The Fa-Hien Cave in Kalutara, Sri Lanka, is a must-visit destination for anyone inquisitive about history and here’s more on what you must know before you head there.
Planning Your Trip
This cave might be present in the coastal city of Kalutara which is around a 90-minute drive from the business capital. An ideal option can be to remain at a beachside hotel like Turyaa Kalutara which offers a great base to your visit to this attraction within the village of Yatagampitiya. There’s a road for vehicles leading as much as the cave, though you may walk up some stone steps to succeed in it as well.
The Story of Fa-Hien
Before you visit from considered one of the nearby hotels in Kalutara, it helps to search out out about this site. For example, its name is taken from a Chinese Buddhist monk often called “Fa- Hsien”. It’s believed that this monk visited the island within the fifth century and through his journeys, got here across this cave. It can also be said that he stayed here for several months, and a few maintain that a vessel found during excavations belonged to him.
Prehistoric Times
This site also goes by the name of Pahiyangala Cave linked to a major archaeological finding. It was here that archaeologists uncovered considered one of Asia’s oldest prehistoric human settlements and the stays of the Pahiyangala Man, a cave dweller at the moment; in response to carbon dating, the stays which included human skulls were around 37,000 old! Additionally, animal bones and stone weapons were also uncovered.
What to Expect
Fa-Hien Cave reaches a height of around 175 feet and has a length of roughly 200 feet making it considered one of Asia’s largest natural rock formations. While not all areas of this site are open to the general public, you may see an excavation pit dug by the nation’s archaeological department. Also of interest is a Buddhist temple which might be found here together with a reclining Buddha statue measuring about 40 feet in length. After your exploration, you may chill out and have a picnic nearby, a terrific option to end your visit.
