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Photo courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage
Yala National Park was initially started as a Game Sanctuary by the British in 1894 and was established as the Yala National Park in 1938. Yala covers more than 100,000 hectares of wildlife with Kirinda to west, Kataragama to North, Panama to east and the Indian ocean to the south.
Yala National Park and the Kumana National Park are covered with rocky outcrops with the remains of ancient Buddhist monasteries when this area was flourishing under the Ruhunu kingdom in the pre-christian era. Inside Yala National Park stands a one of these rocky outcrops knowns as Kanabiso Galge (Blind Queen’s Cave). This outcrop covers an extensive area. There are a number of caves with drip-ledges indicating this was part of a large Buddhist monastic complex of the bygone era.
Kanabiso Galge, also called Kanabisunge Galge, was reported to be in a remarkable state of preservation in 1974. The white lime-washed walls of this cave that nestles under a crag 200 feet above the plains, were still intact. So are its two little windows and its door through which bear and leopard now stalk seeking shelter (Studio Times Limited, 1974).
According to legends spoken by the villages of Kumana, yakshani Princess Kuveni lived there. How she came there is unknown. She married King Gajabahu (of Gajabahu Eliya in the Strict Natural Reserve). She blinded herself. She is the Queen of the Blind Queen’s Fortress now known as Kanabiso Galge (Rambukwella, 1963)
List of Archaeological Sites inside Yala and Kumana National Parks
- Akasa Chethiya
- Athurumithurugala (see map below)
- Athurumituruwewa
- Bambaragastalawa
- Bembawa
- Bowattegala
- Brahmanatota
- Dematagala
- Dikkandanegala
- Divulanagoda (Veheradivulana)
- Gonagala
- Goyankola Mayagala
- Handuneruwa
- Iriyapola
- Kanabiso Galge
- Katupila (see map below)
- Katupila Mankada (see map below)
- Kiripokunahela
- Mahakiriwedumagala
- Kongala
- Kottadamuhela
- Lunuatugalge (Lunuatu Galge)
- Sithulpawwa Magul Maha Viharaya
- Malwariyakema
- Mandagala
- Mandagala Wewa
- Mayagala (Wadambuwa)
- Minihagalkanda
- Modaragala
- Nelumpath Pokuna
- Padikema Patanangala
- Pilimagala
- Pillinnawa Stone Pillars
- Pimbyramakanda
- Silavakanda
- Sithulpawwa Viharaya
- Thalaguruhela
- Uda pothana
- Veeragala
References
- Rambukwella, A.T. (1963) “The Nittaewo – The Legendry Pygmies of Ceylon,” Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series Volume VIII (Part 2), pp. 265–290.
- Handbook for the Ceylon traveller : A Studio Times Publication (1974). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Studio Times, p.172
Also See
Map of Kanabiso Galge Archaeological Ruins in Yala
The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites
Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.
Travel Directions to Kanabiso Galge Archaeological Ruins in Yala
The park can be reached through Southern Highway. It is 275 kilometers away (shortest path through Ratnapura avoiding the Highway but travel time is longer) from Colombo.
| Route from Colombo to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance | Route from Kataragama to Yala National Park (Ruhuna) Entrance |
| Through : Southern Highway – Mattala – Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 275 km Travel time : 4.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map | Through Tissamaharama – Kirinda Distance : 40 km Travel time : 45 minutes. Driving directions : see on google map |
