Ambalavayal is a small village in Wayanad District.
In Ambalavayal having 4 major tourist places which is Edakkal Cave, Ambalavayal Heritage
museum, Regional Agricultural Research Station and phantom rock
The Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal:
The Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ambalavayal was established in 1946 as a part of the Wayanad Colonisation Scheme, under the Madras presidency. It was brought under the Department of Agriculture with the formation of Kerala State in 1956. Considering the importance of horticulture in the tract, this station was elevated to the status of Central Horticultural Research Station in 1966 and subsequently it was transferred to Kerala Agricultural University in 1972. In 1983, with the implementation of NARP, the station was upgraded as Regional Agricultural Research Station with Cardamom Research Station, Pampadumpara as its satellite station. A Krishi Vigyan Kendra with a target group of tribal farmers started functioning in the station in 1982.
Phantom Rock
Phantom Rock locally called ‘Thalappara’ one of the tourism spot on the hills of Cheengery Hills near Ambalavayal in the district, is facing a threat from the granite quarries functioning nearby.
Phantom Rock, as the name suggests, is blocks of huge rocks in the shape of a human skull. During the season, a lot of visitors, including foreigners, reach here to see this wonder of nature. As many as 50 granite quarries near the rock are posing serious threats to this exquisite formation.
Phantom Rock is formed out of huge metamorphic rocks. The vibrations owing to the incessant explosions from the nearby quarries will adversely affect the rock, George Mathew, an environmental enthusiast at Ambalavayal said.
A beautiful cave under Phantom Rock is also facing the same threat, Mr. Mathew said. This year alone, two new granite quarries have been permitted near the rock, he added. More over, a sand making unit is also functioning near to the rock. This site is situated nearly 2,500 feet above the sea level on the Cheengery Hills and can be developed as a major picnic spot in the tourism map of the district. More over, it is easily accessible by car and the beautiful view from the site will attract more tourists.
The unscientific and uncontrollable mining in this area are posing a threat to the nearby Edakkal caves too, Mr. Mathew said. At present, this area is under the possession of the Revenue department and if it is handed over to the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), we can develop it as a major tourism destination in the district, K.V. Biju, secretary, DTPC Wayanad district said.
Keywords: Phantom Rock, Thalappara, Cheengery Hills, granite quarries, metamorphic rocks, vibrations, threat
Edakkal caves
The fascinating prehistoric rock etchings found on the walls of these caves have drawn the serious attention of archeologists and historians worldwide.
With at least three distinct sets of petroglyphs, the earliest thought to date back over 5000 years, it is assumed that the Edakkal caves had been inhabited at various stages in history.
The name “Edakkal” literally means “a stone in between”, and this describes how the cave is formed by a heavy boulder straddling a fissure in the rock. Inside the cave is on two levels, the lower chamber measures about 18 feet long by 12 feet wide and 10 feet high and can be entered through an opening of 5 x 4 feet. A passage opposite the entrance leads upward to a small aperture in the roof through which one climbs up to the next storey whose interior is about 96 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 18 feet high. Light enters the cave through a big gap at the right-hand corner of the roof where the boulder does not touch the facing wall.
Legends of the Caves
The name Ambukuthimala is ascribed to the local legend which has it that the caves were formed by arrows fired by Lava and Kusha, the sons of Sri Rama, legendary hero of the Ramayana.Even today there are many who believe that Lord Rama killed Surpanakha, the sister of Ravana, in the narrow fissure at the southern end of Edakkal cave.
A local legend associates Kutti Chatan (the little devil of Malabar) with the goddess Mudiampilli, and until recently local people undertook an annual pilgrimage to the peak of the hill to perform a puja (ritual offering) in her honour.
The Colonial Discovery of the Caves
On a hunting trip to Wayanad in 1890, Fred- Fawcett, the then superintendent of police of the Malabar District, happened to see a Neolithic Celt (stone axe or chisel) recovered from the coffee estate of Colin Mackenzie. An enthusiast in prehistory, Fawcett made local enquiries and went round exploring the Wayanad high ranges. In the course of his rambles he was shown the Edakkal rock-shelter situated on the western side of Edakkalmala. He identified the site as a habitat of Neolithic (i.e. late Stone Age, c4000BC to c1700BC) people on the basis of the nature of representations on the cave walls, which appeared to him as engravings made of Neolithic Celts. It was an exciting discovery, as these were the first specimens of abraded drawings found in India.
