikipedia, Kerala Tourism, Wayanad district website)
Previous posts in the series: Asur, Bhangarh, Channapatna dog temple, Dhinga Gavar
This post is part of the A to Z Challenge and Blogchatter A2Z 2026
Hi! Pradeep, this information is totally afresh to me. Neither did I know the meaning of Edakkal, nor about the petroglyphs of 8000 and odd years old. Highly interesting.
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