Located in Yatagampitiya which is a remote village in the Kalutara district, these caves are 400 feet above sea level. This cave is known to be the largest natural rock in Asia as well as the most ancient prehistoric human settlement in Asia. It is an architectural marvel in the country and one of the key attractions in the area. At entrance level the cave is 175 feet high and 200 feet long. The name ‘Fa Hsien’ was taken from the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist priest ‘Fa- Hsien’ who had visited the country in the 5th century. It is also known as ‘Pahiyangala’ due to the fact that the person who found the pre-historic remains was called the ‘Pahiyangala Man’. Excavation of the cave in 1968 has proven that 37,000 years ago the cave was inhabited by prehistoric cave men. A a second excavation that took place in 1988 revealed the remains of prehistoric fireplaces, microlith stone tool, human remains and organic material. Human remains of three children, a juvenile and two adults were found in further excavations that took place in the 1980s. Then, for the third time in 2013, another excavation revealed human remains dating back to approximately 5400 and 6850 years ago.
There are two routes used to reach the caves, one route was used by the monks back in the olden days, but it was made out of hewn rock so it is very steep and uneven. The other route is wide and less steep and longer – but still the preferable route if you do not fancy a steep climb. It is recommended to take a guide with you as she/he will be able to translate the explanation given by the temple keeper. The main cave is around the same size as the excavation cave below. After visiting the cave, enjoy refreshing king coconut water from the nut itself .
