Page 26 - history_Classical

The name Wayanad has been derived from the
expression Vayal nadu - the village of paddy fields. In the ancient times this land was
ruled by the Rajas of the Veda tribe. In later times, Wayanad came under the rule of
Pazhassi Rajahs of Kottayam royal dynasty. When Hyder Ali became the ruler of
Mysore , he invaded Wayanad and brought it under his way. In the days of Tipu,
Wayanad was restored to the Kottayam royal dynasty.
But Tipu handled entire Malabar to the British after the Sreerangapatnam truce that he
made with them. This was followed by fierce encounters between the British and Kerala
Varma Pazhassi Rajah of Kottayam. Even when the Rajah was driven to the wilderness
of Wayanad, he waged several battles with his Nair and Kurichia-Kuruma tribal soliders
against the British troops and defeated the latter several times through guerilla type
encounters. The British could get only the dead body of the Rajah who killed himself
somewhere in the interior forest.
Thus Wayanad fell into the hands of British, and with it began a new turn in the history
of this area. The Britishers opened up the Plateau for cultivation of tea and other cash
crops. Roads were laid across the dangerous slopes of Wayanad from Calicut and
Telicherry. These roads were extended to the city of Mysore and to Ooty through
Gudalur. Road facilities provided opportunities for the people outside Wayanad to flow
and settle in these jungle regions.
When the state of Kerala was formed in 1956, Wayanad was part of Kannur district.
Later South Wayanad was added to Kozhikode district and then on November 1, 1980
North and South Wayanad joined together to form the present Wayanad district.edakkal
caves are the most historical and famous place in wayanad. Twenty five kilometers
away from Kalpetta lays two caves which showcases nature’s skill and philosophy on
architecture. These caves are located 1,200 m above the 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.
Many legends are there behind the formation of Edakkal caves. One of the stories is
that, these caves are said to be formed with the arrows fired by Lava and Kusha, the
sons of Lord Sri Rama. Another one is associated with Kutti Chathan and the Goddess
Mudiampilly. The local people used to have a pilgrimage trip to this place to honour the
Goddess.
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. To his surprise, he
identified the place as a habitat of
Neolothic people.
Edakkal caves are famous for its
pictorial paintings (cave paintings),