Kanabiso Galge Archaeological Ruins in Yala (යාළ කනබිසෝ ගල්ගේ නටබුන්)

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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

References

1. 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.
2. Handbook for the Ceylon traveller : A Studio Times Publication (1974). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Studio Times, p.172

Also See

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

Map of Kanabiso Galge Archaeological Ruins in Yala

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.