A cave is a natural underground hollow space. They can have narrow passageways (corridors) and chambers (caverns). They are usually formed when underground acidic (sour) water wears away softer stones, such as limestone. Only the hard rock, such as granite, is left. Most of the longest and deepest caves in the world are formed by chemical corrosion processes in rocks particularly water-soluble thanks to their mineral composition. These corrosion processes are known as karst processes.
The Different Types of Caves are Glacier Caves (formed near the snouts of glaciers), Sea Caves, (formed by wave action along coastlines). Eolian Caves. wind-carved caves that usually form in desert areas), Rock Shelters, Talus Caves (openings formed between boulders piled up on mountain slopes), Primary Caves (formed at the same time as the surrounding rock), Lava Caves (formed through volcanic activity) and Solution Caves ((found in rock types such as limestone, marble, dolomite gypsum and halite, and are associated with land made up of limestone).

Caves of Kerala

Archaeological studies provide valuable insights into the history of caves in Kerala. Major caves in Kerala are Edakkal Caves, Ezhuthupara cave, Ezhuthupara cave, Porkalam Pilikode Caves, Maniyoor caves, Kuthanoor caves etc.
Kerala has few cave temples made out of rocks. These cave temples are seen in earliest temples of Kerala and they were built prior to 800 AD. The Saivite cult influenced the architectural style of these temples. The rock cut temples in the southern region are that of Pandya style while that of the northern region of Pallava style. Some are of opinion that the rock cut temples in Kerala were formerly Jain shrines.

IMPORTANT CAVES AND CAVE TEMPLES

Edakkal Caves

Edakkal Caves is not only a historic place but also a wonderful tourist spot as these caves belong to the Stone Age. The carvings of the Edakkal Caves are very captivating. Many historians and tourists from different corners of the world visit this tourist spot in order to enjoy its carvings. It is believed that the caves at this destination are formed as a result of an earthquake. You can watch some age-old carvings and pictorial writings in these caves which are believed to be dated somewhere around 6000 BCE from the Neolothic Man. Many archaeologists and historians visit this place as the engravings from the Stone Age indicate the pre -historic civilization in this region.

Ezhuthupara Cave

Ezhuthupara Cave, otherwise known as the cave of pictures is on the foothills of the high ranges about 3300 feet above the MSL. It is a solitary tall granite ridge with a wider concavity and looks like a serpent hood of 12 meters in height and of 10 meters in width. The pre-historic cave paintings are within that concavity and they occupy three fourth of the concavity. The colours used in this pr-historic art gallery are red-ochre, grey, pinkish buff, saffron and brownish yellow. The entire concavity is covered by paintings and engravings. Horse, bull, elephants, human figures, impressions of palm, auspicious symbols, ritual performers, ceremonials, tiger-like animal, elephants with mahouts etc are pasteurized there. The human figures keep a close resemblance to that of the proto Egyptian pictures.The archaeological Department declared Ezhuthupura cave as a protected monument.

Kuthanoor Rock Caves

Rock cut caves of Kuthanur is located in Kuthanur Panchayat of Palakkad district. Relics from the Megalithic culture have been found from the caves. The architectural features of port-hole cist of Muppuzha show strong similarities with dolmens from different parts of Europe, Iberian Peninsula, France, Caucasus Mountains, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Israel. The Archeological Department of Kerala has declared the rock cut caves as protected ones.

Porkalam Rocks

Porkalam rock cut caves are located in the compound in front of the Vedakkad temple. They have been excavated out of hard laterite rock. The caves found there have a porthole and a square entrance. Outside the entrance, there is a rectangular passage with carved steps on one side. The pillar carved out of laterite is located at the middle. The urn-burial excavated in the same compound is dated between 1st century B.C. to 1st century C.E. These caves are also assumed to belong to that period. The black and red potteries and iron objects collected from the rock-cut caves are housed in Archaeological Museum, Kozhikode.

Pilicode Cave

Pilicode cage is located in Kasaragod district about 12 km north of Payyannur town. It is a megalithic monument. The government of Kerala declared the cave as a protected one.

Maniyoor Cave

Maniyur cave isat Vadakara. It opens gateways of knowledge to the culture that existed in the megalithic age. The entrance of the cave is carved in different square shapes and in layers, a typical style prevailing in the megalithic period. A circular pillar is there at the centre of the cave and beautiful seats have been carved inside the cave. It is a protected monument of the Government of Kerala.

Nedumala caves

Nedumala caves are located at Piralimattam on the border of Idukki district and Ernakulam District in Kerala state, India. Caves are well carved on granite rock and stone shelter. According to archaeologists, caves are points towards its chronology to the Neolithic period of around 4000 BC. The three caves discovered at Piralimattam in Nedumala have elaborate petroglyphs in cupules and shallow grinding surface. It is a man made shelter of the Prehistoric past having a large single rock slab of 4 meter length, 2 m width and 1.5 feet~46cm thickness which rests on two rock out-crops of 5 feet~2m height. Shelter is in north-south direction and its opening is on the eastern side. Shelter has 5 feet~2m height and can accommodate two or three people inside.

Irunilamcode Rock cut temple

Located at Mulloorkkara in Thrissur district, Irunilamcode rock cut temple pertained to the 8th-9th century C.E. It is one of the old and important temples in Kerala dedicated to Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Siva etc. The chief deity Dakshinamurthy is carved out of the same rock in sitting posture. The linga is seen adjacent to the chief deity. It is in a cave. This hillock lays spread in an area of more than hundred acres with solid rock. It was declared as protected monument in 1966 by the State Department of Archaeology.

