KUKKAL (Cave at)
10.305600,77.329200
Description
A rock shelter called Kukkal Caves (note 1) or Kukkal Cave (note 2) and Kukal Cave (note 3) or even Kukkai Cave (note 4) is much advertised in tourist information leaflets and Internet websites but not accessible --allegedly due to ganja (Cannabis sativa) farmers and/or poachers in »combat« (for: combination?) with forest officers (District Forest Office, Kodaikanal 624101). Theoretically, the site could be visited in the course of a day's walk from the village of Kukkal (note 5), which can be reached by public bus, shared or hired jeep from Kodaikanal town (33 km along the road, equalling about 2 hours travelling time). There exists a Forest Rest House (lovely but frustrating to book, in the nick between lower Kukkal village and the dammed lake) but a much cozier place -- substantially more costly -- to stay is the hut secreted away in jungle which is run by "Camp Gorge" Roshan (email: bisonwells@rediffmail.com) who is more than associated with the P.H.C.C. (Palni Hills Conservation Committee, Bombay Shola, Lower Shola Road, Kodaikanal). CAVE DESCRIPTION: George Roshan (chief editor of the Wilderness Explorer, wilderness-explorer.com), who showed photographs of the site with his shikari (hunter) for scale, the »Kukkal Cave« consists of a fallen and overturned boulder sheltering an area of perhaps 15 by 5 m. Situated above the tree line on the south-western spur of peak 1793 (1973 edition of 1: 50.000 sheet 58 F/7) in the Mudi Malai that rises in the north-east of the Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserved Forest.
NOTE 1: The tourist information leaflet KODAIKANAL (1994) positions the "Kukkal Caves" 40 km from Kodaikanal and claims »once the habitat of cave men, it is now a favourite camp site, ideal for trekking.« The tourist information leaflet KODAIKANAL (1999) reports »In the Palani Hills tribes are of two kinds, the Paliyans and the Puliyans. Kukkal caves, which is 35 km away [from Kodaikanal] show traces of Puliyan occupation« to note overleaf that »Kukkal Caves is 40 km from Kodaikanal. The caves show traces of earliest known inhabitants of the region – the leaf clothed Paliyans.« culturopedia.com/Places/places.html (accessed 27.09.2002): »Kodaikannal: This is a charming hill station located on the upper Palani Hills near Madurai. Important places of tourist attraction include … Kukkal Caves.« NOTE 2: "Camp" George Roshan, Chief Editor of the Wilderness Explorer (2002.01.18, Kodaikanal personal communication). NOTE 3: greenglobetourism.com/tn/hillstations_tn.htm (accessed 2004.10.31); NOTE 4: geocities.com/Paris/Parc/2250/info.htm; members.fortunecity.com/nazars/coimbi.html (accessed 2004.10.31) advertise »Kodaikanal, 138 kms from Coimbatore … Kukkai cave …[is] worth visiting.« NOTE 5: Indicated as »Kukkal« near near N10°17'10": E077°22'00": 1887 m asl on the Survey of India sheet 58-F/07 (1973 edition), on AMS sheet NC43-08 Dindigul (U502 series, 1959 edition) and on the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 118 D1).
Documents
Bibliography 05/04/2016- Kodaikanal 1994, 1999.
History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2002.01.18: "Camp" George Roshan (chief editor of the Wilderness Explorer, Kodaikanal) indicated to H. D. Gebauer and Werner Busch the cave position on the the relevant Survey of India sheet, invited to tea and showed photographs of the rock shelter, described the site, environs and contents.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18.7 | GUNA CAVE | ||
| 20.1 | Elutu Ala | ||
| 20.1 | HOTEL ANAIMUDI CAVE | ||
| 20.1 | MARAIYUR CHAITYA | ||
| 20.1 | ATTALA GUHA | ||
| 20.1 | MARAIYUR TALUS CAVE | ||
| 20.1 | EZHUTUPURA | ||
| 20.1 | KOVILKADAVU | ||
| 36.7 | MUNNAR BLOSSOM PARK MEDITATION CAVE |