Tribal Peoples & the Caves
Fawcett suggested the possibility that the carvings might have been the handiwork of Kurumbars (a tribal people of the Wayanad). He writes, "The curious reluctance of the Kurumbars to approach the Cave, combined with the simultaneous want of reverence for it both on the part of the Paniyas and the local Hindus, who are very small in numbers and not Iong resident in the Wayanad, might tempt one to hazard the theory as to the carvings being the handiwork of Kurumbars of a bygone day". Nevertheless he utters a word of caution as follows. "It should, however, be remembered that the Paniya is a particularly fearless individual while the Kurumbar is the reverse. The mere existence of the mysterious carvings in the silent, unfrequented cave would suffice to inspire the Kurumbar with a kind of awe and make him terrified to have anything to do with it”
The Edakkal caves in media
The Edakkal caves, situated about 4,000 feet above sea level in the Ambukuthi hillock in Wayanad district of Kerala, have yielded a hitherto unnoticed inscription engraved in the early Brahmi characters.
A former professor of Epigraphy, Calicut University, Dr M R Raghava Varier, who discovered the inscription, recently read this record as ‘Sri Vazhumi’.
While all the records reported earlier at Edakkal are at a distance from the rock, carvings without any reference to them, the newly discovered one appears to be a label attached to a human figure, he said.
The inscription seems to be engraved exactly in the Edakkal style of drawing—a human figure, which is shown as having a huge phallus. It probably denotes the idea of fertility, and suggests Brahma, the Hindu God of creation, Varier said in an email interview. The term ‘Vazhumi’ could be the Tamil rendering of the Sanskrit name Brahma and the sound ‘zhu’ in the name of the figure is written in the Tamil Brahmi script, he said. Rest of the letters take the forms of the northern variety of the alphabet, Varier, now the editor of ‘Kerala Archaeological Series’, a publication of the Department of Archaeology, said.
Further, the cursive letter ‘zha’ represents a later stage of evolution. The text as a whole denotes a merger of the Sanskrit and the Dravidian language and script, he said.
“The latest discovery is important in many ways”, Varier said adding, “Firstly, the label provides us with a link to suggest some connection between the rock art tradition of Edakkal and the Brahmi writing in South India, thereby suggesting a continuity of a long heritage.” Secondly, it contains the name of deity, while other writings at the site contain names of rulers and heroes.
Thirdly, the text as a whole denoted a merger of the Sanskrit and the Dravidian lanugages and scripts as well as religious ideas and lastly and more importantly, this record with reference to its period can function as a specific horizon to interpret many a carving on the walls of the Edakkal cave, he said. An estampage (an impression of the incription made on inked paper) was prepared by Krishnaraj, designer in the Kerala State Department of Archaeology.
Edakkal caves, famous for its rich rock art and inscriptions, and the Tamil Brahmi inscriptions of Edakal was first reported in 1901 in ‘Indian Antiquary’, a government of India publication, by F Fawcett, the then Superintendent of Police of the erstwhile Malabar district
The Wayanad Heritage Museum, under the District Tourism Promotion Council, at Ambalavayal in the district attracts a lot of tourists. The objet d'arts dated back to between the Neolithic ages and the 16th century has been neatly showcased at the Museum. The rare and exquisite collections from various parts of the district have been exhibited at four blocks of the Museum, namely, Veerasmruthi, Gothrasmruthi, Devasmruthi and Jeevanasmruthi.
The first block Veerasmruthi, showcases different types of Hero stones locally called ‘veerakkallu’ showing tiger hunts and primitive wars dating back to 14th -16th century A.D. The hero stones were erected on the tombs of a warrior or a hero in memory of his heroic deeds.
The Gothrasmruthi block provides a chance to see different articles associated with tribal life in the district. Articles such as ploughs, fish collecting bags and cow bells used by the tribal people are displayed here.
Devasmruthi is a treasure-house for scholars and students as the artefacts displayed in this section belong to the period between the Neolithic age and 17th century A.D. The terracotta figurines collected from a recent excavation at Kuppakolly near Edakkal cave in the district have been displayed here.
Apart from this, nearly 20 stone idols dating back between 12th and 16th centuries have also been showcased here. Jeevanasmruthi showcases various types of hunting traps, bangles, ear ornaments, necklaces and musical instruments used by the tribal people in Wayanad. A writing stone and Neolithic Celts from the district are also displayed.
A multi media theatre, adjacent to the Museum, offers a 50 minute CD show for tourists on the details of the district. Nearly 500 visitors reach here most of the days with an increased number during holidays, K.T. Johny, a Museum staff said.
