Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Edakkal caves and Kannur Fort

This was my 2nd trip to Kerala in the last 4 months. It was to attend a marriage in Kannur, the route was through the Bandipur reserve. Didn't manage to catch a glimpse of any animals this time, it was hot and dry. Decided to take a detour to visit Edakkal caves in Wayanad.


Edakkal Caves

These are fascinating neolithic natural cave site with pre-historic rock etchings. on the walls of these caves.The earliest works seem to date back to 8000 years ago. The word EDAKKAL means "a stone in between", describing how the caves are formed. A heavy boulder straddles a fissure in the rock.

The walk to the cave is very tiring, steep and needs lot of stamina. There are ladders at places, but it would only make it difficult..Quite slippery but worth it at the end :-)

The rock carvings are quite fascinating, proof that they had tools well defined. There are pictures of chieftains, man, wheel, elephants...

More about Edakkal caves here - Ambukuthi Mala and Edakkal caves. Did click few pictures. Here they are.

Steep, uneven ways leading to the cave.


To the cave


The EDAKKAL - boulder in between the caves


Stone carvings on a wall


A chieftain


An inscription


Wheels


A pattern



St. Angelo's Fort

It is also called as Kannur Fort and is built along the shores of Arabian sea. It was built in 1505 by the Portuguese, just like For Aguada in Goa. The seashore is picturesque, natural fishing bay . The fort is built of laterite, triangular and the walls protect the inland from the rough sea.

More about the fort here - St Angelo's Fort. Now for some photos

The wall against the sea



The sea


Canons facing the sea


Light at the end of the tunnel :-)


Storage rooms maybe


Laterite wall and a canon


A wall


44 comments:

  1. I have to hand it to you. As always, beautiful pictures and a wonderful travelogue. Edakkal caves remind me of Stonehenge in England. But these caves are better than Stonehenge. The cannons are awesome. Thanks for the wonderful narration.

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  2. loved the clicks..though I have seen these and more; but with the description it's a double treat :)

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  3. Thanks a ton SG. The places are so beautiful that I do not do justice to them.

    The Stonehenge are unique in itself..the rock etchings are unique as well.

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  4. Thanks Neha. Yeah, there were other places to visit as well, but no time.

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  5. Have been to Edekkal caves. You're right, its a tiring climb but worth it. On our way back we took the jeep though. We were completely exhausted. I love Wayanad!!!:-)
    Seen kannur fort from the outside only. Great pics!!! Brought back nice memories.

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  6. I liked pics...

    and description as well :)

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  7. Caves, canons and courts ! This seem to be our history !

    I saw it in Ellora and Aurangabad and you write from down there ! My God ! Our paths indeed cross. Dont they !

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  8. lostworld,

    Its worth it!! yeah! Wayanad is a nice place. Kannur fort is awesome too :-)

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  9. Kavi,

    Right!! every way, our history is bounty with canons, caves, arts, forts....

    I do wish to visit Ajanta and Ellora caves soon

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  10. there is a similar looking fort. mid way between mumbai and goa. only fort in india that is in the middle of the sea.and the pictures are nice.am going to go kerala this june.free

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  11. Nice pics. The climb is real strenuous. One of our neighbours had a severe attack while doing so. Seems it is is real cool once you get to top, a real good shelter from the elements.

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  12. Nice pics. The climb is real strenuous. One of our neighbours had a severe attack while doing so. Seems it is is real cool once you get to top, a real good shelter from the elements.

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  13. Amazing photos and description. I will definitely give a visit when I go there...:) Thanks for sharing!

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  14. Mujhe Bhi jana hai .. not coming to your blog too.. makes me jealous and urges me to leave everything and turn up there ... :)

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  15. well SG just summed up what i thought.... indeed like stonehenge... ana nama oorla so many things to seee... nama etho this that abt other countries braggin ! :)...

