If a taste of deep history is what you crave for, there is no better place to visit than the Edakkal caves. Located on a hill in the northern state of Wayanad, these caves date back to the Stone age. Enter into the tunnel system and you get to behold ancient cave paintings which some experts date back to more than 8000 years ago. In fact, the Eddkkal caves are the only cave systems discovered so far in the whole of South India which indicates human habitation during the Neolithic time period. The caves were first discovered in 1890 by a British police officer and has since been a place of fasciation for history and anthropology enthusiasts.

Among the most imposing structures the British East India Company built in Kerala, the Thalassery Fort in Kannur district is a warren of secret lairs and underground tunnels which were used as hideouts by defeated British soldiers. Built in the eighteenth century, the fort was also where the armies of the Mysore King Hyder Ali were held as prisoners at one point. The British also used it as a strategic location in their efforts to capture the great freedom fighter of Kerala, Pazhassiraja. In the present day, the area around the fort is neatly manicured and is a great place to unwind. The fort is in close proximity to the ocean, and from its elevated perch, you also get a stunning view of the lush Malabar coast, rife with tall coconut palms that sway in the wind.

A stone’s throw away from the Jewish synagogue is the Dutch Palace which is also called as the Mattanchery Palace. The name may be misleading in that the Dutch Palace was actually built by the Portuguese. It was erected in 1557, but the Portuguese gave it over to the then king of Cochin. The gift was made with two things in mind- one was to appease the king for destroying a Hindu temple, and the other to help establish trade relations with the king. However, when the Dutch came to rule the land, they took over control of the palace. That was in year 1663. The structure that we see today is the heavily revamped version that the Dutch built. It’s a quietly imposing building with breathtaking murals adorning the inner walls. Almost all the murals depict stories from Hindu epics: the Mahabharata and Ramayana. You also get to behold the original furniture and weapons that were used during the old times.

Among the most famous historical sites in Kerala is the Bakel Fort. Situated in the northern district of Kasargod, the fort is spread around forty acres and has been constructed during the mid seventeenth century. It was erected by the then rulers of the Badnore- the Badnore Nayaks. However, the fort was conquered by Hyder Ali, the then ruler in Mysore in 1763. After that, the fort served as a strategic location from which the army of the legendary Tipu Sultan could wage their wars. Tipu Sultan sought to expand his rule over the Malabar region and used the fort in that endeavor. But the Bakel fort changed hands yet again- this time in 1799 when it came under the control of the British East India Company. The fort remained under their command until the country gained independence in 1947. The fort was constructed at such an elevation that even the smallest movement down below could be observed. This, coupled with the proximity to the ocean, makes the fort a unique treat for the present day tourist.

Temples that are cut into whole rocks which have been preserved by time…there is almost something fairytale-like to this scenario. And yet, there are such rock-cut temples which you could find in different places in Kerala. The Kottukal cave temple situated in the southern district of Kollam is one example. Viewed from a distance, the temple complex has the appearance of a sleeping pachyderm- quite an architectural feat considering it was constructed sometime between the sixth and eighth centuries. Idols of multiple Hindu deities including Lord Hanuman, Ganapathy and the Nandi Bull are found in the temple. Another rock-cut temple is to be found at Thrikkakkudi in the Pathanamthitta district. Perched on the shore of the beautiful Manimala river, the rock cut temple was built during the eight century AD and boasts incredible stone sculptures including that of Lord Ganapathy. Travel some one hundred kilometers from Pathanamthitta to the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum and you could see the cave temple in the small town of Vizhinjam. Though relatively small in size, the temple nonetheless evokes wonder and a sense of mystery at the idea that some of the sculptures of the Hindu god Shiva and Parvati, his consort seem to be only partially completed.

Although Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities are often talked about in relation to the religions of Kerala, other religions like Judaism also have a foothold in the state. A great manifestation of this is the Jewish synagogue in Kochi’s Mattanchery region. The synagogue was built in 1956 and is the only remaining functional one among the seven synagogues of the Paradesi Jewish community in Kochi. (The word ‘paradesi’ literally translates as foreigner). The synagogue attracts quite a number of visitors thanks both to its historic significance and its elegant architecture. The interiors are draped with evocatively embroidered tapestries while colorful glass chandeliers lent the place an otherworldly appearance. The willow tiles paved on the floor were specially imported from China, and were hand-painted. In fact, there are many objects which signify history in the synagogue- like the gold crowns which a Hindu chieftain presented to the Jewish people who came to the Kerala shore, which signifies religious tolerance. Another example is an ornate rug which has been a gift to the Jewish community from the last emperor of Ethiopia.