Interesting Story of Phantom Rock and Edakkal Caves Kalpetta, Wayanad

Phantom Rock

Phantom Rock and Edakkal Caves have situated about 13 km from Kalpetta adjacent to the Ambalavayal town in Wayanad district Kerala. One of the most interesting sightseeing places in Wayanad, Phantom Rock is a Rocky column found seen rarely in the world. It is famous due to its shape the form of a phantom skull and thus derives the name of this structure. The picturesque rock is standing tall at an elevation of 792 meters above sea level and is surrounded by lush greenery.

Phantom rock place is an exciting spot for trekkers and hikers offering some amazing opportunities for photographers. It is a picture-perfect place for those who are looking for peace and solitude. A Phantom Rock photo showing the skull-shaped rock over a small boulder is formed out of huge metamorphic rocks after a long erosion process by Wind and Organic weathering. locally the Phantom Rock is known as Cheengeri Mala or Thalappara. Cheengeri Mala offers calm from the crowds and noise. The landscape here is picturesque and surrounded by beautiful greenery that accentuates the brilliance of this archaeological wonder.

The Phantom rock has ample spots around him where people can go camping and trekking. Once at the top, you get a splendid view of the city comfortably nestled within the beautiful colours of nature. The surroundings of Phantom Rock have potential scenic locations. The scenic surroundings near the Phantom Rock and Edakkal Caves make it a potential tourist trekking and camping location. The surroundings have a lot of greeneries and rocks. Those who wish to trek or camp have to carry their own kit for routes and trails.

Edakkal Caves

Edakkal caves showcase nature’s skill and philosophy on architecture. These caves are located 1,200 m above sea level on Ambukutty Mala. The name ‘Edakkal’ literally means a stone in between. Here you can see a cave formed by a heavy boulder straddling a fissure in the rock.

The caves were discovered by Fred Fawcett, the then Superintendent of Police of the Malabar district in 1890, during his hunting trip to Wayanad. He discovered the Edakkal rock shelter, situated on the western side of Edakkalmala. He identified the place as a habitat of Neolithic people.

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Edakkal Caves is famous for petroglyphs, these are not caves but more likely rifts in between two rock boulders. There are three types of petroglyphs to see at the Edakkal Caves, and the oldest ones date back to 8,000 years. This is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Inside the cave, you can see two chambers. The lower chamber is 18 ft long, 12 ft wide, and 10 ft high and the upper chamber is 96 ft long, 22 ft wide, and 18 ft high. Tourists can see carvings of human and animal figures on the walls of the caves. These carvings give great evidence of a highly civilized society that lived in the pre-historic age. Edakkal caves have great importance for archaeologists and historians worldwide.

How to Reach Phantom Rock 

Phantom Rock is a popular tourist destination located in Wayanad district in the Indian state of Kerala. The nearest airport is Calicut International Airport, which is approximately 100 km away from The place. One can hire a taxi or take a bus from the airport to reach Phantom Rock. The nearest railway station is Kozhikode Railway Station, which is approximately 70 km away from Phantom Rock. One can also reach to the place by road. Wayanad is well-connected by road with major cities in Kerala and neighboring states.