
Archaeological sites in
Kerala are ancient historical spots which provide refuge to numerous evidences of civilizations which might have been existent over 3000 years ago. Some archaeologists are of the view that Kerala possesses a large number of archaeological sites, which are yet waiting to be discovered. The Aryankavu-Thenmala-Kulathupuzha Arippa belt in
Kollam District bears some of the most spectacular ruins of prehistoric period, particularly from the
Iron Age, along with
Buddhist relics from different portions of the area which were previously forgotten and the regions where excavations were not permitted. At Kulathupuzha, instances of
iron smelting have been found, which might date back to 1400 BC, apart from two rock-cut
Buddhist temples which belong to above 2000 years. Ariyannur Umbrellas, Cherpu,
Eddakal Caves, Kollengode
Palace, Mattancherry Palace, St. Thomas Fort at Tangasseri,
Vizhinjam Rock Caves, William
Fort,
Tellicherry Fort and several others.
Ariyannur Umbrellas
Located in
Thrissur District of Kerala, Ariyannur Umbrellas is an interesting Megalith burial site of the prehistoric age. It is existent within the jurisdiction of Kandanassery
Panchayat. It was proclaimed as a protected monument by the
Archaeological Survey of India in the year 1951. Locally termed as 'Kudaikkallu', Ariyannur consists of six umbrella stones or mushroom stones, and their appearance is unique. Out of the six stones, two are broken.
Edakkal Caves
Edakkal Caves are two natural caves which are present at Edakkal, about 25 km away from Kalpetta in
Wayanad District, near
Western Ghats. These historical caves are situated at an altitude of 1,200 metres above mean sea level, on Ambukutty
Mala, close to a trade route near the
mountains of
Mysore. This trade route connected the
Malabar Coast with the mountains of Mysore. Pictorial writings dating back to 6000 BC were present inside the caves, which suggest some evidences of ancient civilization.
Kollengode Palace
Situated in Thrissur, Kerala, Kollengode Palace was constructed by Vasudeva Raja, the ruler of Kollengode, during the year 1904. This palace was then passed on to his daughter. The Department of Archaeology had collected the property and transformed it into a
museum during 1975. Presently, the possessions and articles utilized by Vasudeva Raja are exhibited. The architectural style follows that of
Kerala architecture, fused with western styles. Today, this beautiful palace includes the
Mural Art Museum within its premises.
Tellicherry Fort
Tellicherry Fort is based in Thalassery and is a town in
Kannur District, created by the
British East India Company during 1708. It was built with an aim to create a strong political impact on the Malabar Coast.
Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore kingdom was unable to capture this fort, in the year 1781. Beautifully carved large doors, massive walls, square fort, strong bastions and secret tunnels leading to the sea were some of the features of Tellicherry Fort. Currently, this
monument is conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India or ASI.
Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Temple
Known as one of the oldest
temples of southern India, Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Temple is belitved to have been erected by Lord
Parasurama and is present on the banks of Karamana River, beside Thiruvallam in
Thiruvananthapuram. It is about 6 km away from
Kovalam Beach and 5 kms from Trivandrum. This temple was created during the 12th and 13th century and has been declared as a protected monument by the Archaeological Department of Kerala and is supervised by the Travancore
Devaswom Board.
Vizhinjam Rock Caves
Unique rock-cut
sculptures belonging to the 18th century are the major attractions of the Vizhinjam Rock Cut Caves which are present at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. A sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi is present in a granite cave while the exteriors of the cave portray incomplete relics of
Lord Shiva, along with Goddess
Parvati. It is located at a distance of nearly 17 kms from the main
city. Historical evidences prove that Vizhinjam was a capital of the Ay
chieftains who reigned over the southern portions of Kerala during the 8th century.
Other Archaeological Sites in Kerala
Kerala boasts of numerable other archaeological sites which involve
Bekal Fort, Kadavallur,
Palakkad Fort,
St. Francis Church,
Kochi,
St. Angelo's Fort, Thovarimala Ezhuthupara, Wadakkancherry and several others.
(Last Updated on : 21/12/2013)