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  16. soin,

    Oh is that so? I didnt know. Have to explore that now. Kerala is a lovely place. I am sure you will enjoy

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  17. Holy Lama,

    Thank you. Yeah it is strenuous, but worth. Oh thats sad.

    Its really worth the sight..to see those etchings and drink super cool natural water :-) and get drenched in that

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  18. Megha,

    Thank you. Please dont miss Kerala. :-0

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  19. Bik,

    Just leave everything and pack your bags and land here :-)

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  20. Hary,

    Yes, aana you dont have to strain yourself to see Stonehenge..Here the climb is strenuous and there lies the fun :-)

    Indeed, our country is bountiful of amazing things,,we ignore. :-(

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  21. Lovely pictures but have not had a chance to visit these sites. May be some other day.

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  22. Kudos to you. Nice pictures and nice description. But I don't think I would take up such a journey as one needs lot of stamina:(

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  23. Very nice! I've been planning a Bandipur trip for so long. It's never gonna happen it seems :(
    Photos always have a great story to tell!

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  24. Chowla sir,

    Thanks much. Please visit them when you get a chance

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  25. Chitra,

    Thanks a ton...beautiful places these were. Oh yeah, you need not worry..they have jeep service but to the caves it IS strenuous. :-)

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  26. Shaunak,

    A trip is really worthy. :-)

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  27. Edakkal caves are simply lovely. I clearly remember a few 100 metres before the caves, You get amazing lime juice; dirt cheap:)
    Did you climb all the way to the peak? Amazing view from up there. You can see paddy fields in a maze of hills for miles!!

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  29. Thanks Kish. We juicy pineapples and mangoes after coming out of the caves :-D

    And no, there was a clear notice not to go beyond the point even though few guys were trying to. So did not want to break the rules to climb to the peak :-)

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  30. Lovely pictures. I plan to visit Kerala this year.

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  31. Thanks A. Kerala is a must visit. Enjoy!! :-)

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  32. I have visited the place before..
    the pictures brought back those memories..

    loved those snaps of carvings on the wall.
    :)

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  33. Photographs are really excellent.

    Suggest you to visit "Borra Caves" very beautiful caves in AP, 100 Kms from Visakhapatnam and "Araku Valley" very near to these caves. Excellent place to see and for holiday trip.

    I did't get any chance to see these Edakkal caves in Wayanad. So far heard about this and now I am seeing the place thru your excellent pictures. May be I will try to visit.

    Best of luck and wish you many more visits to all the lovely places.

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  34. Sorcerer,

    Yeah, thanks much and glad that it brought back nice memories :-)

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  35. Naidu sir,

    Thanks much. I am glad you liked the pictures. I do want to visit the Borra caves, Anjanta and Ellora as well. Hope I will make it someday.

    When you get a chance, please visit Edakkal caves, you will love it. :-)

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  36. Beautiful!!
    Superb clicks...wud love to visit sometime..:)

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  37. Thanks jaunty :-)
    Please visit it when possible

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  38. Photographs are very good, 'Hey, would like to share my experience of my travel to Kannur. I decided to enjoy the scenic beauty of KERALA by visiting, Kannur and Wayanad. RingCab.com [ http://www.ringcab.com ] , helped me to realize my dream. They are reliable, amazing, too customer friendly, thought of sharing this  useful info to my other fellow travelers. Worth giving a try to avail RingCab.com [http://www.ringcab.com ]' transit facility '.

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  39. Photographs are very good, 'Hey, would like to share my experience of my travel to Kannur. I decided to enjoy the scenic beauty of KERALA by visiting, Kannur and Wayanad. RingCab.com [ http://www.ringcab.com ] , helped me to realize my dream. They are reliable, amazing, too customer friendly, thought of sharing this  useful info to my other fellow travelers. Worth giving a try to avail RingCab.com [http://www.ringcab.com ]' transit facility '.

    ReplyDelete

I'd love to know what you thought :-) Please shoot!