With the excavations proving the fact that there have been prehistoric cavemen living in the Fa Hien Caves around 37,000 years ago, it became a popular cave destination that tourists visit in the district of Kalutara. And guess what? This is the largest natural rock in Asia and also the most ancient pre-historic human settlement in Asia.
How did it get this name?
The Cave was named after a Chinese monk named ‘Fa-Hien’ who has stayed in this cave in the 5th Century AD and the locals usually call this place ‘Pahiyangala’. However, Fa Hien is the name that’s commonly used by foreign tourists, which is sometimes unknown to the locals.
Where it is located?
The cave is located in the village of Yatagampitiya in the Kalutara District and if you reside at a resort the likes of The Blue Water Hotel and Spa, this place is not so far to travel to. Even if you take public transportation to get to the caves, it’s just a matter of a bus ride followed by a tuk-tuk ride.
What to be explored?
It’s not just about the impressive sights when you get into this cave, but it’s also about a huge reclining Lord Buddha statue and the excavation pit where several findings have been made.
What are the nearby attractions?
There are good resorts in Sri Lanka within the close vicinity of this cave, and some of the other attractions you can try out during your tour in this region are the Richmond castle, the Brief Garden by Bewis Bawa and the Kalutara Bodhiya.
