With the abundance of natural hills and terrain that God’s own country is blessed with, there is bound to be a number of caverns or Caves. The caves of Kerala are a heritage of India and a visit to them will equally charm and awe you. Some of the caves to be found In Kerala are:

Edakkal Caves:

The Edakkal caves are naturally formed by a large division of a huge rock. The name Edakkal therefore means ‘a stone in between’. Situated in the dense hills of Ambukuthi, Edakkal caves are around ten kilometres from Sulthanbathery of Wayanad district. The caves date back 5000 years. The pictorials and writings on the walls of these caves are evidence for this fact as they depict a prehistoric era in the Stone Age.

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Pakshipathalam Cave:

Also known as Munikal cave as it was believed to be used by rishis and munis, the Pakshipathalam Cave is in the Thirunelli district. It is at an altitude of 1740 metres with lush greenery all around, making it an ideal spot for trekking and hiking.

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Kotthavalam Cave:

With many legends attached to it, the Kotthavalam cave in Kottayam district, is set on a steep rock on Murugan Hills. The cave is replete with sculptures and statues of Lord Muruga and other Gods and Goddesses. Arms and weapons bearing different shapes are another attraction present in this cave.

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Pandavan Rock Cave:

Located at Urukunnu in Kollam district, this cave is named after the mythological heroes, Pandavas. The Pandavas are believed to have used them during their exile, hence the name. The caves can be reached by a trek up a hill called Pandava Para from Urukunnu. Tourists can pray to a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva at the foot of the hill before trekking up Pandava Para. The trek is a glorious experience as it is easy and complete with many vantage points to view the beautiful and scenic hills, forests as well as the Kallada Dam. There is a temple on top near the Pandavan caves.

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Kottukal caves:

A fine example of rock cut architecture, the Kottukal cave temple located in Kollam district was built between 6^th and 8^th centuries CE. Kottukal cave temple has two caves of unequal size with a deity of Ganapathyin between. There are idols of Hanuman and Nandi and a Shiva Linga in the caves.

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Add caves to your must-visit list of Kerala, they are certainly worth your time.

Have you read about Caves of Maharashtra?

Also read - Caves of Karnataka