Caves of Kaliya
Caves of Kaliya is the fourth and final level of the India section of Tomb Raider 3. The caves are an underground network of passages and tunnels that spread out from their entrance point underneath a waterfall on the River Ganges. They link underneath the riverbed and spread into the surrounding cliffs.
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Summary
The level consists of a labyrinth with three levels, with the objective being to get from the uppermost level to the lowest one, where the area boss, Tony can be found. Lara must negotiate this trapped maze, with its rolling boulders and infestation of cobras. Depending on the route she takes, she will be able to explore a Sanctuary to Ganesha, who shares the caves with Kaliya.
This level is a fairly confusing one, as there is no clear indication where to go, and it is easy to get lost. In keeping with the multiple-path style of Tomb Raider II, there are two distinct routes to get to the lowest level, one of which bypasses the middle level completely. Both routes converge at a deep pit with more cobras and another boulder trap. Lara must escape from here to access a small rock-cut tunnel and face Tony in a large underground chamber decorated with images of Ganesha.
In the final room of the level, Lara encounters Tony, who seems to have the Infada Stone embeded in his chest, which gives him strange powers. As Lara enters the room, Tony turns the water that fills the lower parts of the room into a fiery liquid, which can kill Lara instantly if she falls into it. This means that while fighting Tony, the player must be carful not to let Lara run/jump off the stone islands surround the spot Tony is standing on. After Tony is defeated, his body explodes and disappears, leaving behind the Infada Stone. Once Lara picks it up, the level and the section end, and a screen comes up in which the player can choose their next destination.
Links
- Nevada Desert (Nevada area)
- Coastal Village (South Pacific area)
- Thames Wharf (London area)
Notes
Despite the theories of many fans, Kaliya is not in fact another name of the Hindu goddess Kali. Kaliya was first of all, male, and was a poisonous Naga (or large snake/snake person) who lived in the Yamuna river, a major tributary of the Ganges. His poison was so great that for miles around crops failed and the waters were undrinkable.
Kaliya was eventually defeated by the god Krishna. Krishna and his friends were playing by the side of the river when Krishna fell into the waters. Kaliya at once attacked him, spitting poison at the god and wrapping his body around him. Krishna freed himself and began to dance on the naga's head, assuming the weight of the whole world. Slowly, Kaliya began to get weaker and weaker, until at last his wives came and prayed to Krishna to stop attacking their husband.
Krishna did so, and Kaliya, recognising the god's superiority, promised not to harrass anyone ever again. For this he was granted leave to return to his home, Ramanaka Dwipa (some identify this as the islands of Fiji).
Kaliya is depicted as a large black cobra, and was said to have one hundred and ten heads; it may be that the Infada tribe had a cult within itself that worshipped this Great Snake.
Enemies
External Links
Walkthrough for Caves of Kaliya on TombRaiderChronicles.com
Gallery
The Elephant motif has been reversed to resemble a hooded cobra.
Lara faces Tony.
