The entry of tourists to the Edakkal caves on the Ambukuthi hills, known for the neolithic-age petroglyphs (rock engravings) on the walls of the cave, was resumed on Saturday after an interval of 23 days.

The caves, a major tourism destination in the district, were closed to tourists on August 23 after a huge stone collapsed in the first cave and a crack was formed near the old ticket counter of the first cave after heavy rain.

The entry to the first cave was banned but tourists could now reach the second cave through the secondary pathway constructed for the purpose, Archaeology and Archives Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran said. The entry was restricted to 1,930 tourists a day and only a group of 30 people at a time would be allowed to enter the cave, the Minister added.

The first cave would be opened to tourists only after a study by a team of experts, consisting of scientists of the National Centre for Earth Science Studies and experts of the Archaeology Department. The team for the purpose would be constituted soon and they would study the situation of the caves, the Minister said.

As many as 250 visitors, including 10 children, visited the cave on Saturday, District Tourism Promotion Council sources said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by Staff Reporter / Kalpeta – September 15th, 2018