Kallil Cave Temple

Kallil Temple is located 12 km away from Perumbavoor at Asamannoor Panchayat. Kallil in Malayalam means. It is one of the most ancient Jain temples in Kerala, which was later transformed as a Hindu temple consequent on the decline of Jainism and insurgence of Aryans inthe 9th century. The idol which was worshipped here was that of Jain Goddess Padmavathy. Vardhamana Mahaveera was also worshipped. Now these two idols are worshipped as GoddessBhagavathy and Lord Siva. The boulder of the cave is a huge one. The rock cut temple has three rooms. In the first room Lord Siva and Goddess Bhagavathy (Durga) are consecrated. All the three rooms have separate entrance. The temple was owned by Kallil Pisharam. Now the temple is governed by Sri Ramadas Mission, Chenkottukonam, Thiruvananthapuram on behalf of the Pisharam. It is one of the protected monuments in Kerala under Archaeological Survey of India.

Kottukkal Cave Temple

Kottukkal Cave Temple, also known as Kaltrikkovil in Malayalam, is an existing example of rock cut architecture, built between 6th and 8th centuries CE. It is situated in the village of Kottukkal, near Anchal, Kollam district, Kerala, India. The name Kottukkal (which means Kothiya Kallu- carved rock) is a reference to rock cut shrine. Kottukkal rock cut temple is a typical example of rock-cut temples of Kerala. Tthere are two rock-cut caves facing the east, excavated out from one single rock. Of them, the larger cell has a four-sided Garbhagriha, an Ardhamandapa and a pillared facade. A monolithic bull (Nandi) and Sivalinga can be seen in both the caves. The Mukhamandapa of the big cell has two pillars carved in rock. The wall of the Mukhamandapa is beautified with a figure of Ganapathi. A standing figure of Hanuman is seen in one of the niches of the small cell along with the idol of Nandi. The Department of Archaeology declared it as a protected monument in 1966.

Madavoorpara Rock Cut Temple

The antiquity and origin of the temple can be determined based on legends and hearsay. One of the legends about the origin of the cave temple says that the shrine was built by a Buddhist monk centuries ago. Some believe that the temple was built by Jains. Rock cut temples are one of the main styles of Kerala architecture during ancient period and it is believed that the temple was constructed during 7-9 century AD. This cave temple is found at the mid portion of the rock. To reach the shrine, one has to climb more than 200 steps. The images and idols are carved on the walls in relief style. There is an ancient vattezhuth inscription near the shrine. The Madavoorpara temple is managed by Sree Rama Dasa Mission, Thiruvananthapuram. The temple premise is declared as a protective area by the Archeology Department, Government of Kerala.

Munikkallu Guhalayam Temple

Munikkal Cave Temple situated on a hillock in Chengamanad near Aluva in Eranakulam district. It has historical and mythological importance. It is believed that sage Jangaman had lived here around 2000 years ago. A f Lord Murugan Temple was built on the spot where the sage is said to have meditated which was later consecrated by Chattambi Swamikal in 1898. The word "Munikkal Guhalayam" literally means sages rock cave. Another story is that Lord Murugan had made this place as His abode and hence the cave was called as Guhalayam.

Panunda Siva Temple

Panunda Siva Temple is situated at Pinarayi Panchyat in Kannur district. Datable to ancient period, the temple is located in the surroundings having four caves. During ancient times, worship was held in these caves by saints, as evidenced from the materials excavated from these caves. The cave at the south east has two entrances. About 10 m north of this cave, another cave with one entrance and the third cave is about 200 m south of the second cave. The last cave also situates close to this cave. Each cave has the capacity to accommodate one for meditation and led down. The land having the cave belonged to Muthuvatt Illam and they have unearthed idols and constructed the temple. The temple has with square dwi-thala sanctum sanctorum with laterite adhishtanam and wall and laterite roof. Lord Siva is the presiding deity of the temple.

Trikkur Mahadeva Temple

The rock-cut temple at Thrikkur in Thrissur district dates back to the 8th century. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siva. The Garbhagraha of the temple is carved out from a huge rock. The sivalinga mounted on a rectangular linga peeda faces the east. The dwarapalakas and other deities are arranged in a peculiar way unlike that of other temples. The Namaskaramandapa with granite pillars, Agrasala, Gopuram, Nalambalam and the Thidappally are constructed in later periods. The other striking feature is that there is an evergreen small pond on the top of the rock. The Department of Archaeology declared it as a protected monument in 1966. The temple owned by the Paliyam Devaswom is now managed by the Temple Trust.

Thrukkakudy Cave Temple

Thrikkakkudy cave temple dedicated to Lord Siva is one of the oldest cave temples of Kerala. It is believed to have belonged to the latter half of the 8th century. The entire construction resembles the Pallava art tradition. This cave temple comprises of a central shrine with a Sivalinga, an Ardhamandapa and a facade. The cave is about 20 feet wide and 8 feet high. Two pillars of 8 feet in height gave out three cave openings. A cylindrical rock cut Siva lingam is enshrined in the central shrine. There is a rectangular hall in front of the sanctum. The temple was declared as a protected monument in 1965.

Vizhinjam Temple

Vizhinjam Cave Temple is the earliest rock cut temple of 8th century BC. It is located at Vizhinjam, in Trivandrum district. Vizhinjam was the headquarters of the Ay kings who ruled the southern parts of Kerala in 8th century. The granite cave encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinadhara Dakshinamurti. The outer wall of the cave depicts unfinished reliefs of Siva. The temple is one of the smallest rock-cut shrines in South India. The shrine has a central cell with an independent sculpture of Dakshinamurthy and on either side of the cell are unfinished sculptures of Siva and Parvathi. This rock cut cave is a protected monument of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Refernces:
Department of Archeology, Government of Kerala
Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala
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